Hastings Approves Highway 61 Layout After Long Debate. Here's What's Coming

TLDR

• The Hastings City Council approved MnDOT's Highway 61 layout on Oct. 19.
• A motion to wait two more weeks failed.
• The rebuild is estimated at $66 million, with about $34 million still unfunded.
• Construction is set for 2028 and 2029. MnDOT says Hwy 61 won't fully close.

The Hastings City Council gave MnDOT the go-ahead on the Highway 61 rebuild Monday night. That's the stretch of Vermillion Street from the river bridge to 36th Street. It took hours of questions, plus a workshop before the meeting. If you drive, work or own a business on 61, this one's for you.

What the council actually voted on

The vote was for "municipal consent." Under state law, MnDOT needs the city's OK when it changes access to a highway or buys land for it. Both are happening here.

MnDOT's Bryant Ficek said this is the city approving the layout. It's not a funding deal. That comes later in a "cooperative agreement," a contract that spells out who pays and who maintains what. A first draft is expected in about six months.

Here's what's in the plan:

• A single-lane roundabout at 36th Street.
• A multi-lane roundabout at Hwy 316.
• A new walking bridge over the Vermillion River.
• A new traffic signal at 18th Street.
• A rebuilt Todd Field retaining wall. MnDOT says it's crumbling but won't fall down before then.
• New sidewalks, and an 8-foot trail from Hwy 316 to 36th Street.
• Concrete from the bridge to Hwy 316, and blacktop from there to 36th.

Some properties near the Hwy 316 roundabout will be bought outright. That's part of why MnDOT wanted the vote now.

Why MnDOT says 61 needs this

Ficek gave a few reasons. The pavement is old. Of the 26 intersections MnDOT studied, 13 have more crashes than similar ones elsewhere. And traffic keeps growing. If nothing changes, MnDOT's models show a 5-minute southbound trip becoming a 22-minute one.

What that means at a few key spots:

• 18th Street gets a signal. Big trucks heading to and from the nearby mill pull straight onto 61 now, blocking both lanes. The signal gives them a safer spot to get on and off.
• Hwy 55 becomes a T. That changes Walgreens. Heading north, you'd turn right onto 11th Street to get in. Coming from the south or Hwy 55, you'd use 10th. To leave, you'd exit onto 10th. There's no right turn out onto 61 at 11th.
• 22nd Street could change. Council members watched a car get T-boned and flipped there that same day. Council Member Mya Beck said it was the second one she's seen in two weeks. MnDOT's Robert Jones said he'd look at stretching the median. You could turn left into Las Margaritas and Applebee's, but not left out across four lanes.

Jones promised answers on 22nd, 23rd and 25th streets within two weeks.

The $34 million question

The project is now estimated at $66 million. That's a big jump from the $30–40 million figure when we first reported Highway 61 was getting a major rebuild in 2028. MnDOT has about $31 million to $32 million lined up.

To close the gap, MnDOT is applying for federal safety grants and a state local road grant due in November. Dakota County may help pay for the walking bridge and trails. MnDOT also hopes to move in extra state money, since other bids are coming in under budget.

Council Member DawnMarie Vihrachoff asked if gaps this big are normal. Ficek pointed to Hwy 13 in Burnsville and Savage. That project started about $80 million short and is now down to roughly $15 million.

If the money doesn't come through, MnDOT could push the Hwy 316-to-36th Street piece into a later project. That saves about $5 million. Beck worried that splitting things up would let MnDOT charge Hastings its roughly $279,000 share more than once. MnDOT said it plans to build one project, and only money would change that. A funding update is expected in January.

Residents asked for roundabouts and more time

Greg Jablonsky of Rivershore Drive spoke twice. He wants roundabouts at 18th Street and at County Road 47, where he said land is open. He said traffic was backed up for blocks at 2:16 that afternoon. "We've got one shot to get this thing right," he said.

Jablonsky also doubted MnDOT's door-knocking. "I haven't found one," he said of businesses that got a visit. MnDOT said it sent postcards to every business and had a consultant walk the corridor at least twice.

Lawrence Swanson of Ravenna Township called the light at County Road 47 "a nightmare." Denise Swanson, who's tied to a building at 1922 Vermillion St., asked how customers will find businesses during work. "Two weeks is nothing," she said.

Not everyone wanted to wait. Dennis, who lives at 120 W. 9th St., pointed to Robert Street in West St. Paul. He said the city's big investment there paid off. "This tonight is not a sprint," he said. "It's a marathon."

Jones was clear on roundabouts. "We're not going to change to roundabouts," he said. "We're going to give you two nice roundabouts." He said a roundabout at 18th or County Road 47 would be a major redesign. So would J-turns.

The vote

Leifeld moved to wait two weeks for answers. Pemble seconded. Jones said two weeks might work, but 90 days "will torpedo this project." MnDOT wants 60% plans done by Nov. 1.

Vihrachoff didn't see the point. "We're in double-digit meetings at this point," she said. "We're saying, 'Let's get started.'" Beck agreed. The delay failed. The council then approved the layout, though at least one member voted no.

What about businesses?

Pemble was around for the last big rebuild. "I was part of this mess 50 years ago, '74, '75 and '76," he said. "Businesses evaporated because they couldn't keep the doors open."

Jones said every business will have access the whole time. The contractor is already on board during design, which is unusual. Jones said that contractor will act as a business liaison in the field and warn owners months ahead. The chamber is leading an "Open for Business" group. There's an open house in January, a business meeting in March and three more in 2027. MnDOT also keeps a business resource page for the project.

The Bottom Line

The layout is approved, but details can still change. Small tweaks, like the 22nd Street median, are still on the table. Big ones, like new roundabouts, aren't.

Watch for MnDOT's answers on 22nd, 23rd and 25th streets in early November. For the work schedule, here's our breakdown of MnDOT's two-year construction plan. You can also follow updates on the city's Highway 61 project page.