Fix Could Be on the Way for Deadly Goodhue County Highway Intersection

A fix appears in the works for a dangerous highway intersection in Goodhue County where a Northfield woman was killed last month.

The Red Wing Republican Eagle is reporting that county and state lawmakers have agreed on an interchange design plan for Highway 52 and County Road 9.

Northfield residents who travel to Rochester and other points southeast via Highway 52 are familiar with that intersection.

It has been the scene of a number of serious and fatal crashes, including a two-vehicle crash on May 9 that led to the death of Northfield resident Sharon Gates-Hull. Click here to read a story on Patch about that crash.

According to the Republican Eagle's story—a link to which was posted on Northfield.org’s Facebook page on Friday morning—the plan calls for a bridge carrying County Road 9 over Highway 52 to be constructed. The new interchange, called a quadrant interchange, would be less expensive to build than a traditional diamond interchange previously sought after by Goodhue County commissioners.

Now, drivers on the east-west County Road 9 must cross four lanes of the heavily traveled north-south Highway 52 to continue on their journeys. Lighted message boards have been installed at the intersection in recent years to alert drivers of the dangerous traffic patterns.

Construction of the upgraded interchange could be funded through a state Corridor Investment Strategy grant, says the Republican Eagle.

More than 80 crashes have been reported at the intersection since 2000, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The intersection was the topic of a meeting involving Congressman John Kline, local and state lawmakers and highway officials in Goodhue County last week.

Click here to read the Republican Eagle’s story.