Main Street to Close Tuesday in Downtown Rochester

Rochester’s Main Street Makeover is moving into its next phase.

Beginning Tuesday, the main road through downtown Rochester will close — completely — from University Drive to Second Street.

Here's what you need to know about the closure:

• It's part of the planned reconstruction of Rochester Road that is being done by the Michigan Department of Transportation in conjunction with the city and the Downtown Development Authority.
• University Drive will remain open. So will Second Street.
• Third Street and Fourth Street will be closed to traffic. 
• Pedestrian traffic will be allowed to cross only at Second and University. 
• The sidewalks will be open.
• Downtown businesses will be open. 
• Most businesses can be accessed through back alley entrances.
• Parking downtown is free!
• The official detour route is Second Street to Water Street to University Drive. Walnut Street is a secondary detour route. (The detour is shown in a map attached to this story.)
• For more information, there will be a community project update meeting at 7 p.m. May 29 at the .

“The city, MDOT and the contractor have worked in great cooperation to make sure the project continues to progress at a pace beyond what was originally expected," stated Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino.

"With much of the water main work already completed, the project is ready to enter the full closure phase.

“We thank the businesses and residents for the continued support of the project and cooperation throughout the makeover.”

For more about the project, see