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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 3 Ms. Lundquist agreed with that figure and stated the project’s total cost will be somewhere around 1.2 to 1.5 million. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen commented that that estimate does not include the City’s utility improvements. Mr. Johnson stated that the cost estimate needs to be updated as it does not reflect current bid prices, and there is a chance it could increase unless the bidding climate changes. Councilmember Holden asked if the County ever turns a bid down if it is not reasonable. Ms. Lundquist indicated that yes, the County has turned down a bid in the past and then rebid later in the year. A discussion ensued regarding the breakdown of the associated costs for this project. A discussion ensued regarding the watermain and associated connections in this area. Mr. Johnson stated the costs could also increase based on how traffic is managed during construction. He said there are three options: close the intersection completely so that no traffic is going through the intersection, which is not practical; build the project under full traffic, which is difficult due to the small footprint; or divert traffic. He said traffic can be diverted by closing lanes or even constructing a bypass, which would be very impactful to this area. Mayor Grant stated that options for diverting traffic would be additional costs above the estimate provided earlier. Mr. Johnson agreed and stated that for example, a bypass could cost an additional $100,000 versus just dealing with closures. Councilmember Holden asked how long the project will take if the intersection is closed the entire time to all traffic besides local traffic. Mr. Johnson estimated that if most traffic is diverted, it could take 12 weeks (3 months), best case scenario. Ms. Lundquist said that if a bypass is constructed, that would add an additional 2 months, for a total of 5 months to complete the project and would add an additional $100,000 more in costs. Councilmember Radziej stated he liked the idea of a bypass to keep the traffic moving. A discussion ensued regarding the various options for handling traffic as presented in the City Council’s packet. City Administrator Perrault questioned the additional projects that Ramsey County has scheduled for next year that could impact this project, such as the work on Snelling Avenue from County Road E to Highway 96.