DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Execute Contract With LHB, Inc. For Waterford Bridge Rehabilitation Construction Administration And Inspection, County Project 97-239 (2000456)
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, in 2026, Waterford Township was awarded a Minnesota Historical Society Legacy grant for $295,000 for rehabilitation of the historic Waterford Bridge (Bridge L3275); and
WHEREAS, the Waterford Bridge, constructed in 1909, represents one of the earliest camelback through truss rigid-connected bridges in Minnesota that is still in existence and was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Waterford Bridge is an important community landmark that Waterford Township has made significant efforts to preserve; and
WHEREAS, Waterford Township’s goal is that the historic bridge be fully rehabilitated so future generations can appreciate the unique engineering significance and that the bridge will eventually become a crossing for the Mill Towns State Trail; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County and Waterford Township previously partnered to complete Phase I Rehabilitation of the bridge in 2021 by Resolution No. 20-159, (March 24, 2020); and
WHEREAS, Dakota County will use a $30,000 Waterford Township cash match and $2,717,000 awarded by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) to Dakota County for construction and professional services contracts; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County will provide staff administration of the project for the duration of the project; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County will use a $295,000 of Minnesota Historical Society grant funds for construction and will be reimbursed by Waterford Township acting as a funding pass-through; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will use funding up to $500,000 for construction, construction administration, and inspection services; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County will be reimbursed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for up to $500,000 acting as a funding pass through; and
WHEREAS, Waterford Township will continue to own and maintain the bridge; and
WHEREAS, State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources will continue to own and maintain the trail; and
WHEREAS, County staff sent a Request for Proposals to five qualified professional consultants; and
WHEREAS, three proposals were received and evaluated by county staff; and
WHEREAS, the proposal from LHB, Inc. had the best-value costs and historic bridge rehabilitation experience for the construction project and provides all the services needed; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends executing a contract with LHB, Inc. to provide construction administration and inspection services for the Waterford Bridge rehabilitation project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or delegate, to execute a contract with LHB, Inc. for construction administration and inspection for County Project 97-239 in a contract total not to exceed $236,172 subject to approval by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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BACKGROUND
The Waterford Bridge (Attachment: Waterford Bridge) is on the planned Mill Towns State Trail (MTST), which will connect Faribault to the Cannon Valley Trail. Dakota County’s Greenway System will co-locate and manage a portion of MTST that connects West and East Lake Byllesby Regional Park approximately four miles from the Waterford Bridge (Attachment: Project Location).
The Township raised funds to repair the bridge in the 1980s, and in 1991, when a new vehicular bridge was built, the Township chose to maintain the historic bridge for pedestrian and bicycle use. In 2011 and 2014, the Township again raised funds to stabilize the structure.
The rehabilitation work includes repairing the abutments and bearings, strengthening and painting
the trusses and repairing the decking and repainting.
A contract to complete a second phase of rehabilitation was previously proposed in 2023. Bids were received and tabulated on September 28, 2023, for this repair work. Only one bid was submitted. It was 96% over the engineer’s estimate and by Resolution No. 23-539 (November 28, 2023), the bid was rejected. County staff agreed to continue to partner with the Township and the Department of Natural Resources to seek future grant opportunities.
Waterford Township has requested Dakota County’s continued assistance with the remaining Bridge Rehabilitation, where Dakota County staff will administer the project on behalf of the Township, and Dakota County will advance fund the grant.
Bids Received:
Bidder Bid Amount Total Hours $/Hour
LHB, Inc. $236,172 1,243 $190
Sambatek $173,241 802 $216
TKDA $190,400 1,178 $162
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorizing a contract for construction administration and inspection services with LHB, Inc. for CP 97-239. LHB, Inc., with their sub-consultants SRF and Braun, provides the best value of the three bidders because of their extensive historic bridge rehabilitation experience, hours dedicated to on-site inspection and complete construction administration, inspection and material testing services to aid in this complex grant funded and specialized historic bridge rehabilitation project. LHB, Inc. provided a proposal that is cost effective with the second-best fee per total hours dedicated to the tasks, while ensuring appropriate hours for technical oversight and coordination throughout construction.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
There is sufficient external funding in the 2025 Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota (LCCMR) Appropriations (Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund [ENRTF]) to fund all or a portion of the bridge rehabilitation project using the additional grant amount of $295,000 that Waterford Township received with a 2026 Minnesota Historic Society (MNHS) Grant. Waterford Township will also provide a $30,000 cash match as part of the 2026 MNHS Grant. The external grant funds will be used for construction administration, inspection, and testing services for County Project 97-239.
Current Budget - Project 2000456 Cannon River Preservation and Access - Waterford Bridge
|
Funding Sources |
Total Budget |
Available Budget |
|
2025 LCCMR Appropriations (ENRTF) |
$2,717,000 |
$2,717,000 |
|
Transportation Fund Balance |
$25,131 |
$16,933 |
|
2026 MNHS Grant (Waterford Township) |
$325,000 |
$325,000 |
|
State of Minnesota (DNR) |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
Totals |
$ 3,567,131 |
$ 3,558,933 |
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-159; 3/24/20
23-317; 7/18/23
23-539; 11/28/23
24-108; 2/27/24
26-326; 8/4/26
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location Map
Attachment: Contract Summary Sheet
CONTACT
Department Director: Erin Laberee
Author: Tony Wotzka