Detroit Lakes City Council Approves West Lake Drive-Phase 2 Project Despite Costs Rising by Nearly 50%

Detroit Lakes’ property owners listen during the West Lake Drive-Phase 2 Public Hearing, June 7, 2022

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – The West Lake Drive-Phase 2 project was approved, Tuesday by the Detroit Lakes City Council with virtually no push-back from residents despite the project costs rising by nearly 50%.

The street and utility project along West Lake Drive from County Road 6 to the Pelican River will narrow the roadway to around 30′-32′, include curb and gutter, add new sanitary sewer services, replace the watermain, collect storm water runoff and add a multi-use trail on the East side of the roadway.

The total cost of the project was estimated to be around $2.8 million in the fall of 2021, however the project costs have now increased by nearly 50% to $4.2 million.

Of that $4.2 million price tag Becker County will pick up around $1.6 million, the city $1.4 million and property owners adjacent to the project will be assessed $1.2 million. A 50′ wide lot, which is the size of roughly 80% of the properties within the project’s boundaries will be assessed around $24,000. Those assessments will need to be paid back within 20 years, beginning in 2023 at an interest rate of 5.25%.

The project is likely to begin mid-July.