Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising motorists using Highway 52 and Highway 63 in Rochester to expect a series of lane changes, closures and detours beginning Tuesday evening.

Lane closures are planned on Highway 52 in both directions near the Highway 63 interchange to prepare for crossing traffic over into opposing lanes. By Wednesday, southbound Highway 52 traffic will be switched over to a single-lane in each direction on the northbound lanes to allow for the demolition of the southbound bridge deck. The traffic switchover will remain in place until the new southbound bridge deck is ready for traffic this summer.

MNDOT will also be implementing short-term detours on Thursday while workers cut portions of the southbound bridge deck above Highway 63. The detours will begin in the morning and last through the early afternoon.

  • Southbound Highway 52 to Northbound Highway 63 will exit and use
    southbound Highway 63 to the 40th Street South interchange to then
    proceed north on Highway 63 (Broadway Ave.)
  • Northbound Highway 52 to Southbound Highway 63 will exit, proceed north
    to the 28th Street traffic signal and U-turn south. Trucks will proceed north to Third Avenue SE, then west on 20th Street S to Broadway south.
  • Northbound Highway 63 to northbound Highway 52 will exit to southbound
    Highway 52, exit at Olmsted County Road 1 (11th Avenue SE) and return to
    Highway 52 northbound at the interchange.

On Friday, after 7 p.m., demolition of the Highway 52 southbound bridge deck will begin.

Traffic will not be allowed under the bridge, so Highway 63 north traffic will be detoured to southbound Highway 52 to the exit for Olmsted County Road 1 (11th Avenue SE). Traffic can then go north on Highway 52. Motorists wanting to proceed north on Highway 63 (Broadway) will exit from Highway 52 and travel north into Rochester.

On Saturday, about 2 p.m., southbound Highway 63 traffic will be switched over into single lane, head-to-head traffic with the northbound Highway 63 traffic to pass under the bridge and then return to Highway 63 southbound lanes after passing the bridge deck under demolition. Motorists who want to travel onto Highway 52 southbound will use the 40th Street South interchange to cross over and proceed north on Highway 63 and then south onto Highway 52.

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