Steele County and the City of Owatonna are inviting the public to an open house to learn about the East Side Corridor study for a new road proposed for the east side of Owatonna. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31 from 5-7 p.m. at the Steele County Community Center, 1380 S. Elm Ave. in Owatonna.
County and City staff will share study details with area motorists and residents. Attendees can learn about the study of the East Side Corridor, review the recommended preferred alternative, and learn about upcoming activities that include environmental review and engineering design. Additionally, attendees will learn about the process used to identify strategies to mitigate project impacts and can share feedback with the project team. There will be no formal presentation. Attendees can arrive and leave at any time.
Steele County and the City of Owatonna have been studying options for a new north-south route on the east side of the City in Owatonna between 18th Street SE in the south and County Hwy 8/Kenyon Rd in the north. The new road is needed to meet the travel needs generated by existing and future development. Currently, traffic cannot travel directly between the northeast and the southeast parts of Owatonna. Drivers must use existing highways and streets in the downtown area to travel between these parts of town. This adds unnecessary traffic in the downtown area and increases travel times. The project is planned to be constructed within the next five years.
For more information about the project, or if you are unable to make the open house, check out the following webpage: eastsidecorridor.com. The website provides more information about the project and provides an opportunity to provide feedback on the project.