Dayton awards traffic signal contract after bids top estimates

The Dayton City Council voted unanimously Sept. 23 to award a contract to Collins Electric for a new traffic signal at the Dayton Parkway and Holly Lane intersection after competitive bids exceeded the city's pre‑bid estimates.

Public works staff told the council the low bid showed the signal system itself at about $114,000, well above the city's $80,000 estimate. Staff said the increase — reflected across multiple bidders — largely stems from higher signal‑equipment costs and additional pedestrian improvements requested by Hennepin County during plan review.

The project is paid in part by a QuickTrip contribution (identified in the packet at roughly $442,000 toward the project) and the remainder from Municipal State Aid (MSA) funds. Staff said the city's MSA balance can cover the award; council members noted that MSA is not unrestricted and could be used on other eligible projects in future years.

Because a new QuickTrip is scheduled to open Oct. 2, staff recommended including, as an alternate bid item, a temporary traffic‑control signal the contractor could install quickly if post‑opening operations prove unsafe. Council approved awarding the alternate but clarified the city is not obligated to direct installation; staff and police will monitor operations and can ask the contractor to install the temporary system if needed.

Staff estimated lead time for signal equipment procurement at roughly four months; initial site work (bases and foundations) would begin in October. Mayor Dennis Fischer and council members raised practical concerns about traffic stacking and semi‑truck movements near the intersection and asked staff to coordinate closely with the contractor on schedule and temporary mitigation if the intersection proves problematic.

The motion to award the contract to Collins Electric, including the alternate, carried 4–0.