The Downtown Rochester ‘Mess’ Will Get Messier Monday

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) -  If you think trying to drive in downtown Rochester has been a pain, get ready for even more impacts. 

At the top of the list: the complete closure of N. Broadway between Civic Center Dr. and north 1st St. 

That closure is scheduled to begin Monday and remain in effect for two months. Also beginning Monday is another traffic impact in the Public Library area.  

There are so many projects either underway or getting ready to start, the city Public Works Dept. released this notice:

Public infrastructure projects, private construction projects and providing support to local businesses through expanded outdoor dining options will impact travel in downtown Rochester during the month of June.

Here is a map of the traffic imparts.

Wendy Turri, Interim Public Works Director shared, “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding over the coming weeks as travel is impacted through the core of downtown. All of these projects are contributing to the future of our vibrant community, be it the revamped Heart of the City that will provide a gathering space or the updating of underground infrastructure that will allow for future growth.”

Here is the latest summary of downtown projects:

Repair of a collapsed electric vault requires the closure of 2 Street SE from the 1 Street Parking Ramp to Broadway from June 8-22, 2020. All westbound traffic on 2 Street SE will be detoured around the work via 1 Avenue SE.. 1 Street Parking Ramp Impacts: The parking ramp will remain open. Access, both entering and exiting, to the ramp will be via a temporary road on 2 Street SE and 1 Avenue SE. All traffic exiting the ramp will be directed to 1 Avenue SE. 

•       Closure of the northbound travel and parking lanes on 1 Avenue SW from 2 Street SW to 3 Street SW..  Began June 1 and is expected to last until mid-August. Southbound travel and parking lanes will remain open.

•       Closure of the northbound travel lanes on 3 Avenue NW from 3 Street NW to 5 Street NW continues. The detour around this work changes on June 8 and will be along 6 Avenue NW via 2 Street NW and 7 Street NW. This work is expected to last until June 18.

•       Lanes shifted at the Broadway Avenue South at the 2 Street SW/SE     intersection. Begins June 8 and is expected to last until mid-August.  One lane of travel will remain in each direction. Right hand turns from 2 Street SE onto northbound Broadway Avenue will be allowed.

•       Complete closure of Broadway Avenue North from Civic Center Drive to 1 Street NW/NE. Begins June 8 and expected to last until August 8. Traffic will be detoured around this work via Civic Center Drive NE and East Center Street.   U-turns will be provided at 3 Street NW, 2 Street NW, 2 Street NE, 1 Street NW and 1 Street NE where they meet Broadway Avenue. Pedestrian access will be maintained through or around construction zones. Wayfinding signage will be in place where needed in the downtown district.Rochester Public Transit (RPT) routes are not affected. Traffic congestion due to detours may cause longer travel times and delays in some transit service.

Public projects underway in this area include:

•       Heart of the City

The first phase of Destination Medical Center’s Heart of the City public realm project is a renovation of Peace Plaza and surrounding areas. The new design will create active, engaging experiences for residents, visitors and patients in the heart of downtown Rochester. Click here for more information.

•       1 Avenue SE Relief Sewer for the Government Siphon

This project began in 2019 with sanitary sewer improvements along 1 Avenue SE and installation of a new sanitary sewer siphon along the 3 Avenue SE Bridge from the Government Center to 2 Street SE. In 2020 additional sanitary and storm sewer improvements will continue to be installed along 2 Street SE from Broadway Avenue to 3 Avenue SE. Click here for more information.

•       1 Street NW Sanitary Sewer Diversion to Broadway

Additional sanitary sewer capacity in downtown will be created by installing a diversion pipe that will bring the sanitary flow from 1 Avenue NW and 3 Street NW to the existing trunk sewer located at Broadway Avenue North and 1 Street NW. Click here for more information.

•       City Loop Phase 1 - Dedicated Bike Lanes on 3 Avenue SW/NW, 4 Avenue SW/NW, and Center Street

The project includes the addition of buffered bicycle lanes along Center Street from 4 Avenue SW to the Zumbro River bridge and along both 3 Avenue SW/NW and 4 Avenue SW/NW from Soldiers Field to 5 Street NW. The goal of the project is to provide safe, comfortable and convenient bicycle access to and through downtown Rochester for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Click here for more information.

•       Expanded outdoor seating for restaurants and cafes

Governor Walz set forth parameters for restaurants, cafes, and other such establishments to expand their outdoor space in order to maintain a safe environment for customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Closures of some travel lanes, parking lanes, and metered spaces have been granted in the downtown area in order to accommodate these outdoor seating spaces.