Projects to watch in 2020 – Finance and Commerce

Minnesota is wrapping up a busy year of construction and more of the same is sure to come in 2020. In this year-end roundup, Finance & Commerce takes a look at 10 big projects to keep an eye on in the coming year.

Some of the projects, such as the $1.536 billion Bottineau Light Rail Transit line, are still in the planning stage. Others, such as the $240 million Silver Ramp at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, are in the home stretch of construction.

Projects on the list range in cost from an estimated $102.5 million to just north of $2 billion.

The list, which offers a sampling of building and transportation projects from across the state, includes:

Size: 14.5-mile route

Location: A corridor between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie

Cost: $2.003 billion

Owner: Metropolitan Council

Description:The Southwest LRT line is the biggest public works project in Minnesota history. It encompasses 16 stations, 29 new bridges, seven bridge modifications, eight tunnels, 15 at-grade crossings, 182,000 feet of track and more than 100 retaining walls. Major construction started in 2019. The line is scheduled to open for service in 2023.

Milestones to watch in 2020: The Metropolitan Council expects to get word of a full funding grant agreement in the first quarter of 2020. That puts the federal government on the hook for 48% of the project cost. In November 2018, theMet Council received a letter of no prejudicefrom the Federal Transit Administration, a milestone that cleared the way for construction.

Size: 13-mile route

Cost: $1.536 billion

Location: A route between downtown Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park

Owner: Metropolitan Council

Description:The project includes 11 new stations and construction along a corridor passing through Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park. The Met Council estimates it will take 6,500 construction workers to build the line. The estimated construction payroll is $300 million.

Milestones to watch in 2020: Once targeted for a 2020 construction start, the Bottineau project is in limbo because of a delay in executing a corridor-sharing agreement with the BNSF Railway. The project is at the 90% design stage. Hennepin County, a partner in the project, continues to work with communities on planning development around the corridor and other initiatives, county spokesman Kyle Mianulli said. The county remains absolutely committed to making the project happen, he said.

Ryan Cos. and its partner developers intend to build 3,800 housing units and hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail and employment space on the site once occupied by Ford Motor Co.s St. Paul manufacturing plant. (Submitted image: Ryan Cos. US Inc.)

Size: 122 acres

Location: Along Ford Parkway in St. Pauls Highland Park neighborhood

Cost: $1 billion-plus

Owner: Master developer Ryan Cos. US Inc. and various partners

Description:Roughly 3,800 mixed-income housing units, 150,000 square feet of retail space and 265,000 square feet of offices will anchor the site once occupied by a Ford Motor Co. manufacturing plant. The project will include 50 acres of parks and open space.

Milestones to watch in 2020: Ryan completed the $61 million acquisition of the development site in December. Also in December, Ryan announced a partnership with Weidner Apartment Homes for market-rate apartments on the site. Ryan previously tapped Project for Pride in Living and CommonBond Communities to deliver 760 affordable units. Ryan plans to break ground in spring 2020.

AECOMs Riversedge development will bring four towers offering a mix of residential, office, retail and hospitality to the former West Publishing site at 50 W. Kellogg Blvd. in St. Paul. (Submitted rendering: AECOM)

Size: A mix of Class A offices, apartments, retail, entertainment and hospitality uses in four towers.

Location: A 5-acre site overlooking the Mississippi River at 50 W. Kellogg Blvd.

Cost: $788 million

Owner: AECOM, with Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul

Description:The $278 million first phase will deliver 132,000 square feet of public realm space and trail connections, two towers with a 168-key hotel, 56 condo units, 350 rental apartments, 11,500 square feet of retail and 500 parking spaces. Phases two and three will bring two office-retail towers with additional parking. In all, the redevelopment will create 1,546 parking stalls, according to AECOM.

Milestones to watch in 2020: Last summer, after a six-month due diligence process and years of on-again, off-again proposals for the county-owned site, the Ramsey County Board agreed to a redevelopment deal with AECOM. Construction is expected to start in 2020.

The Minnesota Department of Transportations Twin Ports Interchange project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow in a busy freight corridor. Scopes of work include replacement of 35 bridges and reconstruction of a tangled interchange known to locals as the Can of Worms. (Submitted photo: MnDOT)

Size: Bridge and interchange replacements

Cost: $440 million

Location: At the intersection of Interstate 35, Interstate 535 and Highway 53 in Duluth

Owner: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Description:The Twin Ports Interchange project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow in a busy freight corridor. Scopes of work include replacement of 35 bridges and reconstruction of a tangled interchange known to locals as the Can of Worms.

Milestones to watch in 2020: MnDOT said in November that the projects estimated cost has grown to $440 million up from $343 million. Geotechnical challenges and the presence of contaminated soil and water are among the reasons for the higher cost. Despite the cost pressures, MnDOT plans to begin construction this spring on components that include the I-35 mainline, the main I-35/I-535/Highway 53 interchange, utilities, and culvert construction. Other components, such as the Garfield Avenue Interchange and replacement of the Highway 53 Bridge, are being delayed until more money is available. Initial construction is set to begin in May.

Canterbury Commons will bring hundreds of new housing units, entertainment, restaurants, and lodging to underused areas around Canterbury Park. Doran Cos. is building the first major project the Triple Crown Residences at Canterbury, a $100 million, 321-unit luxury apartment building. (Submitted image: Canterbury Park)

Size: 140 acres

Location: Canterbury Park property at 1100 Canterbury Road in Shakopee

Cost: $400 million

Owner: Canterbury Park

Description:Canterbury Commons will bring hundreds of new housing units, entertainment, restaurants, and lodging to underused areas around Canterbury Park. Doran Cos. is building the first major project the Triple Crown Residences at Canterbury, a $100 million, 321-unit luxury apartment building.

Milestones to watch in 2020: Canterbury officials have been working on infrastructure improvements to set the table for additional development. Planned new developments in 2020 include additional housing, offices, and other uses, said Jason Haugen, Canterburys director of development. Look for more announcements in the first quarter of 2020.

As part of its $326 million building program, the White Bear Lake School District intends to convert the vintage brick building at 4855 Bloom Ave. in White Bear Lake to a middle school. (Submitted photo: White Bear Lake School District)

Size: 485,000 square feet of new space

Location: Various locations in the White Bear Lake school district

Cost: $326 million

Owner: White Bear Lake Area Schools

Description:Voters in the White Bear Lake school district made history last fall when they approved a $326 million bond referendum, the largest in state history. The five-year construction program will touch all 16 buildings maintained by the district. Highlights include a 375,000-square-foot addition to White Bear Lake Area High Schools North Campus and a new elementary school in Hugo.

Milestones to watch in 2020: The school district is still in the planning phase. A planning group known as the Future of Learning Committee has met two times and two more meetings are scheduled for January. Construction will happen in phases through the 2024-25 school year.

A massing study submitted as part of the preliminary development plan for a massive, new water park at the Mall of America shows a hotel built between the water park and the water parks parking structure to the east. (Submitted illustration: DLR Group)

Size: 250,000-square feet

Cost: $250 million

Location: A surface parking site across from the Mall of Americas front entrance

Owner: Provident Resource Group is the nonprofit owner and operator

Description:Project backers say the new water park would bring more visitors and energy to the megamall, thus stimulating an indoor shopping attraction that accounts for 10 percent of the citys property tax base.

Milestones to watch in 2020: The Bloomington City Council granted zoning and entitlements for the water park in mid-December. In the first quarter of 2020, the council and Port Authority will consider the remaining development documents, according to the city.

PCL Construction Services submitted the $229.25 million low bid to construct an 11-level parking ramp here at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airports Terminal 1, also known as the Lindbergh Terminal. (Submitted image: Metropolitan Airports Commission)

Size: 11-level parking ramp

Cost: $240 million

Location: MSP Airport Terminal 1-Lindbergh Terminal

Owner: Metropolitan Airports Commission

Description:In the fall of 2017, PCL Construction Services set a new standard for projects at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport when it submitted the $229.25 million low bid to build the new Silver Ramp. Its the largest single construction contract ever awarded by the MAC. The 5,000-space ramp is under construction on a tight site between the existing Blue and Red ramps, the airport post office, and roadways leading to and from the terminal.

Milestones to watch in 2020: After more than two years of construction, the project is in the home stretch. John Welbes, a Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman, said the parking structure is on schedule to open in April.

Construction bids came in 11 percent over the $102.5 million estimate for this planned Metro Transit bus garage at 560 Sixth Ave. N. in Minneapolis. (Submitted rendering)

Size: 400,000 square feet

Cost: $102.5 million to $114 million

Location: Western edge of Metro Transits Heywood campus at 560 Sixth Ave. N. in Minneapolis

Owner: Metropolitan Council

Description:The new garage will offer additional space for bus storage, maintenance, operations and support functions. The Met Council is rebidding the project. Initial bids came in well above the $102.5 million estimate. The Met Council was prepared to award the contract to Knutson, the second-lowest bidder, after concluding that low bidder Adolfson & Peterson didnt make a good faith effort to meet the councils 15% goal for participation of disadvantaged business enterprises. In September, A&P filed a lawsuit to challenge the councils decision. A&P dropped the lawsuit after learning that the council planned to rebid the project.

Milestones to watch in 2020: The Met Council is evaluating the bids and expects a contract to be awarded in early March, pending approvals from the transportation committee and the full council, Met Council spokeswoman Bonnie Kollodge said. Construction is expected to start in April and wrap up in September 2022.

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Projects to watch in 2020 - Finance and Commerce