Highway 52 at I-90 Interchange South of Rochester Has Reopened

ROCHESTER, MN (KROC-AM News) - A nearly weeklong detour impacting the traffic on Highway 52 south of Rochester has ended.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has reopened the highway at the I-90 interchange after a five day closure for a culvert replacement project connected to the three-year project to revamp the interchange that began last month.

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A MnDOT news release says the completion of the culvert project has reopened north and southbound Highway 52, the on ramps to eastbound and westbound I-90, as well as the I-90 off ramps to northbound Highway 52. The I-90 off ramps to southbound Highway 52 remain closed.

Motorists wishing to exit I-90 southbound Highway 52 are being directed to follow the detour signs. They will be directed to take Exit 218, travel north on Highway 52, exit to 50th Avenue, and then turn left to access southbound Highway 52. Another option is to take Exit 224 near Eyota and then head south on Olmsted County Road 7, which intersects with Highway 52 north of Chatfield.

MNDOT

The work that is taking place at the interchange this year is largely in preparation for a much more intensive construction season next summer. The overall project calls for the replacement of the I-90 bridges over Highway 52 and constructing a new ramp from southbound Highway 52 to eastbound I-90 that will go over the northbound Highway 52 lanes. The work also includes reconstructing all of the ramps and loops at the interchange and replacing a number of large culverts.

MnDOT has advised that the detour that was in place this past week for the culvert project will be needed for extended periods of time next summer as the work progresses.