Consider Recommending City Council Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for MSA Bunker Lake Boulevard Reconstruction, Improvement Project #26-01

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approve plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Bunker Lake Boulevard Reconstruction, Improvement Project #26-01.
 
Background:
The 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identifies Bunker Lake Boulevard between Armstrong Boulevard and 600 feet west of Jackal Street (the tie-in point from the 2018 project) for reconstruction in 2026. A street segment summary is attached to this case.
 
Project History

• April 22, 2025, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #25-081, ordering plans and specifications and awarding engineering design services to Bolton & Menk for said improvements.

 
Project Scope
This project proposes to reconstruct Bunker Lake Boulevard in a similar fashion to the previously reconstructed Bunker Lake Boulevard and Puma Street segments. The existing street is 28-feet wide with concrete curb and gutter on the north side (westbound) and rural section including a drainage swale on the south side (eastbound). The project proposes expanding the pavement to the south, to create a shared center two-way turn lane. The new eastbound lane is proposed to include concrete curb and gutter, the existing drainage swale is proposed to be re-graded. Storm sewer inlets will be placed in the eastbound curb line, tying into existing stubs.
 
Bunker Lake Boulevard is an MSA street, which will require it to be built to MSA standards, including a 10-ton pavement strength design. Bituminous trail exists on the north side of Bunker Lake Boulevard, the project does not propose to improve the existing trail. The western half of this segment has been developed with commercial/industrial users. The eastern half is generally not developed but a gas station with convenience store is currently under construction at the southwest corner of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard. Coordination with proposed developments has been occurring during the project design. The project totals 0.47 miles in length.
 
To accommodate the ultimate buildout of the area, space is being created for a 2^nd eastbound right turn or combination thru/right turn lane onto Armstrong Boulevard. This project will stripe a dedicated left turn lane, two dedicated thru-lanes, and a dedicated right turn lane eastbound at Armstrong Boulevard. The new Kwik Trip gas station is building a right in / right out onto Bunker Lake Boulevard. To accommodate these additions, the center concrete median west of Armstrong Boulevard is being modified, additional modifications are required to the existing traffic signal system at Armstrong Boulevard. The City and Engineer have been working with Kwik Trip and Anoka County on these modifications.
 
Due to the nature of the work, the project is proposing to close Bunker Lake Boulevard between Jackal Street and Armstrong Boulevard during construction. A detour route along Puma Street and Alpine Drive will be used.
 
Utilities
Sanitary sewer, watermain and storm sewer exist within the project area. Additional storm sewer will be required to extend to the eastbound curb line. The existing swale on the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard will remain in-place to accommodate drainage, but will be re-graded as necessary. Repairs to the existing sanitary sewer are not proposed. The existing hydrants will be relocated to be within 5 feet of the new eastbound curb lane.
 
Staff is proposing to complete these improvements in the first half of the summer construction season in 2026. This will be in-line with the completion of the Kwik Trip construction at the SW corner of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard.
 
Preliminary Schedule Remaining

• Council approves plans and specifications / authorizes ad for bids
  • January 13, 2026
• Bid Opening (Bolton & Menk)
  • Week of February 9^th or 16^th, 2026
  • MnDOT MSA Approval is required prior to opening bids
• Council Awards Contract to the Lowest Responsible Bidder
  • February 24, 2026
• Contractor Begins Construction
  • Spring 2026
• Contractor Substantially Completes Construction
  • New bituminous pavement in-place, topsoil and seed in-place
  • July 31, 2026
• Contractor Final Completion
  • Verify final restoration; punch list created
  • August 31, 2026

 
Final plans are not attached to this case to prevent potential bidders from downloading plans attached to the case to prepare and submit their bids, rather than purchasing the plans through QuestCDN, the electronic bidding software used by the City of Ramsey. This ensures all bidders are bidding off the same set of plans, and all bidders are notified of any plan revisions (addenda) issued during the bidding process. Attached is the title sheet showing the scope of the improvements, as well as a plan sheet showing the typical sections, which includes information on the proposed pavement section. Plans are available upon request from the City Engineer.
 
Additional Permitting
Because Bunker Lake Boulevard is a Municipal State Aid Street and MnDOT MSA Funding is required, plans must be approved by MnDOT State Aid prior to the bid opening. This project will impact the Anoka County right-of-way, including impacts to the signal system at Bunker Lake Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard, and will require an Anoka County Highway Department right-of-way permit prior to construction starting.

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

Observations:
The Funding Source Breakdowns are based off the 90% Plans supplied by Bolton & Menk. This project is also being reimbursed by development along the Bunker Lake Boulevard corridor. Discussions are on-going if reimbursement of some properties will be by special assessment or a lump sum development fee. This will be determined before the case is brought to City Council to consider approving the plans and authorizing advertisements for bids.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion recommending city council approve plans and specifications and authorize advertisements for bids for MSA Bunker Lake Boulevard Reconstruction, Improvement Project #26-01.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion of other.

Funding for this improvement is proposed to come from Public Improvement Revolving Funds (developer fees), Tax Increment #18, Municipal State Aid Funds, Water Utility Funds and Storm Water Utility Funds.
 
Public Improvement Revolving Funds           $391,000
Tax Increment #18 Funds                               $386,750
Municipal State Aid Funds                             $437,159
Water Utility Funds                                        $103,136
Storm Water Utility Funds                             $221,240
Project Total                                                  $1,539,285
 
The CIP level estimate had a total estimated project cost of $826,965, which includes street costs $777,750 and storm sewer costs of $49,215. The final project costs may change depending upon bid prices and actual construction quantities.

Staff recommends alternative #1.

Motion recommending city council approve plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Bunker Lake Boulevard Reconstruction, Improvement Project #26-01.