With about two months until construction is set to begin on the six-legged roundabout at the Highway 19 and I-35 interchange, Rice County has announced an informational open house for March 19th.
A statement released by the county said there will not be any formal presentations made at the meeting. Instead, attendees will be encouraged to look over the project and ask questions. As this is an open house format, attendees will be free to arrive or to leave at any time.
In October, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved construction of the roundabout on the east side of Highway 19 at I-35. The project will connect the northbound I-35 on and off ramps with the highway. County Roads 46 and 59 will connect on either side of the highway as well. Work is set to start in late April and is expected to be complete by fall 2024.
A temporary road is planned underneath I-35 during the construction. The county has no intention of closing Highway 19 during the project, however County Roads 46 and 59 will be closed, and the northbound I-35 ramp will be closed at times. A project page has been set up on the Rice County website. Throughout construction, motorists will be encouraged to visit the page frequently for updates.
While roundabouts can be unpopular with many people, as more have been built on state roadways, an understanding and acceptance of their usefulness has become more common. According to County Engineer Dennis Luebbe, roundabouts help maintain good traffic flow, and diminish the likelihood of side-impact collisions. In fact, MnDot estimates that roundabouts bring an 86% decrease in fatal crashes, an 83% decrease in life-altering injury crashes and a 42% overall decrease in the injury crash rate at an intersection.
The open house will run from 4-6pm on March 19th at the Rice County Highway Building in Faribault. There will also be a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. ( Use Meeting ID 342 117 0614 and 1234 as the passcode.)
