Lane Reduction Recommended for Elton Hills Dr. in Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council is set to decide on the future configuration of one of the city’s busiest streets Monday night. 

See Also: Ex-Federal Agent Sentenced After Rochester Police Investigation 

Elton Hills Dr. NW is scheduled for Mill and Overlay work next year. The city conducted a traffic study on the road ahead of the resurfacing project. 

The study was done to “inform potential lane configurations and safety improvements,” from North Broadway Ave. to an area near the Hwy. 52 interchange, according to the agenda item. 

Get our free mobile app

City officials evaluated 14 configuration options. The list was narrowed to three options after community engagement and a City Council study session last month, the agenda items states. 

Get our free mobile app

Lane Reduction That Includes Parking on Both Sides Recommended for Elton Hills Dr. NW

Two of the options involve reducing the road to three lanes and the other would maintain the current configuration of the four-lane road. 

See Also: Victim Identified in Fatal Rochester E-Bike Crash 

One of the lane reduction options includes space for parking on both sides of the street and the other would have parking on one side and a two-lane bicycle track on the other side. 

Elton Hills Dr. bike lane option (top), parking both sides (bottom). City of Rochester

Both proposed lane reductions have one lane for each direction of traffic and a center turn lane. 

City staff is recommending council members approve the lane reduction option that has parking on both sides of the street. 

A presentation set to be shown to elected leaders cites federal data that indicates reducing a four-lane road to three lanes can reduce crashes by 19-47% and leads to a speed reduction of 3-5 mph. 

City of Rochester

The design process is set to begin in August and continue into April of next year upon approval of a configuration. Construction is scheduled to begin in May of next year.