2026 City of Rochester Infrastructure Construction Projects

downtownrochesterconstruction.org: An online resource designed to provide residents, visitors, patients and downtown employees with up-to-date information covering downtown construction impacts and community partner happenings. This website reflects ongoing collaboration between the City, Destination Medical Center and Mayo Clinic.

Construction Impact Map: An online map showing current impacts on travel in the City of Rochester.

Started Summer 2025, Season 2: March 2026 to August 2027
The Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a transformative transportation investment designed to enhance mobility, ease congestion and support the continued growth of Rochester. By providing a fast, fare-free and reliable transit option, with 12 stops located along the 2.8 mile long, 2nd Street corridor. Link will serve an estimated 11,000 commuters, residents, businesses and visitors a day, strengthening downtown Rochester's accessibility and economic vitality. Stations will have amenities such as real time signage, heated enclosures and level boarding. At the western terminus of Link, West Transit Village is part of a private development between Mayo Clinic, Krause Anderson and others to provide retail, housing, parking and other parks amenities. Link is responsible for street construction, underground utility infrastructure, the stations, sidewalks, landscaping and on route chargers for the electric buses. This site will also a feature a drivers facility and public restroom.

North Broadway Reconstruction - Phase 2 (Spring to June 2026)
Phase 2 of the North Broadway reconstruction project will address the roadway between the Silver Lake Bridge and Elton Hills Drive NW. The new roadway will improve walking, biking and transit facilities, as well as include safety improvements for drivers. Benefits of the project include turning this section of the corridor into an urban street and creating connections to pedestrian/bike trails along the Zumbro River, Cascade Creek and Silver Lake. The remaining work in 2026 includes the installation of concrete sidewalks, bus shelters, streetscape elements, tree plantings and other miscellaneous landscaping elements.

Intersection Improvements at 4th Street SE and 19th Avenue SE (Roundabout) (Spring 2026)

The project includes the reconstruction of pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, sanitary sewer and storm sewer. Underground infrastructure was installed in 2025 and the intersection will be improved from an all-way stop to a multi-lane roundabout this spring.

East Center Street Reconstruction (Spring to Fall 2026)
A major reconstruction is planned for East Center Street, from the Zumbro River to 11th Avenue NE/SE, to modernize aging infrastructure and enhance safety and mobility for all users. The project will replace early 1900s sanitary sewer and water mains, with the potential to remove lead service lines, while upgrading storm sewer and stormwater systems to improve drainage and water quality. It will add pedestrian and bicycle facilities consistent with Complete Streets principles, improve transit stops and pedestrian crossings, and ensure ADA compliant accessibility throughout the corridor. The project also includes construction of a mini roundabout at 11th Avenue NE/SE to improve intersection safety.

18th Avenue SW Reconstruction (June 2026 to November 2027)
This project will upgrade a key southwest Rochester corridor to better support growing residential areas and meet long-term community needs from 40th Street SW to Mayowood Road SW. The project will replace deteriorating pavement and transition the roadway from a shoulder-and-ditch design to an urban street with curb, gutter and boulevards. Planned improvements include new pedestrian and bicycle facilities consistent with Complete Streets principles, expanded storm sewer and stormwater treatment systems, and an extended sanitary sewer and water. Additional enhancements under consideration include safer intersections and crossings, improved transit stop accessibility and a reduced corridor speed limit of 30 mph to support overall safety and livability.

6th Street Bridge, Neighborhood Safety & Riverfront Improvements (Winter 2026 to Spring of 2028)

This project will include the construction of a new bridge crossing of the Zumbro River to improve access to neighborhoods, the riverfront and key destinations. This includes providing equitable transportation access with walking and biking infrastructure, neighborhood traffic calming and other intersection safety improvements along 6th Street SE. Access to the Zumbro River will be improved, while still maintaining the existing flood protection. The project connects to the Link project at that project's east terminus.

Downtown Infrastructure Upgrades
Destination Medical Center (DMC)-funded City of Rochester investments in utilities, streets and streetscaping surrounding Mayo Clinic's Bold, Forward, Unbound in Rochester development will begin in 2026. The City's investments will be coordinated with Mayo Clinic's work to minimize disruptions and facilitate access to destinations in downtown, including downtown businesses and Mayo Clinic buildings. Coordinating these investments over the next 5 years capitalizes on an opportunity to ensure the area will not see major street or utility reconstruction projects for decades after 2030.

Annual Mill & Overlay and Chip Seal Projects (Spring/Summer 2026)
Every year, the Public Works Infrastructure Maintenance team performs pavement preservation projects, including Mill & Overlay and Chip Seal projects. The milling projects consist of removing an average of two inches of pavement from the existing street and replacing those two inches of bituminous pavement. This year's project includes an estimated 14 miles of re-paving. The Chip Seal projects are an additional preservation method to protect pavements recently paved in the previous two to three years. An estimated 33 miles of streets will receive a chip seal. These projects occur in neighborhoods all over the City.

Sidewalk Improvement District (SID) Program (Spring/Summer 2026)

The City now handles sidewalk repairs and maintenance through the SID program. Contractors will be addressing defective sidewalks in District 2 - NC this season. Select pedestrian ramps will also be replaced. This is the fourth year under the new program (adopted by the City Council in November 2022) that reassigns the cost of sidewalk repairs and replacement from the adjacent property owner to a distribution among a greater portion of the community.