Public Works Update

2025 Street & Utility Project

Linn Drive SW/Oakdale Street SW

The 2025 Street & Utility Project was awarded to Wencl Construction.

Upcoming Plans: Paving for Linn Drive is scheduled to be completed the week of August 18th. Prep work is planned to begin Monday with paving expected to begin later in the day or on Tuesday. Planned work is weather dependent and dates are subject to change. Any access restrictions will be communicated by the contractor.

Thank you for your patience as this project has taken place. It is nearing completion!

2025 Street & Utility Project Map.

2025 18th Street SE Trail Extension

A Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail running along the South side of 18th Street SW and the North side of 18th Street SE from Linn Avenue to Austin Road has been mostly completed except for  punch list items. Ulland Brothers of Albert Lea was the contractor for this project and worked hard to substantially complete it in time for the Steele County Fair. 

This project is part of a phased approach to complete trail gaps that were identified in the Owatonna Parks & Trails Master Plan. The overall goal is to create a city-wide trail loop based on public input that was received. Along with utilizing State Aid dollars, these projects have also received Federal funding support through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Additional TAP funds along with a recently received Local Trail Connections (LTC) grant will be used to complete the next phase extending the trail from Austin Road to Bixby Road in 2026. Thank you to all of the businesses, organizations and Steele County for your support in these projects! 

With the recent addition of the trail on 18th Street SE, there is a change to the angled parking in the parking spaces near the 18th Street SE and Austin Road intersection. Due to the volume of daily traffic on the road along with the new distance between the traffic lane and the front of the parking stall, traditional angled parking no longer met the required State Aid parking rules. However, the State granted a variance that did allow for 60-degree back-in parking stalls. 

Back-in parking may take some time to get used to but ultimately it does have many benefits including safe loading and unloading of the vehicle as the trunk will be directly adjacent to the trail. Back-in parking also enhances safety for motorists as drivers are facing forward when leaving the parking space allowing for greater visibility. 

Steps to Back-In Parking:

1.    After finding the space you want to park in, use the turn signal to indicate you will be parking. 

2.    Stop just past the space (similar to parallel parking).

3.    Slowly angle back into the parking space until the curb is reached. 

The City greatly appreciates your patience and cooperation as drivers acclimate to the new parking requirements!

18th Street SE Trail Extension Map

Street Dept Paving

Paving on Oakwood Lane is planned for the week of August 25. 

View the interactive project map to see where work will be taking place this season: Engineering Project Map | Owatonna, MN.

Join Clean River Partners for their largest annual volunteer event of the year - the Cannon River Watershed-Wide Cleanup! This marks their 17th year of bringing communities together across the Cannon River Watershed to clean up area parks, rivers, and lakes. And you could be a part of it!

📅 Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025  

🕘 Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm  

📍 Location: Morehouse Park - Owatonna

Learn more and sign up by visiting the 2025 Clean Up Event Page