167th Avenue Reconstruction IP 23-04

  1. Project Update
  2. Construction Update
  3. Background

September 25, 2023

To date, the Contractor has installed the new storm sewer pipes and structures and re-graded the ditch north of 167th Avenue on the west side of Trunk Highway 47. This will control storm water runoff on the east end of 167th Avenue. The concrete curb and gutter between Trunk Highway 47 and Quicksilver Street have also been installed.

During the week of September 25, the Contractor is scheduled to finish the concrete driveways and pedestrian ramps. Also, the Contractor is scheduled to reclaim the existing bituminous pavement and aggregate base between Nowthen Boulevard and Quicksilver Street on Tuesday, September 26, this is weather dependent.

August 10, 2023

On August 2, 2023, the City held a pre-construction meeting with the project contractor, Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp. (ASTECH) of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The purpose of the meeting was to review the Contractor’s proposed construction schedule, share contact information, check the status of permits, and discuss relevant construction-related procedures, processes, and requirements.

Construction Schedule – the contractor plans to start work the week of August 21 and will substantially complete their work by October 17, 2023. However, contractor schedules are subject to change due to many factors, including adverse weather conditions, equipment failure, staffing shortages, material supply chain issues, and commitments to other projects.

ASTECH discussed the following construction processes with the City:

Week                        Process (estimated duration)*

August 21                Place traffic control devices (1 day)
Saw cut pavement at intersecting streets and driveways (1 day)
Install erosion control practices, including silt fence (1 day)

August 23                Remove asphalt and concrete for storm sewer and culvert crossings (2 days)
Reclaim areas where the existing curb is located (1 day)

August 28                Remove existing curb (3 days)

August 31                Install new curb and pedestrian ramps (3 days)

September 4          Pond excavation (3 days)

September 7          Reclaim 167th Avenue pavement (2 days)

September 11        Remove driveways to saw cuts (2 days)

September 13        Salvage and stockpile pavement reclaim material (2 days)

September 15        Subgrade excavation (2 days)

September 19        Stabilized Full Depth Reclamation (SFDR) operations (3 days)
Final grading to prepare for paving (4 days)

September 25        Pave base course (2 days)

September 27        Place topsoil (3 days)

October 2                Seed topsoil (2 days)

October 9                Pave wear course (2 days)

October 16              Stripe pavement and install street signs (2 days)

*Process timelines are estimates and subject to change or overlap during construction.

Access to Property – During construction, access to driveways and streets may be partially restricted during regular working hours. Access to driveways may be restricted for up to seven days where concrete curb and gutter are installed and concrete driveway aprons are removed and replaced. This will allow the new concrete section adequate time to cure. During these times, walk-on access will be maintained to all properties by the end of each work day, and vehicles parked on the street overnight in such instances will not be ticketed. If you have special access needs during construction, please contact the City as soon as possible so we can work to accommodate your needs.

Irrigation/Invisible Fences – private lawn irrigation systems and in-ground invisible dog fences may be impacted by this work. Relocating and/or repairing systems within the public right of ways as needed to accommodate construction is the property owner's responsibility. If you have a below-ground irrigation system or invisible fence, please mark your pipes, wires, and/or sprinkler heads with flags or stakes to assist the Contractor in preventing or minimizing damage to your system during construction. Free flags are available at the Engineering Department in the Ramsey Municipal Center located on the second floor at the above address. To help ensure that your system will not be damaged during this project, please relocate sprinkler heads and other system components located within the construction limits, which City staff will identify for you upon request.

June 30, 2023

On June 27, 2023, the Ramsey City Council awarded the construction contract for this street reconstruction project to Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp. of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Staff is working with the Contractor on the execution of the contract and scheduling for the preconstruction meeting. The project will be substantially complete by October 13, 2023.

During the preconstruction meeting, the Contractor will provide information to the City including; contact information for themselves and their subcontractors, a detailed project schedule, proposed work hours and construction methods, traffic control plans, and other construction-related information.

During construction, access to driveways and streets may be partially restricted during normal working hours. Access to driveways may be restricted for up to seven days where concrete curb and gutter are being installed and concrete driveway aprons are removed and replaced. This will allow the new concrete section adequate time to cure. During these times walk-on access will be maintained to all properties by the end of each work day. If you have special access needs during construction, please contact us as soon as possible so we can work to accommodate your needs.

Typical construction sequencing involves placement of temporary construction signs first, followed by sediment control installation, pavement reclamation, storm sewer installation, site grading, construction of any new concrete curb and gutter, concrete driveways, preparing the aggregate base, constructing bituminous base course on streets, establishing turf, and constructing bituminous wear course on street and driveways. Specific dates for each construction operation will be dependent on the weather and other factors that may be out of the City’s or the Contractor’s control. However, the goal is to complete construction as quickly as possible once construction begins to minimize impacts on property owners and the traveling public.

This work may impact private lawn irrigation systems. Relocating and/or repairing private irrigation systems within the public right of ways as needed to accommodate construction is the property owner’s responsibility. If you have a below-ground irrigation system adjacent to 167th Avenue, please mark your sprinkler heads with flags or stakes to assist the Contractor in preventing or minimizing damage to your system during construction. Free flags are available at the Engineering Department in the Ramsey Municipal Center, located on the second floor at the above address. To help ensure your system will not be damaged during this project, please relocate sprinkler heads and other system components located within the construction limits, which City Staff will locate for you upon request.

This project was awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp., for $1,511,455.59. These improvements will be funded using a combination of Municipal State Aid (MSA) Funds and Stormwater Utility Funds. Property owners will not be assessed for any portion of this project.

May 26, 2023

On May 23, 2023, the Ramsey City Council approved the final plans and specifications and authorized advertisement for bids for the 167th Avenue Reconstruction project. Bids will be advertised on Friday, May 26, and again on Friday, June 2, 2023, in the Anoka Union Herald. The City bids on all improvement project online through the Quest CDN website. The website will also make notice of the proposed project to contractors. Bids are proposed to be opened on June 20, 2023, and brought to the Tuesday, June 27, 2023, City Council meeting to consider awarding the contract for construction to the lowest responsible bidder.

An update letter has been mailed to property owners with updates on the project status. It may be viewed here.

The plans and specifications have also been submitted to the MnDOT State Aid office for review. State Aid approval is required prior to opening bids.

May 5, 2023

The City has been coordinating plan production with Bolton & Menk, Inc. for these improvements. To date, 90 percent of plans have been received and reviewed by City Staff. The preliminary schedule anticipates bringing a case forward to the Tuesday, May 23 City Council meeting for Council consideration to approve plans and authorize advertisement for bidding on the project. If City Council authorizes advertisement for bidding, Staff anticipates bringing the lowest responsible bid to the Tuesday, June 27 City Council meeting for Council to consider awarding a contract for construction.

March 30, 2023

To meet the required MSA design standards, several pavement sections were considered. SFDR was determined to be the most cost-effective method of reconstruction. This process involves reclamation (grinding in place) of the existing bituminous pavement plus a portion of the underlying aggregate base. Excess reclaimed material is then removed as needed so the new pavement matches existing shoulders, driveways, and cross streets. The remaining material receives liquid asphalt emulsion, which is then mixed in, rolled, and compacted. Once compacted, the SFDR can be opened up to traffic and gains strength with the further compaction of vehicle traffic. 

Stabilizing the reclamation allows for a thinner overall pavement section, avoiding the need to excavate below the existing aggregate base to make costly subgrade corrections. Staff is confident that the SFDR process will provide as long of a life for the new pavement section as a full reconstruction with subgrade corrections would but at a significantly lower cost.

On March 28, 2023, the Ramsey City Council accepted a proposal from Braun Intertec to perform a Stabilized Full-Depth Reclamation (SFDR) mix design for 167th Avenue.

On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, a public informational meeting was held for these improvements. The purpose of this meeting was to present information on the proposed project to owners of the properties that directly access 167th Avenue. The PowerPoint presentation from that meeting may be seen on this webpage under Related Documents.

February 22, 2023

A public information meeting will occur from 5:30-6:30 on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in the Lake Itasca Room at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW. The purpose of this meeting is to present information on the proposed project to owners of properties that directly access 167th Avenue, which is proposed to be reconstructed in 2023. View the letter online.