The Problem

Steele County and the City of Owatonna are proposing a very dangerous and short-sighted plan to repurpose a planned neighborhood city street and replace it with a highway known as the “East Side Corridor” with speeds up to 55mph. This route is located directly adjacent to established neighborhoods and is not even wide enough to accommodate this type of road. Owatonna needs a north-south route east of town, but this location is not the answer!  Historically, all other major routes built in the county, Old Hwy 14, Hwy 218, 26th St., etc., were in place before residential areas encroached on them. 

Most concerning, imposing a highway on this route would be detrimental to the safety of dozens of small children at play, many with disabilities. There are also residential care homes with many at-risk adults in these neighborhoods. Put simply, it’s not safe! This proposed route also hinders future growth of Owatonna. We need amenities on the east side of town such as a grocery store, gas station, and other small businesses. Putting a highway right alongside zoned residential neighborhoods does not allow for this, and is poor planning.

A highway next to neighborhoods also introduces heavy truck traffic within feet of existing homes. The presence of semi-trucks means extremely loud engine braking ("jake braking") which will not only impact the immediate neighborhoods but also create noise disruptions for residences 2+ miles away! This will compromise the quiet, small-town feel of Owatonna for nearly half of its residents.

The Solution

A half-mile further east, there is an already-established north-south roadway called 34th Avenue. A north-south highway here would put a safe distance between existing neighborhoods and high-speed traffic, ensure safety, reduce noise levels for residents and promote future growth. Previous environmental and impact studies, including MN DOT (see page 30 of 2004 Beltline Study), have also recommended 34th Avenue. Over the past three decades, residents of Owatonna have also been recommending the use of 34th Avenue (Pages 59-77 of the 1995 Environmental Report).  All but 1.5 miles of 34th Avenue is an existing roadway. Building the East Side Corridor at 34th Avenue is the safest, most fiscally responsible location, and it allows for the right kind of development and growth for Owatonna.

It’s time for the city and county officials to listen to the citizens they serve! We insist on safety, sound planning and long-term sustainability and growth for our town. 34th Avenue offers all of this and is the right choice for Owatonna!

Please Act Now!

We need your help, your voice, your signature on this petition to show support for this safer, more sustainable long-term solution for Owatonna. Please join us in raising awareness of this petition by sharing it within your networks. Like, share, and follow our Facebook page for more information or stay up to date with via our website: www.owatonnaeastsidecorridor.com

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