In 2004, when the program was first talked about, we had 12 miles of road with dirt /gravel surface. The 2010-2011 construction seasons will include the paving 1.52 miles of roadway in our system. Paving/improvement projects completed in 2010 included Ute St., 151st Ave, 152nd Ave, Fluorine St. and will finish up this year with the paving of Puma St and Chameleon St. With the completion of these projects we will have approximately 2.64 miles of dirt/gravel roads left in our system.

Of the remaining segments some may never be petitioned for improvement. Traprock St, south of Hwy 10 will be addressed when the Anoka County develops the park. 173rd Ave currently has 3 residents, so assessment costs even at 50% share with the city would be prohibitive. Potassium St, north of County Rd 5 was scheduled to paved with redevelopment in that area. There are two small segments in our industrial parks, Basalt St and Limonite St which will be paved when development in those areas increases. This group of road segments total 1.04 miles.

Of the remaining segments Carolina Acres and Itasca Heights are the most maintenance prone. Improvements to these developments would provide the most payback, if the city were to contribute 50% of the improvement cost. Drainage is poor in both areas and requests for grading are increased because of that factor. Carolina Acres is on the far north end of the city and requires almost 20 minutes travel time just to get to the site. Itasca Heights is south of Hwy 10 near the weigh station and would need considerable drainage work. The Itasca Heights location near the Mississippi river would add challenges and cost for storm water design. Of the remaining roads Garnet St, north of CR 27, would be next in line, because of the travel time involved. Summer grading is not the only cost associated with these dirt roads. Early winter and late spring snowfalls require the motor grader to plow these areas because of soft road conditions. A complete "round" of grading or snowplowing, including travel time, is 3 1/2 hours. The cost associated with grading our dirt roads just, using fuel and labor costs at today’s prices, runs about $170.00 every time we grade.   Staff also receives several calls per year for dust control or to add gravel to the road surface.

During the joint City Council meeting with the City of Nowthen there was discussion about the sharing or swapping of services with them. Staff will continue to look for opportunities when they present themselves.