ROCHESTER, Minn. – The company that designed a flawed downtown Rochester parking ramp will compensate the city with $2 million to settle a lawsuit. The city claimed that the showcase six-level ramp was supposed to be designed for an additional 10 levels to be added later for apartments. However, the city said, Collaborative Design Group of Minneapolis goofed. According to the city, somebody forgot to design structural and footing support for the apartment levels. The company denied wrong-doing but settled anyway.
Earlier: Rochester closes bedeviled Ramp 6
Ramp 6. The ramp on the banks of the Zumbro River includes a railroad pass-through that could be a commuter train station. Currently the tracks are a freight stub to South End industrial plants.
Plagued project
As it stands, Ramp 6 cost $31 million. It opened in 2019. There have been other problems too, which has had the ramp closed off and on. The city will use the $2 million settlement to cover legal costs and repairs.