Delays Continue Plaguing Major Rochester Road Project

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A major Rochester road project has hit a snag that will keep a pair of detours in place for the rest of the month. 

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The multi-year project to convert one of the city’s busiest roads from a former U.S. highway into a city street was supposed to start last year but was delayed by a slow approval of federal funds. 

Crews began the road work in late March with the goal of ending one of the detours by Monday and the second detour by Monday, April 21. 

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Reopening of North Broadway Ave., 14th St. Northeast in Rochester, MN Pushed Back to May

The City of Rochester announced the closure of North Broadway Ave. from 14th St. Northeast to 16th St. Northeast is now scheduled to be in place until Thursday, May 8. 

14th St. Northeast, which is closed from North Broadway Ave. to 1st Ave. Northeast, has also had its reopening date pushed back to May 8. 

In announcing the delays, city officials cited “unforeseen utility challenges,” as the cause of the project falling behind. 

North Broadway traffic will continue being detoured onto Elton Hills Dr., Northwest to West River Rd. then to 13th St. Northwest. The 14th St. detour takes traffic along 2nd Ave. Northeast to 16th St. Northeast. 

Traffic on North Broadway will be reduced to a single lane in each direction once the detour ends as crews will continue The project to transform the former Hwy. 63 corridor into a city street. 

The second phase of the North Broadway Redevelopment Project is scheduled to be completed by the fall, according to the project website.