DATE:              May 22, 2023
                         For Immediate Release

CONTACT:       Matt Leonard
                          (763) 271-3271 | Matt.Leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us

County Highway 75 (West Broadway) Closed Beginning May 30, 2023

We’re working hard to enhance Downtown Monticello as a gathering place for the community. As we navigate these changes, we know there will be temporary impacts to the area. As we get ready to kick off summer, we’re also getting ready to kick off construction. 

The west side of downtown is proposed for various construction projects throughout the remainder of the year. There will be evolving traffic impacts and detours on this side of Highway 25, and we encourage residents to prepare to use alternate routes or allow for extra time through the west side of downtown. Our goal is to minimize impacts as best we can, but the extent of the projects will cause disruptions to normal traffic patterns and routes. Thank you for your patience as we work through these improvements to revitalize our downtown!

Beginning Tuesday, May 30, County Highway 75 (West Broadway) will be closed between Walnut Street and Highway 25/Pine Street for utility work. A detour is necessary to complete a water and sewer connection for the Block 52 development and will be posted along 7^th Street West and Elm Street. The work will take approximately 2 weeks. Please plan ahead and drive with caution in the area.

August 2022 Construction Updates

There are several projects and improvements being made throughout the City. Here are a few updates and changes happening in Monticello this month!

Street and Sidewalk Improvements Project

The contractor has been working on replacing sections of curb and sidewalk ramps, throughout the Street and Sidewalk Improvements project areas. The contractor began paving the roads on August 4, 2022 and is scheduled to wrap up this week. No on-street parking will be available during the days of milling and paving, please follow the signs posted in the areas of the project.

The contractor is also starting on the removals for the sidewalk sections of the project and installing the new sidewalk once grading is complete. The sidewalk on Walnut & 4^th Street around the Cargill Campus will begin next week.

7^th Street East Pavement Overlay Project

The 7^th Street East pavement overlay project is scheduled to begin this week, August 10 and 11.

Weather permitting, the schedule for the project is as follows: the east bound lane will be closed on Wednesday, August 10 and the westbound lane will be closed Thursday, August 11.

There will be signage, barricades, and cones throughout the project. Please follow the posted signs and use caution when driving through construction zones. The detour will be Cedar to 4^th Street to Washington and vice versa. The project is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the week. 

Monticello Library Roof Improvements

The replacement of the library roof began last week (Aug. 1, 2022)! The book drive on the south side and parking spots on the east side of the building have been closed off for construction vehicles and materials.

The Monticello Farmers Market and the Library will remain open. Construction is expected to last about 2 weeks.

Downtown Monticello Improvements and Projects

The City of Monticello is preparing for the reconstruction of a portion of Walnut and River Streets in downtown Monticello, known as the Downtown Roadway and Pedestrian Improvements Project.

Additionally, a private developer is also completing site preparation at the northwest corner of Pine Street (Highway 25) and Broadway (County Road 39) as part of a new mixed-use project on that corner. Work on these two projects is expected to begin in August and continue through 2023. The intent is to coordinate these two projects (the private redevelopment and the public infrastructure) so the outcome is well integrated and construction disruption is minimized.

Over the coming weeks, there will be several contractors on the site completing various components of these projects. The City has contracted with Bolton & Menk to complete a downtown parking study and traffic study. You may also notice some more movement around the EDA-owned building on Block 52. The developer will be starting to do environmental assessments this week.

Xcel Energy has started to relocate their lines surrounding Block 52, once the new lines are installed and operational, they will start to remove overhead lines on a portion of the Block 52 redevelopment area. Other utility companies are working with the City on their relocation plans, but do not have set dates yet.

Visit us at Music on the Mississippi, August 17 at West Bridge Park to learn more about the Downtown Roadway and Pedestrian Improvements Project and talk with project staff.

MCC’s Guest Services Desk Improvements

The Monticello Community Center’s Guest Services desk is getting a new look and some new tech! The old counters and cupboards will be removed, and the menu boards will be replaced with digital display options. This will make it easier for staff to make menu edits and price changes. We can't wait to serve you our new fresh menu items when our remodel is complete!

Council Approves Block 52 Development Agreement

Downtown Monticello is the heart of the community. Ongoing efforts to support and enhance the area are guided by our Downtown Small Area Plan. The Plan focuses on a mix of existing and new spaces, creating a vibrant area year-round.

 A signature element of the adopted Plan is redevelopment of Block 52 at the corner of Broadway and TH25. This year the City has been working with a developer on a potential project encompassing a significant part of the block.

 At the regular meeting on July 11, 2022, the City Council approved the Final Plat and Development Agreement, Final Stage PUD, and rezoning. This was the final step in the land use approval process for the project and a critical milestone toward bringing the project to life.

With project approvals in place, the developers, Economic Development Authority (EDA), and staff will continue to work towards finalizing a financing assistance package followed by site preparation steps, and other tasks that need to be completed prior to construction. We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses, and you can find additional information on our website.