Plans to reconstruct Highway 61 through Hastings are advancing toward a 2028 construction start, setting the stage for a project that local officials and business owners say will reshape one of the city’s most important corridors while testing how well the community can navigate years of disruption. The effort, led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in partnership with the city, has been described as both necessary and complicated, driven by rising safety concerns, growing traffic demands and the realities of rebuilding a highway that runs directly through an active commercial district.

At a recent public meeting organized by the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, state and city leaders laid out the latest design updates, construction plans and next steps. The meeting drew a mix of business owners, residents and local officials, many of whom have been following the project through earlier planning phases. From the outset, organizers acknowledged the tension between the long-term benefits of the project and the short-term challenges it will bring. “Obviously we’re here today because we all love road construction,” Chamber representative Kristy Barse said, drawing a brief laugh before turning to the seriousness of the topic. “We have a really big project coming down the pipeline that’s going to impact the entire community.”

Highway 61 is more than just a local street. It serves as a regional route carrying commuters, freight traffic and visitors through Hastings, with daily traffic volumes reaching about 32,000 vehicles. Up to 15 percent of that traffic consists of heavy vehicles, including semitrailers that rely on the corridor to move goods across the region. That combination has placed increasing pressure on a roadway that was not designed to handle current or future demand, leading to congestion, safety concerns and unpredictable travel times.

State officials pointed to crash data as one of the clearest indicators that change is needed. The corridor’s crash rate is significantly higher than comparable four-lane highways, more than doubling the expected rate based on statewide averages. At the same time, traffic modeling suggests that conditions will worsen if no improvements are made. While drivers today may travel the stretch in about five minutes under normal conditions, projections show that travel times could climb to more than 20 minutes by 2040 due to increasing congestion and conflicts between vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

“That speaks to why we need to do this,” project manager Bryant Ficek said. “Nobody wants to see that.”

The project’s stated goal reflects the wide range of issues planners are trying to address, focusing on improving safety and mobility while maintaining infrastructure and preserving connections within the community. Ficek said the approach goes beyond simply moving vehicles more efficiently. “It’s not just about vehicles,” he said. “It’s also about people who are not only walking along 61 but crossing. We don’t want the highway to be a barrier to the city.”

City officials said they support those goals but are equally focused on minimizing the economic impact on local businesses. Ryan Stempski, speaking on behalf of the city, said concerns about business disruption have been consistent throughout the planning process. “We want to flip the script on trunk highway projects,” he said. “We don’t want this to be a project that comes to town that shuts down businesses or causes businesses to lose significant revenues.”

That focus has led to an unusually high level of outreach during the design phase. Officials said they have held numerous meetings with business owners, both individually and in groups, to better understand how customers, deliveries and employees access properties along the corridor. Those conversations have influenced several design decisions, including how driveways are configured, where turning movements are allowed and how intersections are redesigned. Even so, officials acknowledged that not every concern can be fully addressed. “We want your input,” Ficek said. “We take that in, we go back, we evaluate it, and we try to balance different priorities.”

The planned improvements include a range of changes intended to reduce the number of conflict points along the highway. Many of the existing direct access points will be modified, with some converted to right-in, right-out movements to limit crossing traffic. Intersections will be reconfigured to improve traffic flow, and new signals will be added in areas with high volumes of turning movements, particularly for trucks. Some locations will see the introduction of roundabouts, which officials say can reduce crashes and improve efficiency when properly designed.

Pedestrian access is also a key component of the project. Plans include improved crossings, wider medians in some areas and the addition of trails and sidewalks designed to make it easier and safer for people to move through the corridor without a vehicle. Officials said these changes are intended to better connect neighborhoods on either side of the highway, addressing longstanding concerns that the road divides parts of the community.

While the design phase has generated discussion, much of the attention at the meeting focused on how construction will be carried out. Because Highway 61 is a vital route, fully closing it during construction is not considered an option. At the same time, maintaining all existing lanes while work is underway is not feasible due to space limitations. The current plan calls for maintaining one lane in each direction while construction is completed in phases.

That approach is expected to keep traffic moving but will also create delays, reduced speeds and temporary access challenges. Officials said construction will likely be divided into multiple segments, allowing crews to focus on one section of the corridor at a time. The exact number and size of those segments are still under discussion, as planners weigh the trade-offs between efficiency and disruption. Larger segments could allow for faster construction but would affect more businesses at once, while smaller segments could reduce immediate impacts but extend the overall timeline.

“It’s a balance,” Ficek said, noting that feedback from the community will play a role in shaping those decisions.

For business owners, the biggest concerns remain access and visibility during construction. Officials emphasized that maintaining access to all businesses is a core requirement of the project, even if conditions are not always ideal. “It doesn’t mean it won’t be gravel or some not pavement at times, but it does mean we need to maintain that access,” Ficek said. Barse encouraged business owners to stay engaged and support one another throughout the process. “It’s going to be really important as us, as business owners, to stay involved and connected and be able to support each other through this process,” she said.

Parking is another area of concern, particularly in sections of the corridor where on-street parking will be eliminated as part of the redesign. City officials said they are exploring alternative parking options, including partnerships with nearby property owners and improvements to signage that could direct customers to available spaces. While those plans are still being developed, officials acknowledged that some adjustments will be necessary.

In addition to roadway changes, the project includes extensive utility work that will take place alongside construction. City officials estimate that roughly 9,000 feet of water main and a similar length of sewer line will be replaced along the corridor. The work will also include upgrades to aging service connections and the installation of new infrastructure intended to support future growth. Officials said coordinating these improvements with the road project is critical to avoid repeated disruptions in the years ahead.

“There’s quite a bit of utility work,” Stempski said, noting that much of the existing infrastructure is decades old. The project also includes plans for new lighting, landscaping and aesthetic features, with input from a committee that will include city officials, business representatives and members of local arts organizations. “We want to make sure we’re making the right decisions for this corridor for the next 100 years,” Stempski said.

The estimated cost of the project is currently about $41 million, though officials said that figure could change as the design is finalized. Funding remains a key issue, with the project not yet fully financed. State officials said they are continuing to pursue additional funding sources and explore ways to close the gap. If necessary, some elements of the project could be scaled back or deferred, though core improvements are expected to move forward regardless.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with some preliminary work, such as tree removal or early infrastructure preparation, potentially starting in 2027. The main construction phase is expected to last at least one full season, with the possibility of extended work hours or multiple shifts to accelerate progress. Officials said those decisions will be made in consultation with the community, balancing the desire for a shorter construction period with concerns about noise and disruption.

“We’re looking at five to six days a week, eight to 12 hours a day,” project leaders said, noting that more intensive schedules, including nighttime work, could be considered if they significantly reduce the overall timeline.

As the project moves into its final design phase, officials said communication will remain a priority. Plans include the addition of a dedicated business liaison who will serve as a point of contact for questions and concerns, as well as regular updates through meetings, emails and online resources. Public engagement is expected to continue throughout the process, giving residents and business owners opportunities to provide input and stay informed.

“This is a big project. It’s a heavy lift,” Stempski said. For Hastings, the reconstruction of Highway 61 represents a long-term investment in safety, mobility and infrastructure, but it also presents a period of uncertainty and adjustment for the community. As plans continue to evolve, much will depend on how effectively officials, businesses and residents work together to manage the challenges ahead while preparing for the changes the project will bring.