More Money Pours in for Future Rochester-Area Interchange Project

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A project to construct an interchange at a busy Olmsted County intersection has received more funding.

The latest round of money comes from the federal government. It’s part of a recently approved $460 billion federal spending law.

(Photo by Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images)

The federal spending package allocates $7.3 million to the future interchange. Last July, Gov. Tim Walz announced $60 million in state funding for the project through MnDOT’s Corridors of Commerce program.

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The combined $67.3 million in federal and state funding will go towards the construction of an interchange at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and Olmsted County Rd. 44 between Rochester and Byron.

Olmsted County

The County had previously received nearly $25 million in funding for planning, designing, and preparation work, including $5 million appropriated by the State Legislature through an infrastructure bill that was approved at the end of the 2023 session.

This investment is crucial for addressing the longstanding safety concerns at the CSAH 44 and TH 14 intersection. With the design featuring a new interchange over TH 14, complete with on/off ramps, we are one step closer to realizing a safer roadway system for our residents.
-Olmsted County Public Works Division Administrator Kaye Bieniek

Olmsted County officials previously described the Hwy. 14/County Rd. 44 intersection as one of the busiest and most dangerous in southeast Minnesota.

An estimated 30,000 vehicles per day travel on Hwy. 14 between Rochester and Byron, according to Olmsted County traffic figures. In 2022, crews closed off the median at the intersection which only allowed County Rd. 44 motorists to make right turns onto Hwy. 14.

The median closure of the CSAH 44 and TH 14 intersection in 2022 due to recurring accidents emphasized the urgent need for infrastructure improvements. Olmsted County is grateful for the support from both federal and state governments. This support, along with Olmsted County's commitment, positions us to address these challenges effectively.
- Olmsted County Public Works Director Benjamin Johnson.

An Olmsted County news release says construction on the new interchange could start as soon as the Fall of 2025.