Will Work Ever Begin On This Major Rochester Road Project?

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Will work ever begin on a planned major Rochester road reconstruction project?

The city has spent three years planning a major overhaul of North Broadway between Civic Center Dr and Silver Lake.

Higher-than-expected costs, protests from affected property owners and other issues led to a drawn-out process that finally ended earlier this year. That’s when the City Council approved assessments for the project and directed staff to seek construction bids.

The city only received three bids and all are well above the estimated cost - which apparently means another delay.

The Public Works Dept. says the bids ranged from $19.5-million to $24.5 million. The estimated construction cost was $14.2-million and the department says there is no extra money to cover the huge gap.

As a result, the department is recommending the City Council reject the bids at its Monday meeting and “bid at a later date in a more favorable bidding climate and after potentially acquiring additional funding.”

The department memo included with the recommendation adds, “There could be an opportunity with the current state of emergency to acquire stimulus funding that may be available in the coming months.”