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Bridgewater Township Roads / 2024 Dust Control

The Township has about 30 miles of gravel and 5.5 miles of black top roads.  The cost of dust control and repaving has risen significantly over the last several years.  Dust control, for most of the roads, which used to cost $50,000, now costs about $130,000.  This summer the Township will start applying dust control on the 10 miles of road on which we are also putting down new gravel.  This means each road will receive gravel and dust control once every three years.  Dust control will also be applied on a few roads where businesses are located.  Residents who live on a gravel road that is not receiving dust control in said year and would like it may contact suppliers directly.  Most of the paved roads are due for reconstruction.  The cost of this is about $350,000 per mile, meaining the total cost would be around $2,000,000.  The Township is in the process of planning the financing and the timing of the work.  This will probably begin in 2025.

Cover of a Township record book

Town Hall Office Hours

Monday - 8:30 am - 12:30pm

Tuesday - 8:30 am to 12:30pm

Wednesday - 8:30 am to 12:30pm

Thursday - 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Friday - Closed

Upcoming Events

March 20, 2024
  • Forest Bridgewater Joint Power Development District

    March 20, 2024  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

March 28, 2024
  • Bridgewater Planning Commission Meeting

    March 28, 2024  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

About the Bridgewater Community

Bridgewater Township is a small rural community located in the Northeast corner of Rice County, Minnesota, roughly 30 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul. 
 
The area was first settled in 1844, and Bridgewater was officially organized as a township by the Rice County Board of Commissioners in 1858. While living close to the cities of Northfield, Dundas, and Faribault — and major metropolitan shopping and entertainment offered by the Twin Cities — our residents enjoy the benefits of a rural lifestyle in a largely agricultural community. 
 
Bridgewater Township is governed by the traditional township form of government. Patterned after the English town meeting style of government, township government embodies the ideal of grassroots democratic participation envisioned by the nation’s founders. In Minnesota, townships are the traditional rural unit of government. Minnesota has more townships than any state in the nation with 1,796 townships, and that form of government presently serves approximately one-fourth of the population of Minnesota. The board of supervisors is the governing body of the township, and is elected by direct ballot of eligible voters. There are currently five township supervisors who serve three-year terms. The township staff includes a Zoning Administrator, Treasurer, Clerk, and Road Superintendent. 
 
The primary responsibilities of Bridgewater Township include: care of township roads, planning and zoning for the township, proper conduct of elections, and participate with other units of government (cities, counties, townships) to cooperate with planning issues. A unique feature of Bridgewater Township includes the orderly annexation agreements currently in place with the City of Northfield and the City of Dundas. These agreements were forged to help direct future growth in sensible ways.