ST. CLOUD - Construction of A new downtown St. Cloud parking ramp can finally move forward. The city council approved the bids for the project during tonight's (Monday) meeting.

Donlar Construction has bid a Guaranteed Maximum Price of just over $10.3 million. The city has $11.56 million in state bonding money for the project.

Public Services Director Pat Shea says they still plan to have the parking ramp open by the end of next year.

We anticipate substantially complete by the end of 2016. Thirty to 45 days you'll start to see construction actually begin, and it will go pretty quick.

Construction was supposed to begin back in June, but the initial bids all came in well over budget. A new scaled-back version was brought back to the council, and approved, in August.

The 401-stall parking ramp will be built behind the Mexican Village, and go over 5th Avenue, toward the River's Edge Convention Center.

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