Consider Recommending City Council Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04.
 
Background:
The 2024 – 2033 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identifies the streets within the Dickenson’s Mississippi Estate subdivision for street reconstruction in 2025. A street segment summary for this project is attached to this case.
 
Existing Conditions
This project proposes to reconstruct Tungsten Street between Riverdale Drive and Rivlyn Avenue, as well as Rivlyn Avenue between the western cul-de-sac and the eastern edge of plat. The streets are 31-foot wide urban section with concrete curb and gutter. Tungsten Street has commercial use on both sides, while Rivlyn Avenue is residential, with single-family homes. Though only marked by signage rather than pavement markings or off-street trail facilities, the streets are part of the Mississippi River Trail Bikeway. The streets total 0.26 miles in length.
 
Municipal sewer, watermain and storm sewer exist within the project area. The watermain and sanitary sewer were installed in 1990, making it 35 years old when the street reconstruction will occur, and 95 years old by the end of the streets 60-year design life.
 
During the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements, it was found that the watermain gate valves were built with mild steel bolts rather than stainless steel as is used today. This has resulted in premature eroding of the valve bolts, which in recent years have separated when the valves are exercised requiring emergency repairs to replace the valves and repair the streets.
 
The sanitary sewer and storm sewer were televised to determine the condition of the pipes and structures. The sanitary sewer was found to be in good condition. The storm sewer under the streets was found to be in good condition. The storm sewer outlet pipe to the Mississippi River was found to have some minor damage, which is not proposed to be addressed with this street reconstruction project but will be addressed under a separate project at a later time.
 
The CIP includes addressing stormwater runoff from 6140 Highway 10 as part of this project. As part of this project, an analysis of stormwater runoff from 6140 Highway 10 was performed, and a connection to the existing City storm sewer system as well as on-site stormwater management is required to address the runoff.
 
Project History

• May 28, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-138, ordering requests for proposals for topographic surveys, geotechnical evaluations and utility testing for 2025 capital improvement program projects.
• July 23, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-196, accepting the proposal from Bolton & Menk, Inc. to prepare plans and specifications for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04.
• October 22, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-302, accepting the amended proposal from Bolton & Menk, Inc. to prepare plans and specifications for said improvements.
• November 12, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-311, accepting the proposal from Hydro-Klean, LLC for cleaning and televising the sanitary and storm sewer within the project area.
• March 13, 2025 Ramsey staff held a public open house for said improvements.

 
Pavement History
The streets within Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates were constructed in 1990. Crack seal / seal coat treatments were received in 1996, 2003, and 2013. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was performed on the streets in 2020. At the time, the streets averaged 2.7 to 3.4 inches of bituminous over 3.7 inches of aggregate base.
 
Staff review of the geotechnical report found clean sands, ideal for pavement and utility support within the project area. Additionally, groundwater is not anticipated to be a concern for the street reconstruction.
 
Proposed Improvements
Due to the condition of the existing watermain, the project includes replacing the existing watermain and water service lines up to and including the curb stops and fire hydrants. During construction, temporary water will be looped through the project and connected to the houses.
 
The original project anticipated only spot curb and gutter replacements. However, by replacing the watermain, the majority of the existing concrete curb and gutter is impacted so the project calls for replacing all curb and gutters. Also, valley gutters will be placed across Tungsten Street at its intersection with Rivlyn Avenue, and to separate Tungsten Street from the private parking lots / drives on both sides of Tungsten Street.
 
Because Tungsten Street handles frequent commercial vehicle traffic, it will be built to a 10-ton design including 4-inches of bituminous over 6-inches aggregate base. Rivlyn Avenue will be built to a standard neighborhood section of 3.5-inches bituminous over 6-inches aggregate base. The cul-de-sac at the west end of Rivlyn Avenue is partially within City-owned right of way and a roadway easement. Due mainly to the location of the existing houses and driveways, it was not deemed feasible to expand the cul-de-sac, and it will be constructed back to its current dimensions.
 
The storm sewer at the intersection of Rivlyn Avenue and Tungsten Street will be required to be replaced due to the watermain replacement. Additionally, a hydrodynamic separator structure is being placed in the storm sewer outfall line to the Mississippi River. This structure will be placed in the boulevard, just south of Rivlyn Avenue, and is a cost-effective storm water quality retrofit solution that will serve to remove pollutants from the stormwater runoff before it is discharged into the river.
 
City staff has discussed, and is continuing discussions with Lano, to address stormwater runoff concerns from their property at 6140 Highway 10. Bolton & Menk performed stormwater analysis of the site and determined a combination of on-site rate control and connection to the City storm sewer system is required to fully address the concerns. After discussions with Lano, they prefer an underground stormwater storage system versus an above ground pond, as vehicle storage space is already limited on their site. This project includes placing a storm sewer manhole in the Tungsten Street right of way and a 12-inch storm sewer stubbed to the right of way for a future connection to Lano’s site. To fully make the connection, the storm sewer stub would cross the south end of Global Gloves property at 13601 Tungsten Street. Global Glove has indicated they are open to allowing the pipe and subsequent permanent drainage and utility easement which would be necessary to make the connection.  In the meantime, Lano will continue working with their engineer to design on-site stormwater improvements for potential future construction and connection to the 12" stub provided as part of this project. 
 
Alternate Bid
Watermain and sanitary sewer extend from the west end of Rivlyn Avenue to Riverdale Drive, generally under green space and a shared private drive. As an alternate bid, the watermain is proposed to be replaced in the same manner as the watermain under Rivlyn Avenue and Tungsten Street. The private shared driveway is proposed to be replaced to match existing materials, a combination of gravel and bituminous.
 
The utilities are under an existing drainage & utility easement between Rivlyn Avenue and Riverdale Drive. However, during design Bolton & Menk indicated additional temporary construction easements would be necessary to perform the construction. In total, 5,364 square feet of easement spread across four properties would be required as shown in the attached temporary easement exhibit. Staff mailed letters to the impacted properties on February 12, 2025. To date, staff have been contacted by 3 of the 4 property owners, only one of whom is agreeable to the temporary easements without further discussions necessary.
 
Because the alternate bid is not under Rivlyn Avenue itself, the work could be completed under a future project without delaying the delivery of this project. If this is the case, staff recommend adding a future watermain replacement project to the Capital Improvement Plan.
 
Preliminary Schedule Remaining

• Council approves plans and specifications / authorizes ad for bids
  • March 25, 2025
• BMI Receives Bids
  • May 1 – May 5, 2025
• Council Awards Contract to the Lowest Responsible Bidder
  • May 13, 2025
• Contractor Begins Construction
  • June 2025
• Contractor Substantially Completes Construction
  • New watermain in-service, new bituminous in-place, topsoil and seed in-place
  • September 30, 2025
• Contractor Final Completion
  • Verify final restoration; punch list created
  • October 31, 2025

Notification is not required for this case. Staff will update the project webpage, to keep residents informed on the progress of the project.

Timeframe:
Staff anticipates up to 20 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case.
 
Observations:
The public open house was held on March 13, 2025 in the Alexander Ramsey Room, at the Municipal Center. Staff will update the Committee on any public comments received.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04, without the alternate bid.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04, with the alternate bid.

Alternative #3 – Motion of other.

Funding for this improvement is proposed to come from Pavement Management Funds, Storm Water Utility Funds, and Water Utility Funds. The following estimated costs are based off of Bolton & Menk’s 95% Construction Plans. The final project costs may change from the estimate depending upon bid prices and actual construction quantities.
 

Founding Source	Estimated Project Costs	CIP Project Costs
Pavement Management Funds	$545,048*	$306,722
Storm Water Utility Funds	$131,950**	$378,144
Water Utility Funds	$358,611	$250,000
Project Total	$1,035,608	$934,866
Alt Bid (Water Utility Funds)	$148,530	-
Project Total w/Alt Bid	$1,184,138	-

* Approximately $50,000 of additional concrete curb and gutter replacement is necessary due replacing the watermain.
** The CIP included additional stormwater funds to address stormwater runoff concerns at 6140 Highway 10. Because the stormwater review found on-site (private) stormwater retention is required, the plans only include providing the necessary service stub to the right of way, for a future improvement.

Staff recommend Alternative #1.  This will avoid delaying the delivery of this project while allowing staff to conduct further discussions with the owners of the 4 properties between the west end of Rivlyn Avenue and Riverdale Drive. 

Motion recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for Dickenson’s Mississippi Estates Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-04, without the alternate bid.