Ramsey County Accepts Knife River DOT Bid for Multiple Road Overlays at $2.59 Million

Ramsey County commissioners voted to accept Knife River’s low bid of $2,585,346.70 for several county overlay projects tied to the state DOT, the commission chair said during the meeting.

The award covers work on Currie Road, Woods Rotten Road and a one-mile segment near Bracket. The chair noted the DOT engineers’ estimate from roughly three months earlier had been $2,410,802.70 and said increases in asphalt and fuel prices likely accounted for the difference. Commissioners approved the resolution and authorized the chair and auditor to sign the DOT contract documents as they arrive electronically.

Commissioners and staff clarified that the $2.585 million total is not entirely county-funded; the chair said roughly $1.0–$1.4 million is expected to come from federal highway funds, and that exact funding splits will be finalized as project paperwork is completed.

The commission also approved a related engineering task order with KLJ for the work. Staff presented a cost spreadsheet showing an engineering estimate near $188,200; the commission later approved the engineering agreement with a stated maximum of $180,200 pending final paperwork.

The chair said the county hopes to start the DOT-linked projects in mid-June and expects the overlays to wrap up in July. Commissioners moved and approved the bid and contract authorities by voice vote.