By Rich Larson
With three major bridge replacement projects on the horizon, Northfield officials say the next several years will offer a rare opportunity to improve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety along Highway 3.
The Northfield City Council recently reviewed a study of several Highway 3 intersections that do not have traffic signals, including crossings at St. Olaf Avenue, Riverview Drive, Heritage Drive and Greenvale Avenue. Mayor Erica Zweifel said the discussion highlighted both potential improvements and the trade-offs that could accompany them.
Some options around St. Olaf Avenue, for example, could improve pedestrian access while making vehicle access to nearby businesses more difficult. Zweifel also questioned whether current traffic and pedestrian counts accurately reflect demand at crossings people may already avoid because they consider them unsafe.
“If St. Olaf were a safer crossing, more people would cross there,” she said.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the larger issue is how Highway 3 functions within Northfield. While the highway is an important regional transportation route, carrying commuters, freight, goods and services, it is also a city street that effectively divides the community.
That concern will become increasingly important as the Minnesota Department of Transportation prepares for three major projects: replacement of the Highway 3 bridge over the Cannon River in 2032, the Highway 3 bridge over the railroad tracks in 2033, and the Highway 19 bridge over the Cannon River in 2034.
Martig said the city wants MnDOT to consider those projects together rather than treating each bridge as an isolated replacement.
“These are all interconnected,” he said. “This is an opportunity that you have to look more holistically.”
The city hopes that broader planning could create safer connections across Highway 3 while supporting Northfield’s goal of expanding and strengthening the downtown area.
Martig acknowledged that some desired improvements may not initially be included in MnDOT’s budgets. Northfield could, however, pursue state or federal grants and other funding to expand the scope of the projects.
Because bridges can remain in place for 50 to 75 years or longer, Martig said decisions made during the planning process could shape Northfield for generations. City officials expect community involvement and a unified position from local leaders will be important as Northfield works to persuade MnDOT to incorporate additional safety improvements into the projects.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
