The Olmsted County Public Works department on Tuesday will host an open house for people interested in the proposed 55th Street extension project.
The open house will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 5500 25th Ave., N.W. in Rochester. County staff will give a brief presentation at 5 p.m. and be available for questions.
The main goals of the project are: to provide an east-west connection between U.S. 52 and Broadway Avenue North; accommodate existing and future traffic demands in northwest Rochester; relieve traffic congestion on 37th Street (County Road 22) and improve highway safety and mobility, according to the Public Works department.
Construction will begin in 2014 or early 2015 to extend 55th Street from its intersection with West River Road to Broadway at 48th Street Northeast. The length is about 2 miles.
The project includes a new four-lane roadway for 55th Street and a new crossing over the Zumbro River. It also includes a new four-lane roadway for about 1 mile of Broadway from 55th Street to near the ShopKo north store at Broadway and 37th Street Northeast.
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The county recently took over jurisdiction of Broadway (formerly U.S. 63) between 37th and 75th streets from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
