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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News)  -  The overall project won’t be completed until next year but the section of Rochester’s North Broadway between Civic Center Dr. and Silver Lake will open to traffic Monday.

It is one of the largest road projects in city history with an overall cost of $24-million.

Construction work on a housing project will limit southbound traffic to one lane between 5th St. and Civic Center Dr. until next year. Phase two of the project will resume in the spring as work will shift to alleyways and side streets adjacent to North Broadway. This work is expected to be finished by next September.

Rochester Public Works
Rochester Public Works
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Monday’s reopening will also allow Rochester Public Transit to resume its routes in that area.

The city Public Works Dept. says the first phase of the two-year project focused on the replacement of water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and pavement. Project highlights and stats include:

  • · Approximately 7,000 cubic yards of concrete pavement laid on North Broadway Avenue
  • · Nearly one mile of new concrete sidewalk laid along the corridor
  • · 5,000 feet of new cycle track installed
  • · Over 3,700 feet of sanitary sewer pipe installed
  • · Approximately 4,100 feet of water main pipe installed

“Public Works is excited to reach this milestone on our largest project in quite some time. We really appreciate the patience from the public as traffic was detoured over the season. We also recognize the disruption to the businesses and appreciate their continued input as we work to minimize impacts over the life of the project. It has been nice to see the public already using the completed portions of the street, sidewalks, and cycle track and we look forward to completing additional enhancements for all modes of transportation in the 2022 construction season,” shared Tyler Niemeyer, Assistant City Engineer for the City of Rochester.

A celebration event to mark the reopening is planned for Saturday.

The “Broadway is Back” neighborhood celebration will run from 11:00 - 3:00 pm. It’s co-sponsored by Lowertown Neighborhood and Destination Medical Center and will include a beer garden, live music, and raffle prizes for visiting businesses along North Broadway. A ribbon-cutting event with comments from Mayor Kim Norton and Council Member Shawn Palmer will occur at 11:30 a.m.

 

We Bike Rochester is hosting a social ride that starts at 12:15 at the East Silver Lake Parking Lot. The ride will include the new cycle track on North Broadway and other bicycle infrastructure in the area.

News update:  Rochester man sentenced to prison for assaulting a police officer.

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