Open Houses Coming Up for Two Rochester Road Projects

Rochester, MN  (KROC AM News) -  Open houses have been scheduled next week for two significant Rochester road projects.

The Rochester Public Works Department is inviting the public to view the plans involving a major upgrade of 55th Street in the North Park neighborhood area.

The project calls for a reconstruction of the busy roadway between 50th Ave NW to West Circle Drive. It includes a new alignment between Fairway Drive and West Circle Drive, where it will intersect at 41st Ave / Members Parkway NW.

Motorists have been dealing with traffic issues on that stretch of 55th Street for years. The project also calls for new signals, pedestrian facilities, bike lanes and stormwater improvements. New traffic signals will be placed at intersections with 44th Avenue NW, Fairway Drive NW (on the new alignment), and at West Circle Drive/Members Parkway.

The project is scheduled for construction from June through September 2017 and will have a major impact on those who travel this corridor.

The open house will be held Thursday (May 26) from 4:30 p.m.– 6:30 p.m.at Christ Community Church (4400 55th Street NW).  

The purpose of the open house is to inform the public of the project schedule, staging, detours and overall project improvements. Visitors are welcome to attend to view the project layout and other supporting informational boards. There will not be a formal presentation. If you are unable to attend, project updates will be available throughout construction on the Public Works website.   

The other open house deals with an Olmsted County project.  

It involves a recent traffic study of West Circle Drive between Highway 14 and Country Club Road in the Country Club Manor neighborhood.

The study investigated traffic issues (current and forecasted) and analyzed solutions to accommodate roadway safety, capacity, and mobility needs for all users of the corridor. One alternative that was looked at was a possible pedestrian bridge over West Circle Drive at 3rd Street NW.  

The open house involving this project will be held Tuesday (May 24) from 6:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Harriet Bishop Elementary School 406 36th Avenue NW.