Bids for Rochester’s Silver Lake Dam Project Come in Millions Over $15.1 Million Estimate

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Bids for a project to modify Rochester’s Silver Lake Dam and to make other changes to the lake have come in millions of dollars over budget. 

See Also: Rochester City Council Rejects Appeal of Silver Lake Dam Project 

Estimates presented to the Rochester City Council last year indicated the project came with a $15.1 million price tag. 

The plans call for replacing the Silver Lake Dam with a series of cascading pools, dredging the lake, modifying the shore line along part of West Silver Lake Dr., installing a pedestrian/biking bridge east of North Broadway and adding a biking/walking path on the north shore of the lake. 

Get our free mobile app

Lowest Bid For Silver Lake Dam Modification Project Comes in Nearly $4 Million Higher Than Estimated

Bids received by the city came in at $18,937,132.74, $19,499,936.34, $19,586,399.22, and $24,396,978.13. 

City of Rochester Spokesperson additional items and changes prompted by input from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, City Council and community are reflected in the bids. 

City of Rochester

Moeller said staff are reviewing the bids and will develop a final funding package and project options for the council.

The elected leaders are slated to be presented with the options and will decide whether to award or reject bids either later this month or in early October. 

Permitting Delays Slowed Project

Work on the dam modification project was originally set to begin last year but was postponed due to state and federal permitting delays. The city had to cancel its effort to obtain bids last year as part of the holdup. 

Read More: Rochester's Silver Lake Dam Project Delayed 

Earlier this week, the City Council rejected an appeal of a Heritage Preservation Commission decision to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project. 

Two members from the group “Friends of Silver Lake” brought the appeal before the council.