by Dennis Dalman
A low bid of $770,918 was accepted by the Sartell City Council for the construction of a Heritage Drive walking-biking trail project.
The low bid had been submitted by JR Ferche Inc. in Rice.
The 10-feet-wide trail will be constructed along Heritage Drive from Hutchinson Drive to Amber Avenue. It will include pedestrian crossings at Connecticut Avenue and at Seventh Ave. S.
The total project cost is expected to be $929,000.
In discussing the trail at the July 10 council meeting, it was noted in 2017, a state grant of $357,000 was given to Sartell. Since then, there has been such an increase in cost of materials and other expenses associated with trails that the City of Sartell requested more in grant funds for the Heritage trail project, and the state did agree to chip in $250,000 extra in funding.
The trail project is expected to begin in late summer and fall. It will be completed by fall 2024.