Olmsted County Approves $76M Highway 14 Interchange Contract
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners today approved a contract worth more than $76 million for construction of a new interchange on Highway 14 at its intersection with County Road 44 on the west edge of Rochester.
Eight Contractors Submitted Bids for the Interchange Project
The vote to award the contract to Mathiowetz Construction followed a groundbreaking ceremony for the project held last Friday afternoon. The county received eight bids, with Mathiowetz Construction submitting the lowest bid and ICON Construction submitting the highest, at more than $94.5 million.
Project Described as Largest Locally Led Effort in County History
Friday afternoon’s groundbreaking ceremony was attended by members of the Olmsted County Board, along with state and federal lawmakers, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and representatives of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. Olmsted County Public Works Director Ben Johnson described it as the largest locally led project in Olmsted County history.
County Officials Call Intersection One of Southeast Minnesota’s Most Dangerous
Olmsted County officials have previously described the Highway 14 and County Road 44 intersection as one of the busiest and most dangerous in southeastern Minnesota. According to county traffic figures, an estimated 30,000 vehicles travel each day on Highway 14 between Rochester and Byron.
Two year construction schedule
Some construction work is expected to take place this fall, weather permitting. The construction schedule calls for the project to be completed in fall 2028.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
