Thanks to Lindsay Bjerke with Norton Realty and Bisanz Brothers for their support.
Dakota County is overseeing a major reconstruction of Delaware Avenue to modernize the street, make it safer for bikes and pedestrians, and replace failing infrastructure.
Where: Delaware Avenue from Marie to Dodd, as well as Butler Avenue from Delaware to Manomin Avenue.
Why: This section of Delaware is being reconstructed due to poor pavement and subgrade condition, steep roadway side slopes, lack of bike/pedestrian facilities, poor stormwater management, and failing sanitary sewer and water main infrastructure.
What: The project will fully reconstruct Delaware Avenue:
- Character: The project will transition this section of the road from rural to urban, replacing ditches with curb and gutter, similar to the work on Wentworth Avenue several years ago.
- Bike/pedestrian: New trail on the west side of Delaware, as well as new trail on the south side of Butler and a sidewalk on the north side of Butler.
- Utilities: New water mains, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer.
- Parking: The Emerson to Dodd section will be two feet wider than the Marie to Emerson section to allow for parking on the east side.
- Intersection improvements: Including a right turn lane at Dodd, pedestrian activated crossing lights on the south side of Emerson, and additional markings and signage at Wentworth.
- Butler section: Butler Avenue will get a mill and overlay, as well as new water and sanitary sewer.
- Dorset cul-de-sac: Due to the steep grade at Dorset Avenue and an offset intersection with Moreland Avenue, Dorset will be turned into a cul-de-sac. The project will include private driveway modifications to accommodate the cul-de-sac and a trail connection to Delaware.
Timeline: The project will happen over three phases, starting this fall.
- Phase 1: Fall 2026 and into 2027, including tree clearing, utility relocations, and pond modifications at the Somerset Country Club.
- Phase 2: 2027, reconstruction of Delaware from Wentworth to Dodd.
- Phase 3: 2028, reconstruction of Delaware from Marie to Wentworth, plus work on Butler Avenue.
Cost: The total estimated project cost is $21.2 million. While it’s primarily a Dakota County project, West St. Paul and Mendota Heights are both required to chip in. West St. Paul will contribute $2.4 million, with about $1 million of that going toward sanitary sewer.
- Easement negotiation is ongoing, with a majority of parcels settled at this point.
- Preliminary assessments are estimated to be $7,160 for a single family home with a normal lot size (some larger lots are paying twice that).
Public input: There have been multiple open houses for this project in December 2024, April 2025, and May 2026. West St. Paul will hold a public hearing for the assessments on June 22, 2026. More information can be found on the county’s project website.
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