State Approval is Final Hurdle Before “3 Up the Hill” Project Begins

SAUK RAPIDS -- A road construction project in Sauk Rapids that has been in the planning stages for three years is one, final step away from getting going.  Benton County is waiting on final approval from MnDOT and hope to get the project underway on Tuesday, May 31st.

The "3 Up the Hill" project lies along 2nd Street South in Sauk Rapids and connects to County Road 3.  It will be widened and include bike and pedestrian improvements.

Benton County Engineer Chris Byrd says the bid came in almost $1,000,000 less than their engineering estimate of $6,700,000.  He says after several attempts to get state bonding money and other funding sources locked-down, they finally have the funding in place to get started.  The project will be paid for using state aid, a local road improvement grant, federal grants and the city of Sauk Rapids contributions.

Traffic will be allowed to use the route during construction, with some short-term closures built in. Byrd says they hope to have the project substantially complete and open to traffic in October.