Olmsted County gives update on $92 million County 44–Trunk Highway 14 interchange project

Olmsted County public works staff gave the board a detailed update on the long-planned County 44 and Trunk Highway 14 interchange, describing project layout, funding, right-of-way acquisitions and an anticipated multi-year construction schedule.

Ben Johnson, Director of Public Works and County Engineer, introduced the briefing and Nathan Arnold, associate director of public works and assistant county engineer, presented the project details. Arnold said Trunk Highway 14 carries about 25,000 vehicles per day in the project area; County 44 traffic is roughly 1,500 vehicles per day to the north and 700 to the south. He noted MnDOT closed a median in 2022 for safety and that the interchange will restore mobility and improve safety and drainage.

Arnold said environmental documentation was completed at the end of 2024 and preliminary design is finished; the project is in final design with plans approaching 90% complete. Right-of-way work is underway: the county identified impacts to about 30 parcels owned by 22 property owners, has made offers and reported settlements on about 10 parcels so far. The county’s title-and-possession target date for property acquisition is Sept. 20 of the current year to permit clearing work to begin.

The county plans initial clearing this fall related to migratory birds and other environmental mitigation, with main construction work beginning next spring and continuing through 2026 and into 2027 as necessary. Arnold described project features including several new roundabouts, an overpass tying into Rochester’s Seventh Street, grade separations to clear a railroad corridor and relocation of high-power transmission lines in coordination with the local utility.

Arnold provided an all-in engineer’s estimate of about $92,000,000 for design, right-of-way, construction and administration. He said the package includes approximately $60,000,000 secured from Minnesota’s Corridors of Commerce program and additional funding sources; engineering cost shares were described as roughly two-thirds MnDOT and one-third Olmsted County for the engineering portion. Arnold said the county has held three open houses and contractor constructability meetings and will continue public outreach as staging and traffic impacts are finalized.

Board members asked questions about relocation of power lines, the possibility of eminent domain if negotiations fail, and whether existing neighborhood streets would revert to township maintenance. Arnold said the county is working with the utility (SEMPA) on relocation plans, expects to settle many property transactions before title date but will follow standard federal right-of-way procedures if needed, and confirmed some existing roadway sections will revert to township maintenance or be cul-de-saced to serve neighborhoods.

The board expressed appreciation for the progress on a project that county staff said has been under planning for two decades.