Hwy 14 safety improvements begin April 17 west of Rochester
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Hwy 14 motorists west of Rochester will encounter lane closures beginning April 17 while construction crews work on safety improvements, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Construction will begin on April 17, weather permitting, at Hwy 14 and Olmsted Co Rd 3 east of Byron, where crews will construct a J-turn . During construction, Co Rd 3 will be closed at Hwy 14 and detoured. Motorists who want to cross Hwy 14 at Co Rd 3 or enter Hwy 14 from Co Rd 3 will follow detour routes:
- Motorists north of Hwy 14 will take 7th Street Northeast west to 10th Avenue Northeast south to Hwy 14.
- Motorists south of Hwy 14 will take Country Club Road/ Olmsted Co. Rd. 34 west to 10th Avenue Southeast to Hwy 14.
The detours will be in effect through mid-June when the project is completed.
Once completed, the J-turn will allow Hwy 14 motorists to make left turns onto Co Rd 3, but Co Rd 3 motorists will not be able to cross Hwy 14 or turn left. Instead, they will use designated U-turn sections to reach their destinations.
This change prevents vehicles from going directly across Hwy 14 and it significantly reduces T-bone crashes while still allowing vehicles to cross the roadway.
Also, starting on April 17, there will be work to install high-tension cable median barrier along Hwy 14 between Byron and Rochester. Crews will close one lane of traffic along the Hwy but will not close eastbound lanes until after 9 a.m. and will remove lane closures on westbound traffic by 4 p.m. each day.
This work is scheduled to be completed in June as well. The cable median barrier can significantly reduce head-on cross-over crashes, which often result in serious injuries or death.
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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