Hwy 52 — Pine Island to Oronoco construction

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project area map with flood study area and frontage road study area denotedView full-size mapIn 2027, MnDOT will resurface Hwy 52 from near the Hwy 60 interchange to north of Rochester. It’s also a good time to look at what else can be improved.

Since early 2022, we have asked the community to share their ideas. Some items may be too big to take on with this project, but others we may be able to address.

A few improvements we are looking into:

  • A frontage road along southbound Hwy 52 south of Co. Rd. 11
  • Investigation of flood mitigation opportunities around the Middle Fork Zumbro River and the highway
  • Safety improvements at intersections

While we only have the funding to resurface Hwy 52, looking into these other improvements now could help us get the money to do the work as part of this project or future projects.


project area map with flood study area and frontage road study area denotedView full-size mapIn 2027, MnDOT will resurface Hwy 52 from near the Hwy 60 interchange to north of Rochester. It’s also a good time to look at what else can be improved.

Since early 2022, we have asked the community to share their ideas. Some items may be too big to take on with this project, but others we may be able to address.

A few improvements we are looking into:

  • A frontage road along southbound Hwy 52 south of Co. Rd. 11
  • Investigation of flood mitigation opportunities around the Middle Fork Zumbro River and the highway
  • Safety improvements at intersections

While we only have the funding to resurface Hwy 52, looking into these other improvements now could help us get the money to do the work as part of this project or future projects.


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Public input survey - Spring 2023

    Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey. 

    We would like to hear your thoughts about Hwy 52 between Hwy 60 and Oronoco. 

    We are using a mix of in-person and online options to gather information and input from the public. Many have provided feedback about two frontage road concepts. We would now like to ask about driving and accessing Hwy 52. 

    There is an in-person meeting on March 27, 2023. Those who can't attend can give their input through this survey.

    We will use this information to understand the community priorities. It could also help us discover something we can improve with this project. 

    People are also encouraged to contact us with any additional comments or questions.


    This survey closed on April 19, 2023

    30 people participated in the survey.

    What we heard
    • Access to Pine Island is important, including access on the north end and frontage roads
    • Concerns about road noise
    • Flooding issues near the Middle Fork Zumbro River

    Some shared specific property access concerns. Others noted the importance of agricultural equipment access north of Pine Island.

    We will use what we heard to identify other improvements to Hwy 52 in the coming months. Hear about future opportunities through the project email updates and on this project website.

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  • This survey closed Feb. 21, 2023.

    Two-way frontage road concept

    Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey. 

    In 2027, MnDOT will repave Hwy 52 between Pine Island and Oronoco. We asked the community to share what else we can do. While we don't have funding secured, it could help us get the money to do the work in 2027 or in future projects. This concept is looking into a new frontage road along southbound Hwy 52.

    We would like to reduce the number of direct accesses to Hwy 52 and give drivers a safer way to access several businesses and properties south of Co. Rd. 11. 

    A one-way frontage road concept was presented last fall. We heard a desire or need for a two-way frontage road and the design team has developed a potential design for that.

    Features:

    • Two-way frontage road from Co. Rd. 11 to roughly the location of the existing frontage road access to southbound Hwy 52
    • Alter the existing frontage road access near South by Southeast Brewing
    • New roundabout to access the new frontage road, a future local roadway, and the new entrance ramp to southbound Hwy 52
    • Replace the existing free right from Center Dr. to Hwy 52 with a right turn
    • Remove two local direct accesses to southbound Hwy 52
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    Survey Summary

    The survey closed in February 2023. More than 180 individuals participated in the survey. 

    What we heard from your response was:

    • 65% identified their home zip code as 55963 (Pine Island)
    • 22% identified as living along Highway 52 between Pine Island and Oronoco
    • Positive and negative comments
      1. 108 contained only positive comments
      2. 48 contained only negative comments
      3. 14 contained both positive and negative comments
    • Positive themes include
      1. Improved access for businesses, residences, and potential development (78)
      2. Safety (25)
      3. Entrance ramp changes (13)
    • Negative themes include
      1. Longer travel time to enter Highway 52 (19)
      2. Roundabout (15)
      3. Perceived limited benefit (15)
      4. Entrance ramp changes (9)
    • Additional suggestions
      1. Roundabout at Co. Rd. 11 (14)
      2. Add pedestrian and bike facilities along frontage road (6)


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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    One-way frontage road concept

    Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey 

    The comments were used to help develop the two-way frontage road concept, which is now available for review. We would appreciate your feedback on the changes we made.

    Following listening sessions with stakeholders and property owners in 2022, the project team developed a one-way frontage road concept. 

    This option shifted the existing Center Dr./Co. Rd. 11 entrance ramp connection to southbound Hwy 52 further to the south. The elongated ramp would have acted as a one-way frontage road from the existing Co. Rd. 11 to roughly the location of the existing frontage road access to southbound Hwy 52, and then as a traditional entrance ramp to the south. This option would have removed two local direct accesses to southbound Hwy 52.

    The survey closed in January 2023. Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback.

    Here are some of the comments we heard:

    • 47 survey responses
    • 22 responses supported safer access to the homes and businesses
    • 11 noted that a two-way frontage road to connect back to Co. Rd. 11 would be an improvement
    • 18 responses indicated opposition to changes to the existing ramp
      • Opposition included changes to the existing free-right and entrance ramp, additional distance on a frontage road, and perceived limited benefit to a few at high cost to others

    Through our discussions with the local property owners, we heard a desire for a two-way concept to resolve the current situation of needing to go south on Hwy 52 from the driveways and then turn around at the next interchange to go back north to Pine Island.

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Page last updated: 20 Jul 2023, 03:03 PM