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Construction Projects

Lake County’s engineering staff is responsible for delivering the Capital Improvement Program, including the design, administration and inspection of Lake County’s road and bridge construction projects.

Lake County Highway Department bid solicitations are available through Bid Express®. Bid solicitations are available for viewing without fee to anyone with a Bid Express® account, however, Bid Express® charges to submit a bid. Paper bids are not accepted.

Current Advertisements for Bid

None currently.

2023 Projects

Larsmont Road (UT 13) – Reconstruction (CP 013-022-001)

  • PROJECT UPDATES
    • Phase 1 Complete – Work suspended for winter.
  • Phase 2 Work
    • Work scope: Pavement removal, grading, pavement construction and entrance pipe replacements.
    • Schedule: Work will begin in spring after Spring Load Restrictions are lifted (typically between mid-May and early June).  Project completion is anticipated by August 2024. 
    • Traffic Impacts:  Traffic and access to residents will be maintained but may be restricted. Traffic will be controlled through the work areas by flaggers during active work hours; expect delays. 
    • Motorists can expect to see an unimproved road surface at all times until project completion; please drive with caution.
  • Updates and Additional Information
    • Updates will be posted on this webpage.
    • Contact the Highway Department for additional information or concerns.  Lake County personnel will be onsite when work is in progress.

Waldo Road (CSAH 27) – Reconditioning (SAP 038-627-003)
Cardinal Road/20th Avenue (CSAH 28) – Reconditioning (SAP 038-628-001)
Ski Hill Road (CR 121) – Reconditioning (CP 121-023-001)

  • PROJECT UPDATES
    • Phase 1 Complete – Work suspended for winter.
  • Phase 2 Work
    • Work scope: Reclaim existing pavement and shape for a new road base, resurface the road with new bituminous pavement, reconstruct shoulders, and replace entrance pipes.
    • Schedule: Work will begin in spring after Spring Load Restrictions are lifted (typically between mid-May and early June).  Project completion is anticipated by July, 2024. 
    • Traffic Impacts: Sections of road will be closed where work is occurring. 
      • A detour will be posted for Waldo Road (CSAH 27).  Access to residents will be maintained however motorists should be prepared to take alternate routes to avoid the road closures. 
      • Motorists can expect to see an unimproved road surface on open roads; please drive with caution. 
  • Updates and Additional Information
    • Updates will be posted on this webpage.
    • Contact the Highway Department for additional information or concerns.  Lake County personnel will be onsite when work is in progress.

2024/2025 Projects

Cramer Rd (CSAH 7) – Bridge 7909 Replacement, Ninemile Creek (SP 038-607-015)

  • PROJECT UPDATES
    • A Public Information Meeting was held on November 28, 2023.  Project staff discussed the proposed project, including project design, environmental considerations, project schedule, and traffic maintenance during construction.  Exhibits from the meeting can be downloaded at the following links:
  • PROJECT DETAILS
    • Work scope: The existing steel pipe arch culvert will be replaced with a twin 12-foot x 8-foot pre-cast concrete box culverts.  The alignment of Cramer Road over the stream crossing will be realigned to eliminate the sharp curve and improve sight distances.
    • Schedule: Plan development is in progress and pending DNR permitting, review and easement acquisition.  If these are obtained in time – construction will begin in July, 2024.  The alternate construction start is July, 2025. 
    • Traffic Impacts:  Traffic on Cramer will be maintained but will be restricted to one lane throughout construction. Traffic will be controlled through the work areas by flaggers and temporary traffic control signals.  Delays are expected but will be less than 10 minutes. 
  • Updates and Additional Information
    • Updates will be posted on this webpage.
    • Contact the Highway Department for additional information or concerns.  Lake County personnel will be onsite when work is in progress.

Two Harbors Street & Utility Reconstruction
– 5th Street & Bridge L8088 (Skunk Creek) (CSAH 36) (SAP 038-636-001)
– 4th Avenue (CSAH 35/CR 105) (SAP 038-635-002 & CP 105-023-001)

  • PROJECT UPDATES
    • Project plans have been updated and readied for bid advertisement. Pending successful bid award, construction work is expected to begin by late May 2024:
  • PROJECT DETAILS
    • Work scope:
      • Reconstruct 5th Street (4th Ave to 7th Ave)
      • Replace Bridge L8088 over Skunk Creek with a pre-cast concrete box culvert
      • Reconstruct 4th Ave (Waterfront Drive to 3rd Ave)
      • The contract will include reconstruction of City of Two Harbors streets and utilities as follows.  See the City of Two Harbors Website for more information:
        • 5th Avenue (Waterfront Drive to 5th Street)
        • 6th Avenue (7th Street to 4th Street) 
    • Schedule: Construction is expected to begin in late May 2024 and continue through summer of 2025 with a winter suspension.
    • Traffic Impacts:  Streets will be closed for construction, including short duration closures of intersections at 6th Avenue with Waterfront Drive and 7th Street for short durations.  A detour will be posted for the closures of Waterfront Drive and 7th Street. 
  • Updates and Additional Information
    • Updates will be posted on the City of Two Harbor’s webpage.
    • Contact the Highway Department or City of Two Harbors for additional information.  A public meeting to discuss construction details is tentatively scheduled for early May.

8th Street Resurfacing – City of Two Harbors

  • PROJECT UPDATES
    • The parking lane on 8th Street between 13th Avenue and 16th Avenue will be removed to provide additional room for a multi-use bike and pedestrian path along the west side of 8th Street.
  • PROJECT DETAILS
    • Work scope:
      • Resurface 8th Street between 7th Avenue & 16th Avenue.
      • Reconstruct sidewalk curb ramps and sidewalk across driveways.
      • Repair storm sewer infrastructure.
      • Construct a paved, multi-use path along the west side of 8th Street from 13th Avenue to 16th Avenue.
    • Schedule: 2024 Construction – a detailed schedule is not yet determined. 
    • Traffic Impacts:  8th Street and side road intersections will generally remain open during construction.  Short term closures, lane restrictions, and delays can be expected; alternate routes are encouraged.  Access to homes will be maintained, however short periods of driveway closures are necessary to accommodate reconstruction of the curb and gutter and sidewalk across driveway entrances.
  • Updates and Additional Information
    • Updates will be posted on the City of Two Harbor’s webpage.
    • Contact the Highway Department or City of Two Harbors for additional information.  A public meeting to discuss construction details is tentatively scheduled for early May.

Major Maintenance Projects

  • In Planning

Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan

2024-2026 Plan Update
Anticipate plan completion in December 2023.  Stay tuned for opportunities to review and comment on the plan.


Work Zones

When the normal function of the roadway is suspended, temporary traffic control planning provides for continuity of the movement of motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic, transit operations; and access to property and utilities.

During the course of Road Maintenance, Lake County Highway Department, for the protection of the motoring public and the work crew, find it necessary to control traffic in our work zones. We do this by setting up work zones indicated by signs and flaggers. We, as a department take the safety of the motoring public and our crews very seriously. Because of this, we take great pride in training our personnel to be professional and courteous at all times.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration set the same guidelines throughout for state, local, federal and private contractors to follow. By following the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, everyone who works on roads or within the roads right-of-way will be following the same guide lines. If everyone follows these guidelines, the motoring public will know what to expect no matter where they travel.

No one set of temporary traffic control devices can satisfy all conditions for a given project. When you are approaching one of our work zones usually the first thing you should expect is a “Road Work Ahead” sign. The motorist should start slowing down and use caution when they see this. The next sign should give some instruction as to what action to take such as “Be Prepared to Stop”, “Left or Right Lanes End”, etc. Next you will normally encounter a “Flagger Ahead”, “Merge”, or some other similar sign. If a “Flagger Ahead” sign is visible you will next see a flagger with a stop/slow paddle to direct you around or through the actual work zone.

Driving through the work zone one should use extreme caution. The work zone is a very busy place. There are workers, trucks and equipment in places that you may not suspect. It is very important to follow the flagger’s instruction and drive slow and cautious. When leaving the work zone a flagger might possibly direct you back into your normal lane of travel. Keep an eye out for trucks and other traffic as you leave.

Please be patient. We may, as per state law, hold traffic up to twenty minutes at one time within a work zone. This is rare, but possible. We always try to keep traffic moving, so as not to disrupt the motoring public any longer than what is absolutely necessary. We do so only to maintain a safe condition for not only you the motoring public, but for our crews working within the work zone.

At times you will encounter workers doing quick projects such as, pothole patching, dead animal removal, trash pickup, etc. Normally they will have yellow caution warning lights on their trucks, and one worker directing traffic. When you see a truck with yellow lights on, slow down, use caution, and watch for directions. Always expect the unexpected in work zones.