Plymouth City Council Approves Nathan Lane Reconstruction Project in 4-2 Vote

In a split vote last week, the Plymouth City Council approved plans for a road reconstruction project. 

The project is located near the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Interstate Highway 169.

Through the project, portions of Nathan Lane, 54th and 56th avenues, and the Highway 169 service road will be reconstructed. 

“This project will be impactful and an inconvenience to the traveling public,” said Michael Payne, Plymouth assistant city engineer. “That said, the project does include a number of different methods such as construction phasing, as well as calendar day limits per phase to try to limit that inconvenience to the extent feasible.”

Included in the scope of the project are sewer and public utility reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement and sidewalk construction.

Project costs are $3.5 million. Special assessments to property owners will cover approximately $817,000 of the total cost.  

City staff anticipate construction to begin this summer and wrap up by June 1, 2024.

A map with the construction area highlighted in orange.

Some Residents Oppose Special Assessment for Road Reconstruction

Residents living in the nearby Hickory Hills housing development took issue with footing the bill for the special assessment. The development was built with privately-owned roads.

“[The plan] places an unfair and inequitable financial burden on our residents by requiring us to pay for paving twice,” said resident Kristen Seela. 

Seela asked the council to modify the city’s special assessment policy to exclude property owners living on private roads.

The council previously asked city staff members to prepare a report on the city’s special assessment policy for evaluation.  

Plymouth City Council Members Julie Pointner and Alise McGregor cast votes against approving the special assessments. 

“I did ask that we put this up for discussion within the council, so I don’t know what those next steps are,” Pointer said. 

City staff originally scheduled the project to occur in 2024. It was moved up a year with the potential construction of a housing development at Bass Lake Road and 169. 

Plymouth