Rochester Will Permanently Close Third Avenue Southwest
The street segment near the Mayo Clinic will officially close to all traffic on the evening of October 7, 2026.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Rochester officials will permanently close a section of Third Avenue Southwest between Second and Center streets at 7 p.m. on October 7, 2026. This move formalizes a traffic pattern that has been in place for through traffic since June 2025.
Why it matters
The street closure is necessary to accommodate the ongoing Mayo Clinic Bold. Forward. Unbound. In Rochester. expansion project. City planners are implementing the change to support large-scale infrastructure development while managing local circulation.
The city previously vacated parts of Third and Fourth avenues in 2024. The affected segment of Third Avenue Southwest has been restricted to through traffic since June 2025.
The players
Mayo Clinic
This nonprofit academic medical center is the primary entity behind the large-scale expansion project currently reshaping downtown Rochester.
Rochester Police Department
The agency is responsible for monitoring local traffic flow and adjusting signage to maintain safety during the city street closure.
The details
The city will finalize the closure using updated signage and traffic controls to redirect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The Rochester Police Department will monitor the transition to ensure compliance and may make adjustments to signage as traffic patterns settle.
Timeline
The city vacated sections of Third and Fourth avenues in 2024.
Third Avenue Southwest was closed to through traffic starting in June 2025.
The permanent closure will take effect at 7 p.m. on October 7, 2026.
Market Landscape
This closure reflects the significant logistical shifts required to support the massive footprint of the Mayo Clinic Bold. Forward. Unbound. In Rochester. expansion project. The city is balancing these major medical infrastructure needs with the daily flow of downtown traffic.
Commuters and pedestrians should anticipate permanent changes to traffic flow near the Gonda Building's west entrance after October 7, 2026. Access to the facility will remain available, but drivers should follow new signage to reach their destinations.
The takeaway
Drivers and visitors in downtown Rochester should plan for permanent route changes in the vicinity of the Gonda Building. Utilizing official city signage will ensure the smoothest navigation through the construction zone.
Further reading
For more information on local infrastructure changes, visit Rochester Openings & Closings.
More information
View the downtown construction route map for details on current transit changes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rochester Post Bulletin.
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