County requests extension to spend remaining Progress Parkway appropriation

Saint Louis County Public Works Director Jim Faldasy told the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on March 25 that Phase 1 of the Progress Parkway project in Eveleth came in under budget and the county needs more time to spend the remaining appropriation.

"The original appropriation was for $6,000,000 to design and construct Progress Parkway," Faldasy said, adding that Phase 1 bids connecting Trunk Highway 53 with the school and adding a roundabout came in at $4,600,000. He requested that the unused $1,400,000 and the expenditure deadline be extended from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2030 so the funds can be applied to Phase 2 to complete the project’s intended alignment.

The chair moved H.F. 4006 to the committee on Ways and Means; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The requested time extension would allow Saint Louis County to complete a safety and economic‑development project without returning or reappropriating state dollars. Committee members had no further questions after Faldasy’s testimony.

Next steps: H.F. 4006 was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration and any required fiscal adjustments or language changes.