Baxter City Council: Roadway reconstruction project takes shape for 2019

BAXTER-Stretches of Baxter roadways could get a significant facelift come 2019.

Aric Welch, a civil engineer at architectural-engineering firm Widseth Smith Nolting, presented the results of a study intended to set the groundwork for the 2019 Mill and Overlay reclamation project. Recommendations by the firm were included during the Baxter City Council public hearing Thursday, Dec. 13.

Welch said this project-much like other infrastructure initiatives the city of Baxter is undertaking-is prompted by 85 miles of roadway that interlink Baxter like arteries, of which many stretches are aging and in disrepair.

"So we're really trying to target streets in better condition with seal coating, preventative stuff like that," Welch said. "That's not the streets in this project (which) are too far gone for seal coating, or mill and overlay even. The city will implement this plan (for more preventative measures) once it's done, to preserve the pavement."

In total, construction associated with the 2019 Mill and Overlay reclamation project is expected to cost around $2,319,295.

The project is slated to address degrading stretches of roadway on Fairview Road from its east end to Inglewood Drive (constructed in 1998), two portions of Greenwood Road from its west end to Cypress Drive and from Cypress Drive to Birch Drive (built in '95 and '93 respectively), two portions of Industrial Park Road (1989) from the Widseth Smith Nolting entrance to County Highway 48, as well as a small section of Basswood Road from its east end to Cypress Drive (1994).

Welch noted preventative measures may not be as comprehensive, but are more cost effective in the long-run.

• Seal coating comes in at $9 per foot in 36-foot urban commercial streets and $7 per foot in 26-foot rural residential streets.

• A 2-inch mill and overlay reclamation sits at $70 per foot in urban commercial streets and $56 per foot in rural residential roadways.

• A full-depth reclamation project would be $118 per foot for urban commercial thoroughfares and $91 per foot in rural residential roads.

• The most invasive-full-depth reconstruction-clocks in at $253 per foot in urban commercial streets and $174 in rural residential streets.

At Thursday's meeting, Welch presented the recommendations by Widseth Smith Nolting to the council for consideration.

• For Fairview Road, Welch said WSN is recommending a full-depth reclamation for 4-inch new pavement, widening the roadway to 32 feet and regraded ditches, the inclusion of two 11-foot drive lanes and two 5-foot bike lanes, as well as the reconstruction of sanitary sewer manhole castings in the roadway. The recommendation includes a paved trail adjacent to Highway 371, between Highway 210 and Excelsior Road.

• For Industrial Park Road (which is the road in worst condition), Welch said the best course would be a full-depth reclamation of 4.5-inch pavement, removal and replacement of the concrete curb and gutter, small roadway route changes, widening the roadway and adding a right turn lane at County Highway 48, the removal and replacement of driveways to the right-of-way line, as well as the reconstruction of sewer manhole castings along the route.

• For the Residential-1 section-which includes Basswood Road and Greenwood Road from Cypress Drive to Birch Drive-Welch recommended a full depth reclamation for 3.5 inches of new pavement, widening Greenwood Road to 26 feet. This also entails removing and replacing driveways to the right-of-way line, reconstructing sewer manhole castings and water valve boxes, and replacing the plastic water main tees on Greenwood Road.

• For the remainder of Greenwood Road between its west end to Cypress Drive, Welch said a full depth reclamation is best, replacing 3.5 inches with new pavement, remove and replace driveways to the right-of-way line, as well as reconstructing manhole castings and water valve castings. This would also entail stormwater improvements with graded drainage swales and ditch, installing culverts, as well as connection to Cypress Drive improvements.

In total costs-which are to be partially covered by the city of Baxter, but primarily franchize fees and special assessments to adjoining property owners-the breakdown is as follows. Note, these numbers are tentative, as finalized figures wouldn't be available until the project is put out for bids to contractors.

• Fairview Road is expected to cost $738,560 for the roadway. The nearby trail, priced at $121,355, will be fully funded by the city. Benefiting residential properties will be assessed up to 26 feet of roadway width, while commercial properties will be assessed up to 44 feet of roadway width. Half of roadway project costs will be taken up by the city for the unassessable south side of the frontage road along this stretch.

• Industrial Park Road improvements are expected to cost $961,400. Benefiting properties will be assessed up to 44 feet of roadway width. Costs will be assessed on a front footage basis.

• For the Residential-1 improvements on Greenwood and Basswood roads, $146,405 is the projected cost for roadway construction, as well as a further $45,535 for water infrastructure. Benefiting properties will be assessed up to 26 feet of roadway width. The city will cover water system improvements, while remaining project costs will be assessed on a per lot basis.

• For the remainder of Greenwood Road, $81,045 is expected for roadway improvements, as well as a further $224,995 for stormwater infrastructure. Benefiting properties will be assessed for all roadway and stormwater project costs-roadway, on a per lot basis, while stormwater will be assessed on an per acre basis.

• In total, construction associated with the 2019 Mill and Overlay reclamation project, is expected to cost about $2,319,295.

During the public hearing Thursday, council members Quinn Nystrom, Todd Holman and Steve Barrows, as well as Mayor Darrel Olson, were present. Council member Mark Cross was absent.