Prior Lake and Savage have finally agreed on how to fix the dangerous roadway that divides them.

A signal will be built at 150th Street, with Prior Lake taking on most of the $6.5 million cost. Now, the two cities have to set a construction timeline, finalize designs and solicit bids.

"We really have to get going on the design now that we have the solution identified," said Prior Lake city engineer and inspections director Larry Poppler.

After years of discussion, an array of options for improving safety along a stretch of Hwy. 13 recently came down to just two: a signal at 150th Street or a signal at Zinran Avenue. The trouble was, Prior Lake preferred 150th and Savage preferred Zinran.

With time running out to secure $2.1 million in state funding for the multimillion dollar project, staff members from the two cities concocted a plan: Prior Lake could have its signal at 150th if it agreed to pay more, rather than splitting the cost with Savage as initially agreed upon. The Savage City Council signed off on that plan Sept. 15 and the Prior Lake City Council followed suit the next day.

At this point, Savage is set to pay $1.77 million and Prior Lake $2.63 million. Those numbers are subject to change as designs are finalized and bids come in.

One source of additional cost, which Prior Lake agreed to take on if it climbs higher than the current estimate, will be acquiring properties on the Savage side. The project requires razing two homes, which will either be purchased by the city or taken through eminent domain if the homeowners refuse to sell.

Emma Nelson • 952-746-3287