How do you know where not to drive in downtown Rochester?

Yahoo

18-05-2025

May 18—Dear Answer Man: Last week, you wrote about some of the big MnDOT projects going on in Southeast Minnesota this year. But what about the road work being done by the city of Rochester? I was driving downtown last week, and it was like heading down the wrong way in a maze. There are more closed roads and detours than I can figure out. How do I stay ahead of this traffic mess? — Rochester Road Warrior.
Dear Road Warrior,
I feel your driving rage.
Last week, I was trying to navigate downtown Rochester and came upon a closed road even the map app on my phone didn't know existed. In my head, I heard the word "Rerouting."
C'est la vie.
Answer Man's good friend with the city of Rochester, Communications & Engagement Coordinator Megan Moeller, said, "Downtown is undergoing a significant transformation that will benefit everyone who lives, works and visits our city. We're excited about what's ahead and truly appreciate the public's patience during this period of change."
That's Megan shining the apple. Her next line is what we're all thinking: "We understand that navigating construction, especially during the busy warm-weather months, can be challenging."
Preach the truth, Megan.
But she's right. The city isn't tearing up roads for the fun of it. All this is to make for a more enjoyable experience for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles (including mass transit vehicles) down the, ahem, road.
Currently, Answer Man counts eight-and-a-half blocks of completely closed roads in downtown Rochester. That includes a Second Avenue Southwest alleyway between West Center Street and Peace Plaza, two blocks of Second Street Southwest from Fourth Avenue to Sixth Avenue, two blocks-plus of Sixth Avenue Southwest from a bit south of Second Street to West Center Street, roughly two blocks of Peace Garden Drive Southwest from 10th Avenue to Marian Circle, Fifth Street Southwest from Fourth Avenue to Sixth Avenue, and nearly a block from Fourth Avenue Southwest from First Street to Second Street.
That doesn't include the roughly dozen blocks of streets reduced to a single lane in each direction and intersections of "periodic closure."
Challenging, indeed.
You might think, "I bet this is all related to that Link Bus Rapid Transit project, right?" Well, not exactly. Much of this has to do with utility infrastructure for Mayo Clinic projects. The Link transit construction comes later this summer when the amount of roadblocks will make today's number of closed roads look quaint.
Mayo Clinic and the city are seeking to collaborate so they don't tear up and repairs streets only to tear them up again for additional work.
So, how will you get to your favorite downtown restaurant (shameless plug for downtown dining) or even to a Mayo Clinic appointment?
Well, the city of Rochester and Mayo Clinic have created websites to help you see what is closed and what detours might exist. The city's website is DowntownRochesterConstruction.org , where the city offers printable maps and an online in-depth virtual map that can be viewed. Furthermore, Mayo Clinic offers the Rochester Construction Webpage that is designed to help patients navigate to their appointments and features the latest information on parking and drop-offs, suggested routes, road closures and construction across Mayo Clinic's Rochester downtown and Saint Marys campuses.
If you're not a daily or even weekly commuter into and our of downtown, you might want to bookmark both of those websites and refer to them when your plans take you downtown.
Now, take a deep breath and realize two things: One, like I said, it'll get worse before it gets better, but, two, it will get better, and access to and through downtown will become smoother for everyone.
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