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MnDOT/KLJ outline Highway 3 corridor recommendations for Rosemount, including multiple roundabouts and targeted widening
Summary
MnDOT consultants presented phase‑three recommendations for a 10–12 mile Highway 3 corridor through Rosemount, proposing roundabouts, three‑lane cross sections through downtown, and targeted four‑lane segments northward; presenters cited crash hotspots and estimated 2025 costs for a middle section at roughly $55–60 million.
Joe D'vor of KLJ, speaking on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, briefed the Rosemount City Council on phase‑three recommendations for the Highway 3 corridor study on June 2. The study covers a roughly 10–12 mile stretch from Highway 62 through Rosemount to County Road 46 (160th), and targets safety improvements, predicted growth and regional connectivity.
D'vor said the recommendations focus on segmenting the corridor and tailoring both cross‑section and intersection improvements. For the southern segment (County Road 46/160th to County Road 42/150th), the study proposes three roundabouts, including one at County Road 46, a connection to a future grade separation at County Road 42, and a single‑lane roundabout at Rosemount Crossing to improve access in the commercial area. Planners recommended a continuous three‑lane section extending north through downtown in place of the existing two‑lane roadway.
In downtown (segment two), the team recommends a compact roundabout at 145th Street in place of the traffic signal to preserve a low‑speed character while maintaining a three‑lane cross section. North of downtown, larger, multi‑lane roundabouts are proposed at Conamera Trail and Bonire Path, with a three‑lane cross section between intersections extending to McAndrews (County Road 38). The presenters highlighted high crash rates at 130th Street and Bonire Path and said the proposed changes aim to reduce speeds and crash severity.
The presentation also identified a potential long‑term need for a four‑lane section northward connecting to Highway 149, noting that this option runs contrary to some public feedback and that planners want to minimize the length of any four‑lane expansion.
D'vor said the study estimates that implementing recommended safety improvements for the middle section (roughly 142nd to 149th) would be on the order of $55–60 million in 2025 dollars; MnDOT currently has about $15 million identified for pavement work on that stretch. He told the council that major expansion projects often take six to eight years of planning and that a 2033 construction year is possible but not guaranteed.
“...we are getting into kind of phase three of our study, which is finalizing recommendations for this corridor study,” D'vor said, summarizing the work to date and the public engagement that informed the recommendations.
Council members asked about public engagement, survey participation and next steps; D'vor said three open houses were held (one in each city along the corridor) with about 150 attendees at each, and that public feedback favored maintaining a three‑lane downtown section rather than adding medians or expanding to four lanes there. He also noted that cost figures are 2025 estimates and likely to increase with inflation.
The council received the presentation and the packet materials; no formal council action on the study was taken at this meeting. MnDOT and KLJ indicated they will continue coordinating with city staff and neighboring jurisdictions as the corridor plan moves toward funding and design phases.
