Rochester City Council Narrowly Approves Design for Reconstruction of Busy Intersection

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A proposed redesign of one of Rochester’s busiest intersections narrowly won approval from the Rochester City Council. 

See Also: Public Assistance Approved for Proposed Downtown Rochester Development 

Elected leaders approved the design on a 4-3 vote Monday night. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) traffic figures indicate an average of nearly 50,000 vehicles pass through the intersection daily.  

MnDOT revealed the proposed design for the intersection’s reconstruction earlier this year. 

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Rochester City Council Approves Redesign of South Broadway/Hwy. 14 Intersection on 4-3 Vote

Work to reconstruct the intersection of Hwy. 14 and South Broadway Ave. in Rochester is scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2027. 

The design calls for significantly reducing the size of the medians between the two roads and the onramps for motorists making right turns onto Hwy. 14 and South Broadway. 

The renderings also include the addition of a second left turn for both directions of Hwy. 14 traffic seeking South Broadway. The speed limit on South Broadway north of Hwy. 14 would be dropped from 40 mph to 30 mph. 

MnDOT says the work area on Hwy. 14 will span from 4th Ave. Southwest to 3rd Avenue Southeast and from south of 9th Street Southeast to the access points north of 14 Street Southwest on South Broadway Ave. 

Along with reconstructing the busy intersection, the project also calls for replacing neary 1,500 feet of water main, reconstruction of the pedestrian/bicycle path on the west side of Broadway to the connection at Soldiers Field Park and the replacement of traffic lights and street lights. 

Council members Dan Doering, Nick Miller and City Council President Randy Schubring voted against approving the redesign. Miller argued the design prioritizes efficacy over safety at the intersection. 

Schubring indicated the design does not account for projected increased population density in the area, which he says will reduce the volume of vehicles navigating the intersection. 

The project’s total price is $19.6 million. The estimated cost of the work for the city is about $5.7 million.