Aurdal Township contacted Apex Engineering Group to assist with planning and funding acquisition services for improvements to Sophus Anderson Road and Aurdal River Road, which connect Otter Tail County State Aid Highway 1 and Minnesota State Highway 210. Apex worked with the Township to come up with a viable plan that included removing and replacing the bituminous surface on the Sophus Anderson Road, adding a parking area near the Otter Tail River for recreational access, adding guard rail along a portion of the Aurdal River Road, and stabilizing the bank of a portion of the Otter Tail River near the Aurdal River Road.

Apex and Aurdal Township worked together to prepare and submit an application to the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP), a program administered by MnDOT that provides critical funding for improvements to roads of regional significance. Notably, Apex and Aurdal Township successfully secured nearly $1.45 million in grant funds from the LRIP program, covering 100% of the eligible construction costs—ensuring the project could move forward without financial barriers. This substantial funding is a key driver in making these much-needed improvements possible. In addition to securing funding, Apex provides planning, design, and construction administration and observation services. Crews will construct improvements in 2025 and 2026.