Safety signs, striping planned at Hwy 14-Olmsted County Road 3 intersection near Byron
ROCHESTER, Minn. –Hwy 14 motorists west of Rochester will encounter a short-term median closure at Olmsted County Road 3 near Byron mid-morning on Friday, Oct. 21, while crews paint stripes and yield lines, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Crews will be painting double yellow centerline stripes and triangular yield lines in the median as part of increased safety measures to remind motorists of traffic at the intersection east of Byron. Next week, MnDOT is scheduled to install oversized Intersection Ahead warning signs. Those signs will be equipped with flashers later this season.
The work is part of an overall interim plan to improve safety at Hwy 14 intersections west of Rochester. Construction is expected to begin April 17 at the County Road 3 intersection to build a J-turn to improve safety. In a J-turn, motorists approaching divided Hwy s from a side road are not allowed to make left turns or cross traffic; instead, they are required to turn right onto the Hwy and then make a U-turn at a designated median opening.
In late July, MnDOT maintenance crews removed the medians at Hwy 14 and Olmsted County Road 44 and 7th Street Northwest, east of the County Road 3 intersection. The closures were done to improve safety. Removing the option for traffic to cross Hwy 14 at these two intersections will reduce the chance of right-angle (T-bone) Hwy speed crashes. These types of crashes often cause serious injuries or death.
MnDOT’s decision to close the two medians is an interim safety measure until an interchange crossing can be funded at County Road 44. MnDOT and Olmsted County are working in partnership on a design and will have plans ready whenever funding might be secured.
Next year, Country Club Road at Byron will close after the intersection construction at County Road 3 is completed in June.
Additionally, MnDOT plans to continue with the installation of the high-tension cable median barriers along the Hwy 14 ditch in 2023. This change will not affect safety at intersections, but can significantly reduce head-on cross-over crashes along this Hwy corridor.
Safety
Motorists may encounter lane closures or lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, equipment and other unexpected obstacles when driving near or through work zones. MnDOT advises motorists to:
- Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Go hands-free and minimize other distractions (e.g., don’t eat or drink while driving).
- Follow posted speed limits; the fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
- Avoid making lane changes within work zones.
Stay connected, informed
- Learn more about this Hwy 14 project and sign up for email/text message updates.
- Check out other MnDOT southeast Minnesota construction projects and sign up for construction updates.
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