May 17—Dear Answer Man: April and May, as usual, are months where we see so much blooming around us now that the Minnesota winter is finally gone. Of course, what’s also “blooming” are orange traffic barrels and cones. What am I dealing with this year as I drive around Southeast Minnesota? — Driver Beware.
Dear Driver,
As the Zach Bryan song says, “Somethin’ in the orange tells me we’re not done.” This orange, not the “dusk light,” instead is the color that indicates road work. I’m not sure the orange on the streets ever left us. Have you tried driving on Second Street in downtown Rochester? Or Third Avenue Southeast down south of the city-county Government Center and on toward the old KMart (now Mayo parking) area? That lasted all winter.
But you’re right to a degree. The Minnesota Department of Transportation generally tries to wrap up its construction each November and put the road work — and detours, and single-lane congestion — on hiatus until spring.
Well, it’s spring. So, I’m checking in with Mike “MnDOT Mike” Dougherty to see where the orange will make you see red this summer.
First, Dougherty said there is a pair of three-year projects that will wrap up (sort of) this year. One is the six bridge replacements in Austin at Interstate 90. The other is the redesign and reconstruction of the interchange and bridges where U.S. Highway 52 meets I-90 near Marion.
In Austin, everything related to bridges and U.S. Highway 218 is already under construction, with bridges being demolished in April. The two bridges at 14th Street will be — one at a time — demolished, then reconstructed, and the bridge at 21st Street and south ramps are being done as well. A pedestrian/cycling bridge might wait until 2027, Dougherty said. So, of course, watch for falling bridges at various times this summer as you drive through Austin, and if Highway 218 is part of your itinerary, plan your alternate route accordingly.
Dougherty said the Highway 52/I-90 interchange will have a more definitive end date, probably in October, but possibly sooner. The westbound I-90 bridge will be replaced and reopened, then the new flyover we’re all looking forward to — I know Answer man can’t wait to try it out — will open after that. Some of the ramps in the northeast part of the project are being realigned to reduce some sharp curves.
In all, the two projects will amount to a little over $77 million spent to replace a bunch of bridges. Dougherty said the new bridges in both locations are expected to last another 75 to 100 years.
If you’re looking for a lot of cement being poured closer to home, one of the many future improvements between Rochester and Byron happens this summer. The new bridge at Seventh Street with the accompanying interchange at Olmsted County Road 44/U.S. Highway 14 is happening this summer. The project is being led by Olmsted County, Dougherty said, though MnDOT helped with design and making sure the project meets MnDOT standards.
“They’re handling the contract and the project and the outreach,” Dougherty said. “Olmsted County is overseeing the construction. We will play a partner role.”
Part of that partnership is $60 million in funding MnDOT is providing to the overall $91.7 million project that will essentially see two bridges built — the one at Seventh Street, which is just an overpass, and the one at County Road 44/60th Street that is part of the interchange. While demolition isn’t a big part of this, building two bridges over Highway 14 will certainly lead to traffic delays and slowdowns on the racetrack that is Highway 14.
Another Rochester-area construction project will be the Minnesota Highway 30 resurfacing near Rochester International Airport in High Forest Township.
Dougherty said during construction — which will start after July 4 and often involves flaggers slowing and intermittently stopping traffic — might cause drivers heading to the airport some headaches.
“If you’re cutting it close, it may raise your anxiety a bit,” Dougherty said. “But mainly this impacts people coming from Hayfield.”
Beyond the Rochester area, a pair of culverts in Whitewater State Park will be replaced. The culvert on the north end will happen first, so people heading to the park from the south shouldn’t see impacts. But the second culvert will impact that route, so keep up with the project if the state park is in your summer plans.
“Whitewater State Park is one of the most well-attended state parks,” Dougherty said. “We will have kiosks for people (at the visitor center) to get information once they start.”
Also, after reconstructing the road bed, for that winding, rising road from Stockton to Winona — Highway 14 — the road will be resurfaced this summer. No detour — as was needed last year — will be required this year, Dougherty said.
If I-90 is a big part of your summer travel plans, expect to see some general repavement in Winona and Olmsted counties, especially from Nodine to Dakota in Winona County.
Dougherty said a lot of the interstate — including bridges and interchanges — was constructed in the 1950s and 60s, so a lot of reconstruction and repaving is coming due at this time.
Finally, while Highway 52 between Rochester and the Twin Cities will not have a lot of construction in 2026, MnDOT is adding some cable median barriers in Goodhue County north of Zumbrota. That work should be done in June.
Send questions to Answer Man at answerman@postbulletin.com.
