ZUMBROTA — The future of Minnesota Highway 58 through Zumbrota was unveiled last week during an open house at city hall.
Greg Pates, principal planner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation's District 6, released the results of the Zumbrota Subarea Study on Thursday.
"We've been working on this for over a year," Pates said. "This is an opportunity to share information with the larger community and to get input."
MnDot District 6 partnered with the City of Zumbrota and Goodhue County to guide short term and long term transportation and land use planning along the Highway 58 corridor in Zumbrota. The corridor runs from 180th Avenue and 22nd Street by McDonalds to Highway 58/443rd Street, a Zumbrota Township road just short of a mile to the north of town. The goal of the study was to plan for a future road that will support economic development in the community and also be safe for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
The study divides Highway 58 into four zones and describes what each looks like now and what those sections of the highway will most likely look like in the next 15 to 20 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Northern Suburban Neighborhood Zone:This zone, north of the Zumbro River, is expected to see residential growth near the CSAH6/Highway 58 intersection and the golf course. Central Livestock, Covered Bridge Park, a commuter parking lot and softball fields make it a busy area. Parking will continue on both sides of Highway 58 in this zone and the 40 to 50 mph posted speeds will be reduced to 30 or 35 mph as traffic becomes an issue.
Downtown Urban Center-Core Main Street Zone:This is the section of Highway 58 that is Zumbrota's downtown Main Street. It will most likely see commercial growth and a transition to services. The goal for this zone is to capitalize on the downtown Main Street environment, the Covered Bridge and tourism, and to attract traffic off the Goodhue Pioneer Trail. Highway 58 will eventually be widened to 60 feet street in this zone. Parking will remain on both sides of the street. The speed limit, which is now 30 miles per hour, may be reduced to 25 miles per hour. An updated sidewalk/trail and bikeway system will eventually be built on West Avenue, which parallels Main Street a block to the east.
General Urban Residential-Commercial Main Street Zone: This stretches from 5th Street to 14th Street and few changes are foreseen. Parking will be allowed on both sides of the street and the posted 30 mph speed limits will most likely remain unchanged. Crossing and sidewalk needs are being further assessed, including the need for an additional sidewalk on 9th Street.
Southern Suburban Corridor Zone: This includes the Highway 52/Highway 58 interchange and will see the most growth in commercial and mixed density residential use. Eighteenth Avenue may transition from a township road to a county road and CSAH 10 may be realigned onto Roscoe Avenue and 22nd Street. No on-street parking will be allowed in the future. The posted 30 mph speed limit will probably not change. A new Highway 58 bridge is planned to be built over Highway 52. It will afford safe travel for bicyclists and pedestrians who wish to get to the southwest side of the city.
Throughout the study, MnDot has collected ideas from the public. A Citizens' Advisory Panel, comprised of business owners, residents, and a representative for the elderly, met with MnDot representatives three times to help clarify the issues that exist along the corridor from a local perspective. A MnDOT Project Steering Team has also guided the scope and timeline of the project.
"It helped that they live and work here. It is their community," Pates said. "They have first-hand knowledge about what changes would be beneficial to the community."
MnDot also surveyed parents of elementary school students to help understand the travel behavior and perspectives of students and their parents.
"I'd like to emphasize that these are options, they are not etched in stone," said Community Development Director Dan King, who has been instrumental in the progress of the study. "A decision will be made when the time comes whether to make these changes."
