Roads
Every road in Nowthen, drawn from Anoka County's official centerline data. Click a road to see what the record holds for it — engineer pavement ratings, the project history (overlays, seal coats, reconstructions, assessments), and a jump to everything else the archive says about it. Blue roads have a rating or a project in the city record; gray means no record in the archive yet (it begins around 2011, plus the 2008 and 2015 studies). Tan roads are maintained by Anoka County or the state.
Auto-extracted from the record — not yet verified by hand
Click any road on the map to see what the city record holds for it — pavement ratings, the engineer's recommended repair and its cost, and a jump to everything else the archive says about it.
Surface type — paved vs. gravel — isn't published in the county's road data, so this map doesn't mark which roads are gravel yet. At the city level, though, the record is clear: at the January 13, 2026 improvement hearing the city engineer told the council Nowthen maintains about 36 miles of paved roads and 25 miles of gravel roads (see the record). Marking each gravel road on the map needs Nowthen's own road-maintenance list; it's on the list, not invented here.
Road projects & studies, by year
Every road project the meeting record describes — overlays, reconstructions, seal coats, gravel work, assessments, bids, awards, and the pavement studies — pulled from agendas, packets, and minutes. Dollar figures are the estimates, bids, awards, and assessments as printed. Click a road on the map above for that road's own history.
Read from the record by the assistant — auto-extracted and not yet verified by hand. No figure here is an official budget number.
2031
Autumn Acres (Phase II - 188th Lane and Xenolith St · Autumn Acres · Phase II - 188th Lane and Xenolith St
2030
2029
Jasper St NW
Iguana St NW · 199th Ave NW · Ferret St NW · Burns Commercial Park · Burns Town Center · Burs Commercial Park & Burns Town Center (Iguana St., Ferret St., 199th Ave.)
Memorial Park · Memorial park
2028
2027
187th Ave NW · 188th Ave NW · 226th Ave NW · 225th Cir NW · Iman St NW · Hunters Meadow · Milestone Ponds · 224th & 225th Ave. …
Hunter's Meadow · Milestone Ponds
Hunter's Meadow · Milestone Ponds
Hunter's Meadow · Milestone Ponds
184th Avenue and Tiger Street
Twin Lakes Rd NW
2026
Jasper St NW · Eaton St NW · Waco St NW · Xenon St NW · 224th Ct NW · 229th Ave NW · 222nd Cir NW · Baugh St NW …
Lithium St NW · Engren's Addition (Lithium St. NW)
224th Ct NW · 218th Ave NW · Country Meadows · Westpahl Country Acres · Morton Farm Preserve
Country Meadows (S of Norris Lake Road) - Baugh Street, 222nd Avenue, 222nd Circle, Iman Street, Eaton Street · Westpahl Country Acres - 229th Avenue, Argon Street, Waco Street · Morton Farm Preserve - Waco Street and 215th Avenue · 224th Court (East of Sugar Bush Road)
Country Meadows (S of Noris Lake Rd) · Westpahl Country Acres (229th Ave.) · Morton Farm Preserve (Waco ST.) · 224th Court (east of Sugar Bush Rd)
Tiger St NW · Sun Land Acres 2nd Addition (Tiger St. NW)
CSAH 22 (Baugh Street)
Krypton St NW · Shiloh Creek (Krypton St. NW)
Twin Lakes Rd NW
+ 17 more in 2026 — search 2026 road records
2025
Hunters Meadow and Milestone Ponds - 224th Ave, 225th Ave, 225th Cir, 226th Ave · Bailey Estates and Prairie Acres - 187th Ave, 188th Ave, Iman St · Burnside Trails - 184th Avenue and Tiger Street · Autumn Acres - Phase 1 - 185th Ave, Zeolite Street, Bison Street · Country Meadows (S of Norris Lake Road) - Baugh Street, 222nd Avenue, 222nd Circle, Iman Street, Eaton Street · Westpahl Country Acres - 229th Avenue, Argon Street, Waco Street · Morton Farm Preserve - Waco Street and 215th Avenue · 224th Court (East of Sugar Bush Road) …
Ford Brook Estate 2nd addition · Erkium
Krypton Street (East of Cleary Road) · Lithium Street (East of Cleary Road) · 189th Lane (West of Cleary Road) · Tiger Street (CSAH 22 to 201st Street) · 218th Street (East of Xenon Street) · Garnet Street (South of Norris Lake Road) · 194th Lane (East of Baugh Street)
Krypton St NW · 194th Ln NW · Tiger St NW · 189th Ln NW · Lithium St NW · 180th · 194th · Lithium …
Erkium St NW · Ford Brook Estates (Erkium)
Erkium St NW · Ford Brook Estates (Erkium)
+ 22 more in 2025 — search 2025 road records
2024
Waco St. and Drive · Waco St NW · Ventre St NW · Waco Dr NW · 182nd Ln NW
Waco St NW · Ventre St NW · Waco Dr NW · 182nd Ln NW · Rogers Lake Road
Waco St NW · Waco Dr NW
Waco St NW
Waco St NW · Ventre St NW · Waco Dr NW · 182nd Ln NW
Erkium St NW
+ 17 more in 2024 — search 2024 road records
2023
Petersons Pond View · Engren Addition · Prairie Brook · Westpahl Country Acres · Oak Pond · Shiloh Creek · Commercial Park · Sun Land Acres 2nd addition
Waco St NW · Ventre St NW · Waco Dr NW · 182nd Ln NW
Waco St NW · Ventre St NW · Waco Dr NW · 182nd Ln NW
Jasper St NW
Jasper St NW
Pinnaker Lake Road Project (415)
Rogers Lake
+ 6 more in 2023 — search 2023 road records
2022
Commercial Park
Iguana St NW · 199th Ave NW · Ferret St NW
Vicuna St NW · 190th Ave NW
Jasper St NW · Erkium St NW · 185th Avenue NW/Clifton Road NW/187th Avenue NW · 184th Avenue NW/Tiger Street NW · Waco Street NW/Waco Drive NW
185th Avenue NW/Clifton Road NW/187th Avenue NW
Jasper St NW
+ 20 more in 2022 — search 2022 road records
2021
Jasper St NW · 185th Ave NW
185th Ln NW · Roger's Lake Area
Waco St NW · 184th Ave NW · 183rd Ln NW · Ventre St NW · Yakima St NW · Salish Cir NW · 185th Ln NW
Ebony St NW · Garnet St NW
Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW
Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW
+ 34 more in 2021 — search 2021 road records
2020
Krypton St NW · Ebony St NW · 189th · 190th · Dolomite · Merle's Lane · Potassium · Ebony …
Krypton St NW · Ebony St NW · 189th & 190th & Dolomite · Merle's Lane & Potassium
Krypton St NW · Ebony St NW · 189th & 190th & Dolomite · Merle's Lane · Potassium
Garnet St NW · 185th Ave NW · 189th Ave NW · Ebony
189th Ln NW · 190th Ln NW · Dolomite St NW
Potassium St NW · Krypton St NW · 183rd Ave NW · Merle's Lane
Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW
185th Ave NW · Ebony St NW · Willow Creek · Ebony & Garnet Streets
Potassium St NW · Krypton St NW · 183rd Ave NW · Merle's Lane
Potassium St NW · Krypton St NW · 183rd Ave NW · Merle's Lane
Ebony · Garnet
Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW
+ 30 more in 2020 — search 2020 road records
2019
Krypton St NW
Halas St NW · Garnet St NW · Old Viking Blvd NW · Meadows of Verde Valley · Rolling Hills
Halas St NW · Garnet St NW · Old Viking Blvd NW · Meadows of Verde Valley Addition · Rolling Hills · Eaton St NW · Driscoll St NW · 195th Ave NW …
Halas St NW · Garnet St NW · Old Viking Blvd NW · Meadows of Verde Valley · Rolling Hills
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
+ 91 more in 2019 — search 2019 road records
2018
Old Viking Blvd NW · Nowthen Boulevard (County Road 5) · St. Francis Boulevard (State Highway 47)
Rogers Lake Area
Old Viking Blvd NW · CR66 · HWY 47
Old Viking Blvd NW · CR66 · HWY 47
Ebony St NW · Hedgehog/19rth/Marmoset ** · Watercrest **
Jasper St NW
189th Ln NW · 190th Ln NW · Dolomite St NW
187th Ave NW · 185th Ave NW · Clifton Rd NW · Garnet St (Miller Lake Estates) · Krypton · 218th · Rolling Hills · Meadows of Verde Valley …
Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW
+ 70 more in 2018 — search 2018 road records
2017
Iguana · Tiger · 213th Ave Tungsten/Gypsy Valley
189th (Peterson Addition) · 185th/Zeolite/188thln/Bison/Xenolith · 188th · 183rd Ave/Potassium/Merles Ln · 215th Ave NW · 210th Ln,210th Ave/Cobalt · Lithium · Olive
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Pinnaker
+ 11 more in 2017 — search 2017 road records
2016
184th Ave NW · 189th Dolomite/190th & Jasper
Ebony · Garnet
185th/Clifton/187th · Krypton St NW
Old Viking Blvd NW · Nowthen Blvd (CSAH 5) · St. Francis Blvd. (TH47)
2015
Watercrest Blvd NW · Garnet St NW · Ebony St NW · Old Viking Blvd NW · 185th Ln NW · Waco St NW · 184th Ave NW · 183rd Ln NW …
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Ebony · Garnet · #24
Norris Lake Rd NW · Garnet
Norris Lake Rd NW · Garnet · Ebony
Ebony · Garnet
+ 10 more in 2015 — search 2015 road records
2014
Rogers Lake
19801 Nowthen Boulevard
189th Ave NW · Engen Blvd NW · Birchwood · Springhill · 198 th · hedgehog · xenon · cul de sac
Marmoset St NW · Burns Pkwy NW · Hedgehog
Hedgehog St NW · 194th
Birchwood Ln NW
205th · Basalt
+ 9 more in 2014 — search 2014 road records
2013
Halas · Erkium · Krypton
218th Ave NW · Westphal County Development · Rhinestone · 198th/Fire St/Recycling · Basalt 214th Ave 214 Ct Dolomite & 215th Ct
Waco St NW · 224th Ave NW · Olivine St NW · 214th Ct NW · 224th Ct NW · 226th Ave NW · 225th Ave NW · 214th Ave NW …
Sparre Rd NW · Douglas Cir NW · 212nd Ave NW
Verde Valley Rd NW · Xenon St NW · Zeolite/229th/Hillside Trails · Variolite · Hillendale · W. Ford Brook · Basalt · 205th …
Old Viking Blvd NW
Hillside Trl NW · 223'd · Zeolite · Variolite
Waco St NW · 224th Ave NW · Olivine St NW · 214th Ct NW · 224th Ct NW · 226th Ave NW · 225th Ave NW · 214th Ave NW …
2012
189th Ave NW · Peridot Street (Fox Hill Estates) · 224th Court (Arabian Meadows) · Jasper St NW · 189th Ln NW · 190th Ln NW · Dolomite St NW · Garnet Street (Miller Lake Estates) …
Old Viking Blvd NW
Country Meadows
Old Viking Blvd NW
Old Viking Blvd NW
Viking Blvd NW
Viking Blvd NW
2011
Bailey Estates
Bailey Estates
Xenon
Bailey Estates
189th Ave NW · Ebony · Garnet · Krypton · Hedge Hog
Xenon St NW · 225th Ave NW · 225th Cir NW · Milestone Ponds
Ebony and Garnet
Dust control (calcium chloride), by year
Nowthen sprays calcium chloride (lately magnesium chloride / “dust coating”) on its gravel roads each year to hold down dust. Here is what the record shows the city treated and paid, year by year — the contract award or paid claim where the record has it, otherwise the quote or estimate, as printed. Recent years are treated citywide by the mile rather than road-by-road; older plans named each street. The city has noted it can afford dust control on only about 10–11 of its ~26 miles of gravel road a year, at roughly $4,800 per mile.
Read from the record by the assistant — auto-extracted and not yet verified by hand. No figure here is an official budget number.
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Roads treated: 205th Ave NW · 223rd · Basalt · Hillside Trl NW · Variolite · Verde Valley Rd NW · W Ford Brook · Xenon · Zeolite
Roads treated: 205th
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Roads treated: 189th · 191st to Yttrium · 204th and Yttrium · 205th · 207th · 223rd · 229th · Basalt · Hillendale · Hillside Trl NW · Peridot · Post Rd NW · Rabbit · Verde Valley Rd NW · W-Ford Brook · Wolfram · +3 more
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Roads treated: 189th Ave NW · 191st Ave NW · 191st Ave NW (off Hwy 66) · 191st Ln NW · 199th Ave NW · 203rd Ave NW · 204 H Ave / Yttrium St. · 204th Ave / Yttrium St. · 205th Ave/ Peridot/207th Ave NW · 229th (1/2 cost w/St Francis) · Basalt St NW · Engen Blvd NW · Hillendale Rd NW · Old Viking Blvd NW · Rhinestone St NW · Twin Pkwy NW · +5 more
Roads treated: 205th Ave NW · 229th 1/2 Cost (with St.Francis) · Hillendale Rd NW · Post Rd NW · Variolite St NW · Verde Valley Rd NW · Xenon St NW · Zeolite St NW
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Citywide gravel-road program — individual streets not itemized in the record this year.
Roads treated: 189th Ln NW · 191st · 191st Ave NW · 204th Ave/Yttrium St. · 205th · 223rd Ave NW · 229th Ave NW · Basalt St NW · Engin · Hillendale Rd NW · Post Rd NW · Rabbit St NW · Variolite St NW · Verde Valley Rd NW · Wolfram St NW · Xenon St NW · +1 more
Roads treated: 189th · 191st · 205th · 223rd · 229th · Basalt · Pinnaker · Post Rd NW · Rabbit · Variolite · West Ford Brook Dr NW · Wolfram · Xenon St NW · Yttrium · Zeolite · Zeolite St NW · +1 more
Roads treated: 205th · Basalt · Basalt St NW · Hillendale · Rabbit · Variolite · Verde Valley Rd NW · W. Ford Brook · Xenon St NW · Zeolite/229th/Hillside Trails
Roads treated: 205th · Basalt · Basalt St NW · Hillendale · Variolite · Verde Valley Rd NW · Zeolite/229th/Hillside Trails
Roads treated: 205th Ave NW · Hillendale · Hillside Trl NW · Variolite · Verde Valley Rd NW · Zeolite
Costs are the figure most specific to each year's dust-control action as printed — an awarded contract or paid claim where available, otherwise a quote or staff estimate. They are not the line-item budget appropriation. Click a gravel road on the map above to see which years it appears in the record.
What the engineer's rating studies say
The September 2015 city engineer memo re-rated the roads first studied in 2008, on a 0–100 scale, and printed a recommended repair and planning-level cost for each. Figures are shown exactly as printed — where one estimate covered several roads as a single job, the note says so.
| Road | 2008 rating | 2015 rating | Engineer's recommendation (2015) | Printed estimate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182nd Ln NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| 183rd Ln NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| 184th Ave NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| 185th Ln NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| Ebony St NW | 54 | 35 | Total reconstruct (severe alligator cracking, inadequate structural strength; subgrade repair and drainage improvements needed)Printed estimate of $580,000 covers Ebony Street and Garnet Street as one job. | $580,000 | packet p.1 |
| Garnet St NW | 59 | 38 | Total reconstruct (severe alligator cracking, inadequate structural strength; subgrade repair and drainage improvements needed)Printed estimate of $580,000 covers Ebony Street and Garnet Street as one job. | $580,000 | packet p.1 |
| Krypton St NW | 67 | 56 | Patch failed areas and construct a 2" overlay | $110,000 | packet p.2 |
| Old Viking Blvd NW2015 rating covers CR 66 to HWY 47 | 78-81 | 53 | Patch isolated failed areas and construct a 2" overlayThe 2015 rating of 53 is printed for the segment from CR 66 to HWY 47 only; the 2008 rating 78-81 covers the full 18,370' (3.48 mi) road. | $540,000 | packet p.1 |
| Salish Cir NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| Ventre St NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| Waco Dr NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| Waco St NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
| Watercrest Blvd NW | 65 | 58 | Total reconstruct | $140,000 | packet p.1 |
| Yakima St NW | 63-93 | 48-80 | Repair failed areas of bituminous, skim patching or tight blading to correct the "dips", correct subgrade (approx. 150') on the north end of Yakima Street, and construct a 2" overlayPrinted estimate of $530,000 covers the nine Rogers Lake area roads as one job (Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ln, Ventre St, 183rd Ln, 184th Ave, 185th Ln, Yakima St, Salish Cir). The 2008 ratings "63-93" and 2015 ratings "48-80" are printed as ranges across the group, not per road. | $530,000 | packet p.1 |
Ratings and estimates are copied verbatim from the engineer's memo. Ranges (like “48–80”) are how the memo printed group studies. A 2024-commissioned rating study exists in presentation form only; its tables are not yet in the archive's machine-readable record.
What every city in the county spends on streets
How many miles of road each city actually maintains, what it spent on streets, and how it pays. A city with real debt service and little special-assessment revenue tends to bond for roads; one with cash street construction and no debt service tends to pay as it goes. Audited spending is 2023 (MN State Auditor); road miles are 2024 (MnDOT). Rows are ordered by similarity to Nowthen.
| City | City road miles | Total street spending | Per city road mile | Street construction | Debt service | Special assessments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nowthen that's us | 58.7 | $611,771 | $10,426 | $162,443 | $442,878 | $119,738 |
| Ham Lake | 155.6 | $3,887,200 | $25,027 | $2,645,876 | $203,542 | $63,394 |
| Andover | 206.4 | $11,231,588 | $54,844 | $8,450,682 | $3,917,157 | $1,114,953 |
| East Bethel | 131.3 | $2,645,448 | $20,214 | $1,583,806 | $876,125 | $302,086 |
| Lino Lakes | 107.1 | $4,533,781 | $42,531 | $2,642,338 | $2,907,744 | $1,025,575 |
| Columbus | 71.3 | $1,562,934 | $22,038 | $729,457 | $1,114,592 | $534,217 |
| Oak Grove | 124.7 | $2,364,408 | $19,051 | $1,697,873 | $15,142 | $86,484 |
| Ramsey | 187.9 | $17,728,335 | $95,211 | $12,175,501 | $3,579,179 | $562,227 |
| Centerville | 16.3 | $525,162 | $32,159 | $184,410 | $398,703 | $198,640 |
| Bethel | 2.8 | $141,188 | $50,067 | $65,900 | $85,169 | $0 |
| St. Francis | 49.2 | $1,149,411 | $23,353 | $569,826 | $859,851 | $41,092 |
| Circle Pines | 17.4 | $546,277 | $31,377 | $198,884 | $1,306,096 | $276,500 |
| Coon Rapids | 219.4 | $13,474,484 | $61,421 | $7,234,160 | $6,851,402 | $2,149,249 |
| Blaine | 259.3 | $32,644,502 | $125,958 | $26,095,631 | $6,325,309 | $1,490,490 |
| Fridley | 103.3 | $8,588,212 | $82,611 | $5,721,043 | $5,572,085 | $683,922 |
| Spring Lake Park | 27.2 | $968,660 | $35,599 | $61,457 | $741,812 | $78,891 |
| Columbia Heights | 57 | $7,181,138 | $125,897 | $4,990,838 | $3,929,008 | $819,886 |
| Lexington | 9.2 | $316,235 | $34,561 | $135,683 | $252,938 | $81,511 |
| Anoka | 72.8 | $27,921,835 | $384,757 | $2,673,135 | $2,268,308 | $689,000 |
| Hilltop | 1.3 | $244,427 | $190,959 | $27,683 | $0 | $0 |
“Total street spending” combines maintenance, snow/ice, engineering, lighting, construction, and other street capital outlay for the audited year. “Debt service” is bond principal plus interest across all funds, not only roads.
How much does a city have to spend just to keep its roads from failing?
More than most people think — but far less if it's spent at the right time. The Minnesota Department of Transportation's own engineering guidance is blunt about the arithmetic: a pavement is cheapest to keep good while it is still good. Once it's allowed to crack, ravel, and break apart, the only fix left is the most expensive one.
“Since they are relatively inexpensive in comparison to resurfacing or reconstruction projects, the preventive maintenance treatments are an effective means to preserve the investment in the pavement asset.”— MnDOT, Pavement Preservation Manual
The gap between the two is enormous. Below are MnDOT's own representative costs, per lane-mile, for a road kept on a preservation cycle versus one left to fail:
| Treatment | When it's used | Cost per lane-mile |
|---|---|---|
| Crack sealing | Good pavement, routine upkeep | ~$3,700 |
| Seal coat / chip seal | Good-to-fair, every several years | ~$13,000 |
| Thin bituminous overlay | Fair pavement, resurfacing | ~$35,000–$42,000 |
| Full-depth reclamation | Pavement has failed structurally | ~$210,000 |
| Full reconstruction | End of life — rebuild from the dirt up | up to ~$2,000,000 |
That is the whole case for a road budget. A timely $3,700 crack seal or a $13,000 seal coat, repeated on a schedule, can hold a street in good condition for decades. Skip them, and the same lane-mile eventually needs a reclamation or reconstruction costing roughly 15 to 150 times as much. MnDOT puts it in life-cycle terms: the point of a preservation program is “maximizing the condition and life of a network of pavements while minimizing the network's life-cycle cost.”
So “how much should a city spend?” has a practical answer: enough to keep every road on a preservation cycle — sealing and overlaying on schedule — rather than deferring work until roads drop into the reconstruction column. A city that under-funds preservation isn't saving money; it's borrowing it from a much larger future bill. The street-spending table above is one way to see whether a city is keeping up: a city with little ongoing street spending and no debt service may simply be deferring, and the cost shows up later as bonded reconstruction.
Costs are MnDOT representative figures, per lane-mile, from the Pavement Preservation Manual and the reconstruction/reclamation range from MnDOT's Transportation Asset Management life-cycle cost guide. Actual bids vary with road width, traffic, and the year. These are planning numbers, not quotes.
Where this comes from
Road geometry: Anoka County GIS open data (road centerlines, community boundary, lakes), downloaded June 12, 2026 and archived unchanged. Ratings: the city engineer's September 2, 2015 memo “Updated Road Ratings and Cost Estimates” in the September 8, 2015 council packet, parsed without any AI reading the numbers. Project histories (the “by year” section and each road's panel) are read from agendas, packets, and minutes by the assistant and not yet verified by hand — no figure there is an official budget number. For anything not yet captured, search any road by name via the archive search.