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MnDOT and Hastings outline Highway 61 redesign with roundabouts, trails and safety upgrades
Summary
At a public open house, project manager Robert Jones detailed a reconstruction of Highway 61 that adds two roundabouts, raised crosswalks, RRFB pedestrian beacons, an 8-foot trail and new sidewalks; the team emphasized safety and staged construction while designs move from 30% to 60%.
At a public open house in Hastings, project manager Robert Jones presented 30%‑to‑60% drawings for the proposed Highway 61 reconstruction and emphasized safety improvements designed to slow motor vehicle speeds and improve bicycle and pedestrian access. "This is a 2 year project," Jones told attendees while outlining roundabouts, raised crosswalks and new trail connections.
Jones said the corridor design includes two roundabouts (a three‑leg 2‑lane roundabout at the Highway 316 intersection and a one‑lane roundabout at 36th Street), raised crosswalks and rapid‑flashing beacons (RRFBs) at key crossings. The plan calls for an 8‑foot trail on one side of the corridor and a 6‑foot sidewalk on the other, with curb‑and‑gutter where the route transitions from rural to urban form.
The MnDOT/City team also described roadway elements intended to calm traffic: medians that limit left‑turn crossings in favor of right‑turn in/right‑turn out movements, extended medians and specific design features at roundabout approaches. Jones said the geometric layout is signed off by MnDOT geometric design staff but remains subject to small tweaks as the team moves toward 60% design.
The project team said design refinements and public education efforts are planned, including videos and on‑site demonstrations to help drivers learn roundabout navigation. Officials said the next public update will coincide with the 60% milestone in November.
