U.S. Highway 14 interchange planning moves forward with planned 2025 construction start

Randy Petersen, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
Updated ·3 min read

Apr. 23—ROCHESTER — Kalmar Township Supervisor Jim Hanson said the years of discussion about

a new interchange at U.S. Highway 14 and County Road 44

have taken their toll.

"There's been a lot of talk for many years," he said Tuesday during an open house held at Rochester Montessori School to review an updated project layout, which includes realigning the county road and constructing a bridge approximately 300 feet west of the current intersection.

With the design currently 30% complete, Olmsted County Public Works Director Ben Johnson said the layout that was presented is the result of discussion held following

a December 2022 open house that reviewed three options.

Hanson said he won't be surprised if other tweaks are brought to future public reviews, but Johnson said the next open house is expected to address construction impacts, with work expected to start in the fall of 2025.

Kalmar Township Clerk/Treasurer Keith Stanich said the schedule comes with mixed reactions from residents north of the planned interchange project.

"We are looking forward to the improvement, but we are not looking forward to the pace to get there," he said, noting recent Highway 14 changes have added traffic to township roads and created frustration for residents.

Johnson said he understands the frustration amid the planning process and temporary safety improvements implemented by the state.

He also said he understands the reluctance to trust the project is near after years of discussion.

However, with the project fully funded, he said work is moving forward, with final plans and construction documents expected to be completed next summer.

With approximately $5 million being spent on design, Johnson said the state has budgeted $77 million for construction with

$60 million in state funding

committed. Another

$7.3 million in federal funds

were also recently approved.

With the final phase of planning set to start, Johnson said the acquisition process is also ramping up, and property owners can expect to be contacted through a process scheduled to run for up to a year.

If all goes as planned, Johnson said final plans will be ready next summer, with construction starting in the fall, which will help finalize actual project costs. Construction is currently slated to be completed in 2027.

With a final layout complete and design work continuing, the proposed overpass will feature County Road 44 roundabouts on each side of the overpass to help control traffic over the bridge, as well as vehicles moving on and off of Highway 14.

Additional roundabouts will also be constructed at County Road 44 intersections at Country Club Road and 15th Street Northwest, with additional road and street changes to ensure access to nearby neighborhoods.

The bridge over Highway 14 is being constructed with a lane in each direction, but Johnson said it's designed to be expanded, if needed.

The project also includes a bridge over Seven Street, east of County Road 44, with direct access to Highway 14 being eliminated with the new design.

Johnson said no date has been set for the open house to address construction impacts, but said the details are being considered along with a variety of other issues that still need to be addressed, including utility planning and potential noise and wetland mitigation efforts.

"The nuts and bolts of design is done now, but work continues," he said.