Single-Lane Traffic Coming to West Circle Drive in Rochester

Here's a head's up if your commute takes you along a stretch of West Circle Drive in northwest Rochester-- get ready for single-lane traffic as another construction project gets underway.

If you live in the Country Club Manor or Diamond Ridge neighborhoods in northwest Rochester, this project could cause a few traffic headaches for you.

It's all because Olmsted County is installing traffic signals at the intersection of West Circle Drive and 3rd Street Northwest. (Yes, that will be ANOTHER set of traffic signals on West Circle Drive-- the road that has THE MOST traffic signals in all of southeast Minnesota!)

According to the Olmsted County Public Works press release, the project includes "pedestrian ramp replacement, new sidewalk, new bike trail, and installation of a signal system," the release said. (Although, 'pedestrian ramp' must be a public works/construction term, because I head through that intersection several times a day and have yet to see what I'd call a 'ramp' anywhere.)

Anyway, get ready to see those lovely orange barrels starting Wednesday, June 20th. The project will also require traffic restrictions of a single lane in each direction, as well as reducing the speed limit from the current 45 mph limit down to 35 mph during construction.

Also, while the project is on-going, you'll only be able to turn right from 3rd Street onto West Circle Drive-- so if you need to head toward Highway-14, you'll need to either head up to the 7th Street or Country Club Road intersections.

The release said the project should be done by the end of August. At which time, we'll all enjoy yet ANOTHER set of traffic lights for which we'll have to stop.

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