Highway 61 Project

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the City of Hastings are teaming up to improve Highway 61 from 4th Street to 36th Street.

The initial study analyzed all modes of travel like cars, bikes, walkers, and heavy vehicles. Our shared goal is for this corridor to work efficiently and be safe for all.

MnDOT Highway 61 Hastings Project webpage

Summary of work

  • Reconstruct Hwy 61 from just north of 3rd St. to south of 36th St. with concrete pavement from north of 3rd St. to the new roundabout at Hwy 316
  • Replace the Todd Field wall along Hwy 61
  • Construct new full-size roundabouts at Hwy 316 and 36th St.
  • Construct new 6-foot concrete sidewalks and pedestrian ramps along both sides of Hwy 61
  • Add 8-foot trail along Hwy 61 from Hwy 316 to 36th St.
  • Add a traffic signal at the intersection at Hwy 61 and 18th St.
  • Accessibility improvements
  • Update drainage
  • Utility upgrades

 

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The Project So Far

On July 6, 2026, the Hastings City Council received an update from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) on the Highway 61 improvement project, which has entered the final design phase ahead of construction. The estimated $41 million project is intended to improve safety, traffic flow, and aging infrastructure through changes including new traffic signals, roundabouts, and updated access points.

MnDOT will host a public meeting on July 14 at Hastings High School to share project details and gather community feedback. Council members discussed traffic impacts, business access, project funding, and the importance of keeping residents informed as planning moves forward.

On April 21, 2025, MnDOT’s South Area Manager, Bryant Ficek, gave an update to the City Council.

  • The bulk of construction will start in 2028, with minor work beginning as early as late fall of 2027
  • The project will focus on TH-61 from 4th Street to Highway 316
  • Highway 61 from Highway 316 to 36th Street will now be part of a separate project anticipated in 2029.
  • The project has currently secured approximately two-thirds of the funding necessary for construction

You can learn more about what’s coming, how we’ll handle traffic during construction, and how we’ll keep talking with the community as we move into the design phase.

Executive Summary of the Study

MnDOT Presentation Video

Highway 61 April 21, 2025 Presentation Slides

June 5, 2023

Shared new ideas for Highway 61 after hearing from people in the community.
View the Highway 61 June 5, 2025 Council Memo
View the June 5, 2023 Presentation to Council - begins at 37-minute mark

February 21, 2023

Discussed the first designs and invited everyone to an Open House on March 7 at City Hall.
View the Highway 61 February 21, 2023 Presentation Slides

View the February 21, 2023 Presentation to Council

July 5, 2022

 

August 24, 2022

Engineering

Contact Us

Phone: 651-480-2334

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