2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements

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Project Overview

On March 13, 2023, the Arden Hills City Council authorized preparation of a feasibility study for a potential 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements project affecting the following areas: 

• Keithson Drive from Highway 96 W to the south 800-feet
• Royal Hills Drive from Snelling Avenue N to Arden View Drive
• Arden Vista Court
• McClung Drive
• Colleen Avenue
• Colleen Circle
• Briarknoll Circle
• Briarknoll Drive
• Norma Avenue from Dawn Circle to Colleen Avenue
• James Avenue
• Royal Lane   

The City has contracted engineering consultant, Bolton & Menk, to conduct a feasibility study which will evaluate the extent and costs for replacement or repairs to street and trail pavement, water main, sanitary sewers and drainage infrastructure. They will be conducting field measurements and gathering survey information over the next several weeks. During this time, residents may notice a survey crew taking measurements in the roadway areas and to a limited extent in their driveway and front yard adjacent to the road. These measurements will be used in the study and assist with the engineering design. Underground utility items that are difficult to locate, such as the water service shutoff valve at the property line, will also be temporarily marked with flags or paint. These markings are temporary and can be removed once the survey crews have completed their work. During this evaluation process, residents adjacent to the proposed streets for the project will receive a survey form to assist with determining needed improvements within the neighborhood. 

Construction is anticipated to begin Spring/Summer of 2024 with substantial completion within the same year. The City is planning to host a preconstruction open house at City Hall for residents within the construction area to join and ask specific questions to staff related to the project. Once the date and time of the open house is determined, notices will be mailed directly to the properties within the project.

Residents can also contact City engineering staff by email or phone with any questions or comments related to potential street and utility improvements.  

Traffic Safety

Please be aware of construction crews and their equipment. If crews temporarily block off certain portions of the street while working, give them the proper space and time to see you so they can safely guide you through the construction areas. While no street will be fully closed to traffic, there may be times when access is delayed due to nearby construction work.  James Ave will likely be the most challenging to navigate during the watermain construction. School bus routes have been relocated to not use James Ave.  Please contact one of the project contacts below if you have any questions.

Project Timeline

After completing the feasibility study anticipated to be in late June 2023, staff will provide additional information about the recommended improvements. This project page will also be updated as information becomes available.  

View the project schedule on the right and the tentative construction timeline and "what to expect" construction document (PDF).

Aug. 19-23, 2024:

Paving Completed           
Thank you to all of the residents for your patience as the street improvements progressed this year through so much rain.  The schedule was impacted multiple times, we’re thankful everyone remained patient during the delays due to the rain.  All of the roads and trails have been paved up to final grade and no more paving is expected to occur.   

Remaining Work
The contractor will continue the pond sediment removal from the pond located west of Hamline Ave and south of Colleen Ave next week after the Labor Day weekend.  The contractor is continuing site cleanup the remainder of this week including removal of all of their temporary facilities (port-a-potties, dumpsters, etc.) and a street sweeping in those areas where the facilities are removed.   Areas that require pavement striping (crosswalks, parking areas, etc.) will be completed shortly after the Labor Day weekend. There is also some internal pipe and manhole rehabilitation work that will be occurring.

Turf Restoration
The City is aware that many of the turf areas that were disturbed during the construction are not adequately restored yet. We have been working with the contractor and they will be continuing their efforts this late summer/fall. Although not responsible for the turf re-establishment, residents can help with the progress by mowing those areas, removing weeds and watering the areas if we get into a dry spell.   

Aug. 19-23, 2024: The contractor anticipates paving the final surface layer on all remaining streets that haven’t been paved to final surface grade on Friday (8/16) and Monday (8/19). They also are looking to begin sediment excavation and removal activities from the pond located west of Hamline Ave and south of Colleen Ave this week.

Aug. 12-16, 2024: The contractor paved all roads with the first layer of pavement and some roads up to the final surface grade last week. This week, the contractor will focus on preparing for paving the top pavement layer on the remaining streets. This work includes raising up manholes in the street to the final grade and repairing any small areas of the roadway that are not solid.  

Aug. 5-9, 2024: The contractor was able to complete all remaining pavement/gravel grinding up and milling of pavement surface last week and most of the areas have been paved back with the first lift of pavement with the exception of Norma Avenue and a section of Briarknoll Drive. They are expecting to pave that first layer on Norma Ave/Briarknoll Dr this week.  The contractor will be focusing on preparing for paving for the top layer of pavement throughout the entire project area the rest of this week. This work includes raising up manholes in the street to the final grade, and repairing any concrete areas that were damaged and repairing any small areas of the roadway that are not solid.   

July 29-Aug. 2, 2024: The contractor is in the process of paving Royal Hills Drive and Royal Drive by the new on-street parking stalls.  They are also making progress grinding up the existing pavement and gravel base on Colleen Ave and anticipate repaving the first layer of pavement on Colleen Ave yet this week.  The contractor also continued completing non-excavation sewer repairs. 

July 22-26, 2024: Next week will continue to be very busy with construction activities preparing Royal Hills Drive, Norma Ave, a portion of Briarknoll Dr, and Colleen Ave for paving and hopefully paving the first layer of pavement on those streets.  The contractor will also be preparing new parking stalls on Royal Lane for paving.   Replacement of the trail used to haul out sediment from the pond adjacent to McClung Ave and Snelling Ave may also occur. A subcontractor also plans to continue with sanitary sewer pipe repairs that do not require excavation.

July 15-19, 2024: Crews have placed new curbing on Royal Lane near Floral Park for new on-street parking stalls.  Crews also prepared and paved Keithson Ave this week.  Crews anticipate making progress preparing for pavement on Royal Hills Dr this week.  The contractor anticipates grinding up the existing pavement and gravel for use as the new gravel base on Colleen Ave, Norma Avenue, and a portion of Briarknoll Drive later this week.  Excavation of sediment from the pond adjacent to McClung Ave and Snelling Ave has begun this week and we’re hopeful that will be completed this week.  The contractor also anticipates completing some non-excavation sewer repairs.   

July 7-8, 2024: It is expected that next week will be very busy, we are hoping for dry weather.  Crews will grind up the pavement areas in the roads that will have the entire pavement section replaced in this project and grading of those streets to prepare for paving those streets.  Crews will continue with trail replacement and curb and gutter replacements.  Crews also plan on beginning construction of a new on-street parking area on Royal Lane adjacent to Floral Park.  Crews are also scheduled to begin the removal of sediment from the pond adjacent to McClung Ave and Snelling Ave via the trail to the south of the pond.  A subcontractor is also planning to begin improving sanitary sewer pipes via a method that does not require sewer pipe excavation.

July 1-3, 2024: Progress was light this week with the short work week, but progress continued with preparation for major street work that is scheduled to start next week and grading of trail gravel preparing for trail paving next week.  Crews also started preparing for pond excavation, which is scheduled to commence next week in the pond adjacent to McClung Ave and Snelling Ave via the trail south of the pond.  Crews will clean the streets and areas on July 3 for the long weekend.

June 24-28, 2024: Crews completed some replacement trail work, continued spot curb and gutter installation, and tree removals. They continued to manage erosion prevention and turf establishment installations and swept the roads under repair.  

June 17-21, 2024:  This week was not as productive as hoped due to the weather.  Construction crews continued managing erosion prevention devices and protecting impacted turf areas.  Crews also prepared roadway areas affected by storm drainage and other underground utility improvements for replacement curb and gutter and roadway patching.  Crews also exposed a storm sewer pipe on Collee Ave for installation of a water quality structure.  Unfortunately, an Xcel power cable was discovered preventing installation of the structure.  The project team is evaluating potential solutions.

June 10-14, 2024:  Crews paved the first lift of asphalt pavement on James Ave and continued with localized underground storm drainage, sanitary sewer and watermain work.  Crews also completed tree removals and turf restoration activities in areas that were disturbed for storm drainage improvements.

June 3-7, 2024: Crews finished installing concrete curb and gutter and driveways on James Avenue and prepared the gravel base on James Avenue for paving next week. Crews also completed localized underground utility improvements throughout the entire project area.

May 28-31, 2024: Crews continued preparing James Ave for paving, including completing gravel base replacement and compaction and installing curb and gutter.  Other work around the site included spot curb and gutter replacement, storm sewer improvements, a retaining wall replacement adjacent to the trail leading from Colleen Ave, and watermain valve replacement on Briarknoll Drive.  

May 20-24, 2024: The site received approximately 2” of rain on Tuesday. We thank residents for their patience, as the rain has made the area more difficult to navigate and has slowed progress. Crews concluded watermain and utility work on James Avenue. Roadway construction on James Avenue continued with the placement of the aggregate base course. Spot curb and gutter replacement throughout the project area continued.  

May 13-17, 2024: Crews finished installing the watermain on James Ave and will continue to complete testing into early next week. Crews have also begun replacing damaged curb sections throughout the project areas. Tree removal continued as well.

May 6-10, 2024: Crews ground up the pavement on James Avenue and are storing material along Colleen Avenue. Watermain work on James Avenue and Colleen Avenue has also begun, starting with providing temporary water service to several homes in the area, and hydrant and valve replacement at the intersection. Erosion protection has been installed at catch basins in the project area. Crews have also been removing curb and gutter preparing for replacement of those sections throughout the week.

April 25-May 3, 2024: Throughout the week, tree removal crews removed several trees in the project area, including along the existing trail south of Norma Avenue, along Hamline Avenue south of Colleen Avenue, and near the pond between Snelling Avenue and Colleen Avenue. The contractor also began setting up a local temporary water system on James Avenue in preparation for watermain replacement.

April 25, 2024: Preconstruction Open House to be held at City Hall from 5-7 p.m. 

April 8, 2024: City Council accepted bids and awarded the project to S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. of Jordan, Minnesota.

April 8, 2024: Public Hearing on Proposed Assessments (PDF)

August 14, 2024: Public Improvement Hearing at City Hall at 7 p.m.

August 8, 2024: Open House at City Hall at 6 p.m.

Project Mailings

Notice of Field Survey (March 31, 2023) (PDF).

Project Feasibility Report

The City Council accepted the project Feasibility Report on July 24, 2023. The report outlines the recommended project components, costs, and funding sources. View the Project Feasibility Report (PDF).

Assessment Roll

Access a copy of the assessment roll adopted by City Council on April 8 (PDF).

Assessment Map

Access a copy of the assessment map (PDF).

Final Plans

Access a copy of the final plans of the 2024 PMP (PDF).

Final Project Manual

Access a copy of the final project manual (PDF).