A Series: The 60 Realignment Project Updates

The Highway 60 Reroute project is getting closer to being a reality. The reroute plan is designed to address long-standing safety and infrastructure concerns. Its primary goal is to eliminate the T-shaped intersection at the base of the bridge and to elevate the roadway above the 100-year flood level. This project, which has been discussed in Wabasha for decades, was formally adopted by the City Council on December 3, 2019.

On October 23, 2025, an open house was held to present and review preliminary designs for the highway reconstruction. Among several options, Design C2 emerged as the preferred choice. This design features two roundabouts and incorporates walking and biking paths.

The City has partnered with state, county, and federal agencies to secure funding for the project. In the coming months, the Port Authority will review the preliminary design and begin developing a comprehensive Master Plan. To maintain federal funding, the City must solicit bids and adopt a Master Plan design by 2027.

Given the regional importance of the project, particularly for truck traffic moving goods across state lines, the reroute qualifies for both state and federal funding. The next step in the process is to conduct a site survey, which will inform the city of the necessary site cleanup efforts. Although a geo-scan in 2025 identified contaminated areas in the field, it did not offer specific remediation strategies. Once the extent of cleanup is determined, attention can turn to other key aspects of the plan, including flood mitigation and improvements adjacent to the slough.

Flooding and stormwater management are central to the project and will be addressed in the Master Plan. Proper placement of flood mitigation measures will be a core focus. The current roadway adjacent to the slough, which is still in use but considered non-operational, will be removed as part of the reroute. Any repairs or reconstruction of this road have been postponed, as it will ultimately be demolished during the project.

The plan also includes the anticipated reconstruction of the bridge across Grant Boulevard. However, the bridge will not be raised for boat passage, since the slough is shallow and is contaminated. The Master Plan will include what will happen along the waterfront near the bridge. It will need to focus on meeting DNR shoreline requirements. No changes are planned for the shore at Malone Park.

The road near the grocery store is also slated for reconstruction and has been identified as needing significant upgrades. Similar to other road and bridge projects in the plan, its timeline is tied to the completion of the reroute. The second bridge, located near the grocery store on Hiawatha Boulevard, will be reconstructed to include a sidewalk that connects to the bike path leading to Malone Park. Given the frequent pedestrian activity along Hiawatha Boulevard, the addition of a sidewalk is a key component of this bridge’s redesign.

Looking ahead, the City expects that, following completion of the reroute, part of the field may be available for housing development. In anticipation, utility lines will be included in the project and incorporated into the Master Plan.

City Council member John Friedmeyer said Port Authority meetings will take the next steps needed to move forward with a Master Plan. He said that sending out bids and finalizing a Master Plan by 2027 is an achievable goal for the Port Authority, and they are looking forward to continued progress on the Highway 60 Reroute Project.