Officials say Point Bridge plans cleared at district level; final transfer agreement and bid date pending

City staff reported that plans for the Point Bridge rehabilitation have cleared district review and are awaiting a final interagency transfer agreement before the city can advertise for bids.

"Plans have been signed fully executed," said Mr. Emory, who told the council the project had received District 2 approval and that he had just received required certification letters from the state. Emory said the remaining administrative step is a transfer agreement between the North Dakota Department of Transportation and MnDOT so funding can flow and MnDOT can manage disbursements as project dollars are spent.

Staff provided a current project estimate of about $2.3 million. Emory said he could not set a bid date until the transfer agreement is executed but expressed hope that advertising could begin as soon as next week if the paperwork is completed.

Council members asked about traffic impacts. A councilmember noted residents should expect the Point Bridge to be closed "for most of the summer," a timeline Emory and others described as roughly three months of construction.

The council did not take formal action at the work session; staff said they will return to the council with the finalized administrative documents and, if the transfer agreement is in place, a proposed bid schedule and authorization to advertise.

Next steps: staff will forward the signed certification letters to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, pursue execution of the transfer agreement with MnDOT, and bring advertising and a formal bid schedule back to the council when those items are complete.