In the early 1990s, Steele County and the City of Owatonna began studying and developing a beltway concept to relieve traffic congestion in the downtown area by establishing better north-south and east-west connections between growing portions of the greater Owatonna area. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has also participated in this beltway planning process. The need for the beltline has been driven by the fact that many of the primary roadways serving the area radiate out from downtown. This often requires inefficient, circuitous travel movements from one portion of the study area to another, as well as excessive traffic through the downtown area. These problems have been heighten as local and regional traffic volumes continue to increase.

The current beltway concept is summarized as follows:

• North Beltline: County Road 34/26th Street NE
• South Beltline: County Road 18/28th Street SE
• West Beltline: New roadway from County Road 18/County Road 7 intersection north to County Road 34, using existing 39th Avenue as a short segment
• East Beltline: 34th Avenue or CSAH 43 alignment

The primary tasks of the current project are:

• Determine the preferred alignment for the East Beltline
• Determine the preferred location and design for a new interchange connection with US-14
• Perform preliminary design and environmental review for the preferred alternative (including the easterly portion of the North Beltline that will connect with the East Beltline)

The determination of the preferred alignment for the Beltline will address a broad range of issues including right of way impacts, wetland and other environmental impacts, transportation functionality, cost requirements, and other factors. Public input is a key factor in the alignment selection process.