Winter Weather Pushes Lane Closure on Rochester’s North Broadway Ave. into 2026

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Traffic restrictions tied to the reconstruction of a busy Rochester street will persist into the new year. 

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Phase II of the North Broadway Ave. Reconstruction Project got started this past March. 

It was supposed to begin in the Fall of 2024, however a delay in federal funding prevented the City of Rochester from soliciting bids and held up the project’s start until this year. 

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The project runs from the Silver Lake Bridge to an area just north of the road’s intersection with Elton Hills Dr. Along with resurfacing the roadway, crews reconstructed the intersection of North Broadway and 14th St. NE. 

A detour put in place this past Spring to accommodate reconstruction of that intersection was supposed to last four weeks, but dragged on for more than a month due to unexpected utility work, city of Rochester officials said at the time. 

North Broadway Ave. was down to a single lane in each direction for a majority of Summer. Last month, crews reopened both lanes of northbound North Broadway Ave. 

South Broadway Lane Closure to Last into Mid-January

Although the roadway surface for both directions is complete, the right lane of part of southbound North Broadway between Elton Hills Dr. and the Silver Lake Bridge has been closed to accommodate work on the busy roadway’s outer sections. 

City officials previously targeted a December completion date for the work on sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and other features, however cold and snow has pushed that work into January. 

The Rochester Department of Public Works says the winter weather has prevented concrete pours from taking place. Construction crews have also had to heat up walls they are working on prior to the concrete pours. 

City officials are now targeting an end date for the southbound lane closure of January 16. Crews will then put the finishing touches on the project next Spring.