Preliminary and Final design for TH 61 from Lester River to Superior Street

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Aug 6, 2026
Due:	Aug 25, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Minnesota
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	28 - Engines, Turbines, and Components
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Brief Description: The State is in need of a preliminary and final design for Trunk Highway 61 from the Lester River to Superior Street in Duluth Minnesota. This design will include a roundabout and a continuous “T” intersection. The design includes a complex roundabout with vertical and horizontal curves, with a railroad crossing in close proximity, major utilities that cannot be relocated, ADA improvements, shoulder modifications and a wayside rest improvement/modification.

Date posted: 07/23/2026
Due date: 08/25/2026

Attachment Preview

1. Project Overview

MnDOT Contract No. 1063721

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

1.1. Independent Contractor

1.1.1.

The Contractor agrees it is acting in the role of an independent contractor. The

Contractor, and its employees and subcontractors, will not be considered employees of

the State for any reason. The Contractor acknowledges that it is responsible for its own

financial control. The Contractor has negotiated the payment for this contract with the

State, which may result in a profit or loss for the Contractor. The Contractor also

acknowledges that it is responsible for the behavioral control of itself, its operations,

and its staff. The Contractor is solely responsible for determining the means, methods,

and sequence of performing the work covered by this contract. The State has included

deliverable dates in this contract, not to provide a “sequence” of work but because the

State must coordinate these deliverables with (1) the State’s financial plans, (2) other

contracts managed by the State, and (3) work performed by the State’s own staff. The

parties have mutually drafted and agreed upon a scope of work. The level of detail used

to describe the work is intended only to establish minimum standards and ensure

consistency across the hundreds of projects managed by the State; the Contractor

remains responsible for determining the means and methods of performing the work to

meet or exceed those requirements. The State will not directly supervise the

Contractor’s work but will provide oversight and monitoring, as required by Minnesota

Statutes §16C.08 and 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 172.5, to ensure

compliance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of this contract. At the

conclusion of this contract, the State will evaluate the Contractor’s performance under

this contract for potential use in future evaluations and selections as required by

Minnesota Statutes §16C.08 and 23 CFR Part 172.5.

1.2. Project Description

1.2.1.

State Project (SP) 6925-147 is located on Trunk Highway (TH) 61 from 0.14 miles east of

60th Avenue East to 0.12 miles north of Superior Street. TH 61 in the project area is a

principal arterial with a current Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of approximately 11,000 and

posted speeds of 30–40 mph. The project extents include Bridge 69X11 (TH 61 over the

Lakewalk trail); no bridge work is included in the project. United States Bike Route

(USBR) 41 follows the Lakewalk adjacent to the corridor. The project is scheduled for

fiscal year 2030 with a planned letting date of 10/24/2029.

The general scope of work for the project to be addressed in the preliminary and final

design includes:

1.2.1.1.

1.2.1.2.

Pavement Resurfacing: 2-inch mill & overlay of bituminous pavement (mainline and

shoulders) from start of project to the pavement reconstruction areas associated

with the proposed continuous “T” and roundabout.

Intersection Reconstruction: Based on an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) study

completed in 2025, construct a single lane roundabout at TH 61 and Superior Street

and a continuous “T” at TH 61 and Congdon Boulevard. The roundabout pavement

will be concrete which will extend out varying lengths onto roundabout legs.

Remaining reconstruction areas, including the continuous “T” intersection, will be

bituminous full-depth sections. The roundabout center island will receive a native

seed mix only (no landscaping) with a raised center mound approximately 6 feet in

height for southbound approach visibility.

1.2.1.3.

1.2.1.4.

1.2.1.5.

1.2.1.6.

1.2.1.7.

1.2.1.8.

1.2.1.9.

1.2.1.10

MnDOT Contract No. 1063721

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

Temporary Bypass and Detour: The roundabout will be constructed offline via a

temporary two-lane bypass in the northwest quadrant of TH 61 and Superior Street,

with a TH 61 detour routed via Superior Street and 60th Avenue East and a

crossover on TH 61 north of the roundabout. Temporary traffic signals at 60th

Avenue East and Superior Street and/or 60th Avenue and TH 61 are anticipated. A

local detour will be required during closure of the Congdon Boulevard intersection.

Local access must be maintained to the Large Lakes Observatory/Limnology Center

and the Brighton Beach Park entrance throughout construction.

Railroad Crossing: To accommodate the realignment of TH 61 adjacent to the

proposed roundabout, replace the Saint Louis and Lake County Regional Railroad

Authority signals/gates and crossing surface. Temporary signals/gates may be

needed during construction for construction traffic. All railroad-related work will be

Contractor’s scope of work.

Truck Stopping Lanes: Truck stopping lanes at the railroad crossing are to be

provided and the need for shoulders to facilitate a bikeable shoulder are to be

evaluated as part of the preliminary design.

Guardrail: Update guardrail to current standards. Remove and replace guardrail at

the southwest quadrant of Bridge 69X11; install new guardrail at the north end

(inland side) of Bridge 69X11; perpetuate existing guardrail at the Brighton Beach

Park Road entrance. Remove all guardrail north of Congdon Boulevard and install

new guardrail as needed based on new geometric layout. Determine if any guardrail

is needed at new railroad signal masts.

Lighting: Install new lighting systems at the proposed roundabout (at Superior

Street) and continuous T (at Congdon Boulevard).

Drainage and Stormwater: Within the mill and overlay limits, repair or rehabilitate

three existing centerline culverts consisting of two cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) linings

(30-inch and 24-inch Reinforced Concrete (RC)) and one culvert outlet extension

with catch basin. Replace up to three culverts within the anticipated reconstruction

areas. Provide new storm sewer and drainage systems where required by the new

intersection geometry at Superior Street and Congdon Boulevard and at the new

pedestrian walk with curb adjacent to the wayside rest areas. A permanent

stormwater treatment facility (stormwater filtration basin) is assumed to be

required to satisfy Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)/ National

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. In addition, drainage

erosion repairs will be made at the lake-side pavement edge of the Visitor Center

wayside rest.

Pedestrian Facilities/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Install pedestrian

facilities with curb (at both sides of walk) along the lakeside of TH 61 from the

wayside rest area near Lester River to the Lakewalk just past the wayside rest area

with the Visitor Center and at the roundabout and continuous “T”.

Wayside Rests: Improve the wayside rest areas near the Lester River and at the

Visitor Center.

Lester River wayside improvements to include:

i. A reconstructed pavement section with separate entrance/exit access points.

ii. A retaining wall at the lakeside to improve pavement slope and widen the

available parking area several feet toward the lake. Assume the design of the

retaining wall consists of reinforced cast in place concrete construction,

approximately 100 lineal feet, and an average height of 5 feet (from top of footing

MnDOT Contract No. 1063721

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

to top of wall), and competent bedrock is an average of 3 feet below grade.

Assume footing is structurally attached to bedrock via rock anchors. The wayside

and associated wall are located adjacent to Lake Superior and must be designed

to withstand the wave and ice-affected environment. Coastal analysis is required.

State will provide foundation recommendations.

iii. New parking layout

b. Visitor Center wayside improvements to include:

i. Separate entrance/exit access points

ii. New parking layout. No pavement resurfacing or reconstruction is planned at this

wayside.

1.2.1.11.

1.2.1.12.

Brighton Beach Access: Replace the bypass lane with a dedicated left turn lane for

Southbound TH 61 left turning vehicles entering Brighton Beach Park Road.

Corridor Treatments: Reduce the width of existing shoulders and provide a 6-foot

bikeable shoulder on both sides of TH 61 from start of project to roundabout side

paths at Superior Street. Install shoulder rumble strips; replace pavement markings

with ground-in wet-reflective multi-component striping; and replace signing

throughout the project limits.

1.2.2. See Exhibit B: Scoping Layout for additional information.

1.3. General Statement of Work

1.3.1.

The State requires professional and technical engineering services for the predesign and

final design of SP 6925-147, beginning with the State-provided scoping layout and

delivering a complete Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (P.S.&E.) package for the bid

letting under a Process B complex plan turn-in. The Contractor's services include

development of the staff-approved geometric layout and design memorandum,

environmental documentation, and final construction plans, special provisions, and cost

estimates, together with design support through bidding and construction as specified

in this Scope of Work. In general, the proposed project includes the following Contractor

tasks:

1.3.1.1.

1.3.1.2.

1.3.1.3.

1.3.1.4.

1.3.1.5.

1.3.1.6.

Project Management

Environmental Documentation

A Non-Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) is assumed.

Section 4(f) environmental impacts are expected on the project, including, but not

limited to, city park land, a city trail (Lakewalk), and a section of TH 61 which is

eligible to be a historic roadway.

A preliminary review of the scoping layout, which includes a roundabout at TH 61

and Superior Street, by the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) has

determined the project will likely have an Adverse Effect on the historic roadway. If

SHPO makes a final determination of Adverse Effect, the State plans to work

through any necessary mitigation.

Predesign activities including Construction Staging Layouts(including temporary

bypass design for roundabout construction), Staff-Approved Layouts and

Construction Limits.

Final Design Activities including Hydraulic Design, Roadway Plans, Temporary

Construction Staging plans(including temporary bypass design for roundabout),

Temporary Drainage, Cost Participation Funding Layouts, and special provisions.

Limited Visual Impact Assessment (VIA)

Traffic Control Plans

1.3.1.7.

1.3.1.8.

1.3.1.9.

1.3.1.10.

1.3.1.11.

1.3.1.12.

MnDOT Contract No. 1063721

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

Pavement Marking Plan

Signing Plan

Lighting Plan

Utility Coordination

Other project tasks to be performed by the contractor include temporary

construction bypass design, supporting the State in stakeholder and public

engagement, coordination with railroad designer, post turn-in plan corrections (if

needed), post letting design assistance (if needed).

Other constraints and design considerations include:

Utilities to Remain: the City of Duluth has two 42-inch watermains crossing TH 61

(one along Superior Street, riveted steel installed in 1896; one just north of the

railroad, steel installed in 1958) and a 6-inch gas main crossing just south of Superior

Street. The Duluth North Shore Sanitary District has a 14-inch Polyvinyl Chloride

(PVC) force main just north of the railroad. The design must avoid relocation of the

two watermains and should also seek to avoid relocation of the gas main and force

main. In lieu of relocation, protection measures for these utilities may be required

where grades or loading change.

Bedrock: Exposed and shallow bedrock is present throughout the project area and

should be anticipated in drainage, grading, and construction limit development.

Design intent is to minimize bedrock removal where possible.

1.3.2. In general, the State will provide the following tasks:

1.3.2.1.

1.3.2.2.

1.3.2.3.

1.3.2.4.

1.3.2.5.

1.3.2.6.

1.3.2.7.

1.3.2.8.

1.3.2.9.

1.3.2.10.

1.3.2.11.

Design survey work

Limited Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) investigation

Wetland delineation with wetlands report

Project permitting

Right-of-Way acquisition

ICE studies

Material Design Recommendations (including pavement cores/soil borings/rock

probes)

ADA recommendations

Preliminary Hydraulic Recommendations

Design of railroad signals and crossing platform (through agreement with railroad)

Lead and plan public engagement meetings

1.4. Web-Based Teleconferencing

1.4.1.

The Contractor must provide the means for the project team to meet via web-based

teleconferencing that allows participants to view the desktop of the meeting organizer.

Participants must be able to “take control” of the virtual desktop as needed to point out

things on the file being displayed. Voice communication may occur via computer or

phone.

1.5. Source Type Codes

1.5.1.

1.5.2.

If requested by the State's Project Manager, every deliverable must list a source type

code. The source type code may be used in the Contractor’s invoice to subtotal the

deliverables together under that source type code.

The Contractor is not required to know how to use Primavera P6 (P6) or work within the

program itself unless stated in Project Management section. The Contractor is, however,

expected to understand the concept of Critical Path Method scheduling, understand

MnDOT Contract No. 1063721

Exhibit A: Scope of Work

hardcopy reports printed by the P6 schedule, update the hardcopy reports, and

recommend changes to the schedule to reflect changes in the scope or flow of work.

1.6. Milestones and Contract Completion Timeline

1.6.1.

The project is scheduled for a 10/24/2029 bid letting. Based on this letting date, the

dates for key project milestones are listed below. The project schedule will be discussed

at bi-weekly Project Management Team (PMT) meetings and may be revised as agreed

by both the State and Contractor.

1.6.1.1.

1.6.1.2.

1.6.1.3.

1.6.1.4.

1.6.1.5.

1.6.1.6.

1.6.1.7.

1.6.1.8.

1.6.1.9.

Project Kick Off Meeting

Preliminary Geometric Layout

Final Geometric Layout

Final Construction Limits

30% Plan

60% Plan

90% Plan

95% Plan

Project Turn In

12/8/2026

3/15/2027

6/23/2027

9/10/2027

6/8/2028

10/17/2028

2/22/2029

4/26/2029

5/10/2029

1.7. Format of Deliverables

1.7.1. Plain Language

1.7.1.1.

All documents or exhibits specifically designed to be used by the public must be

developed in “plain language.” Executive Order 14-07 requires the Office of the

Governor and all Executive Branch agencies to communicate with Minnesotans

using plain language and defines plain language as a communication that an

audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Additional information

is available at ADA Plain Language. To meet the requirements of this executive

order, the Contractor will:

a. Use language commonly understood by the public

b. Write in short and complete sentences

Present information in a format that is easy to find and easy to understand

d. Clearly state directions and deadlines to the audience

1.7.1.2. Technical documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and drawings used by technical

staff do not need to be in plain language.

1.7.2. Software

1.7.2.1. Report source files must be in current versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft

Excel. Files must be delivered to the State by email or file transfer protocol (FTP).

1.7.2.2. Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) deliverable source files must meet the

State’s Level 2 Enhanced CADD Data Delivery Specifications.

1.7.2.3.

All applicable spatial data and maps created in Geographic Information System (GIS)

software must be provided in a standard shapefile format (.shp) that is compatible

with current versions of ArcMap software.

1.7.2.4. All source files also must be converted to a portable document format (pdf), and the

PDF must be searchable, with scanned pages eliminated except for signature pages.

1.7.2.5. The Contractor must comply with the State of Minnesota’s Accessibility Standards

for all documents or exhibits specifically designed to be used by the public. The

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

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Preliminary and Final design for TH 61 from Lester River to Superior Street

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See also