Lake Street Construction Bids Scheduled To Go Out Thursday

A re-bid for the construction work that is a part of Phase 1 of the Wayzata Lake Effect (Panoway) Project will go out next week.

“We’re going to plan on moving forward with the solicitation of bids on the 30th (of January),” said city manager Jeff Dahl at Tuesday’s city council workshop.

Previously, the re-bids for the project were scheduled to go out in mid-February. 

The new January 30 bid solicitation date will afford more time for the bidding process.

At the Nov. 19 city council meeting (Nov. 19), a professional services agreement with Stahl Construction for construction management services for Lake Effect’s first phase was approved.

The agreement includes $25,200 pre-construction services, approximately $100,000 for construction management, $50,000/month for construction services and $4,260/month for reimbursable expenses.

The expectation is that the Stahl expenses will decrease the overall project costs.

Lake Effect’s first phase essentially consists of Lake Street, Lake Street Plaza and the Dakota Rail Regional Trail Extension.

Stahl was brought in after bids for the first phase came in double the estimated costs earlier this year. The city council rejected those bids in July.

“We have targeted a construction open house at the end of February,” said Stahl Construction President Jessie Houlihan.

Stahl has been gathering feedback from Lake Street businesses and other stakeholders that will be impacted by the construction which is expected to last from March until September.

“Get in, get out and do whatever it takes to get it done as quickly as possible,” said Gianni’s owner Terri Huml. “The thing that concerns me the most is that intersection (Lake Street & Broadway Avenue). That’s going to be closed during Mother’s Day and Easter.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is recommending $10 million for a grant to the City of Wayzata for a boardwalk and for ecological restoration along the shoreline of Lake Minnetonka as a part of the Lake Effect project’s Phase 2.

The money is a part of a $300 million proposed investment in water quality and infrastructure projects.