Lake County seeks bids for Lighthouse Point Road upgrades in Two Harbors

Lake County has put the Lighthouse Point Road Street and Utility Improvements project out for bids, setting up a summer construction season that will reshape one of Two Harbors’ most visible shoreline corridors. The work, identified as SAP 038-594-002, runs from the Agate Bay Public Water Access to 1st Avenue and includes grading, bituminous surfacing, ADA improvements, storm sewer work and municipal utilities.

Contractors must submit electronic bids through Bid Express by 11 a.m. May 28, with proposals opened publicly shortly after the deadline. Paper bids are not accepted. The county requires bidders to register in advance, and each proposal must include a corporate surety bond equal to at least 5% of the total bid amount, or equivalent bid security. Hard copies of the proposal guaranty must reach the Lake County Highway Department at 1513 Hwy 2 in Two Harbors by 3 p.m. the day before opening.

For residents and businesses along Lighthouse Point Road, the bid notice is the clearest sign yet that the project is moving from planning into construction. The City of Two Harbors says the road will be fully reconstructed in 2026 to replace aging infrastructure and improve safety, reliability and mobility. That work includes replacing the watermain, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems, rebuilding the roadway with improved base materials, adding curb and gutter and constructing a new 10-foot paved trail for walking and biking.

The city’s project schedule shows neighborhood meetings in January and spring 2026, a contractor-selection target in April, construction beginning in May and completion in October, weather permitting. That timing means motorists, utility customers and nearby property owners should expect months of disruption rather than a quick resurfacing job. The work corridor also touches the wastewater treatment plant access route and future development area near property owned by Acre Development LLC, which makes the utility design more than a simple street repair.

At a February 23 City Council meeting, City Engineer Andy Brotzler said Lake County is the sponsoring agency for the city on the project and that some of the funding comes from a county grant. That arrangement matters because Lake County is responsible for 375 miles of roadways and 77 structures, and it is using its capital-improvement process and Bid Express postings to show how those dollars move from planning to construction.

The city’s capital improvement plan treats projects like Lighthouse Point as a public budgeting guide, laying out when neighbors can expect street repairs and what the preliminary costs and priorities are. Once bids open, taxpayers will be able to watch whether the project stays on schedule, how competitive the bids are and whether the county can deliver the road, utility and trail work by the October deadline.