Roseville's Rice Street Bridge and Ramp Project Idled By State Shutdown

On the first day of the Minnesota state government shutdown, construction work on the Rice Street bridge and ramp project at Highway 36 in Roseville came to screeching halt.

And that’s a bit of a worry for city officials regarding the $16.5 million project being headed by up the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  

“We have some concerns about the Rice Street project not proceeding,” especially if the shutdown continues for any extended period,said Duane Schwartz, Roseville public works director.        

Currently, while some ramp work is finished, the southbound lanes of Rice Street have yet to be repaved. In addition, there is about a 300-foot section of County Road B west of Rice Street that is dirt gravel and could potentially suffer erosion if it is not eventually repaved and completely restored, Schwartz said.

Schwartz added that he had hoped to see state crews finish up the roadwork by the end of July. But that won’t be possible if the shutdown drags on, he said.

“I would hope it (the shutdown)wouldn’t threaten completion this year,” he said. “But who knows with these sorts of things.”

Barring any extended state government shutdown, the Rice Street project is scheduled to be completed by this November, MnDOT officials have said previously.