Staff photo by Fritz Busch Cottonwood River bridge work on TH 4 several miles south of Sleepy Eye continues Wednesday. The $18.9 million project includes replacing three bridges, drainage improvements and resurfacing 25 miles of road. The project is planned to be completed this fall.

NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners learned about current and future highway projects through fiscal year 2028 from Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) District 7 project managers Zak Tess and Sam Parker Tuesday.

District 7 includes a good share of south central and the southwest corner of Minnesota, stretching from Green Isle to Waseca to Luverne.

Highway 4 between St. James to Sleepy Eye

Current projects include an $18.9 million project between Sleepy Eye and St. James that includes resurfacing 25 miles of surface, replacing three bridges, repairing drainage pipes and culverts and adding rumble strips and updated guardrail.

Construction was delayed from 2023 until 2024 as MnDOT worked closely with Brown and Watonwan counties to determine Trunk Highway 4 needs including building a 10-ton route instead of MnDOT’s earlier proposed 7-ton route.

The project began this spring and is planned to be completed this fall, weather permitting.

Highway 4 St. James to Sherburn

A $20.8 million project underway includes resurfacing Trunk Highway 4 from St. James to Sherburn, replacing a bridge, repairing three bridges, drainage and ADA improvements.

“The projects will improve Highway 4 safety,” Tess said.

Highway 257 from Hanska to Highway 15

He said TH 257 from Hanska east to TH 15 was resurfaced, milled and overlaid two weeks ago.

Highway 15/Highland roundabout

New Ulm’s $2.2 million Trunk Highway 14/Highland Avenue roundabout including new sidewalk, trail to existing locations and lighting was recently completed.

“Not everybody favors roundabouts, but I think they’re important,” said Commissioner Brian Braun.

He thanked MnDOT staff for intersection improvement work at the corner of TH 14 and CR 10 several miles east of Sleepy Eye.

“The crash rating at that intersection is less now due to recent improvements,” said Braun.

Highway 22 Mankato to St. Peter

A two-year, $36.9 million project on Trunk Highway 22 from Mankato to St. Peter includes highway reconstruction south of Blue Earth County Road 57 in Mankato to just south of the Minnesota River bridge in St. Peter. New turning and passing lanes will be added throughout the project area.

Kasota roundabout

A roundabout will be built at Hill Street (Le Sueur County Road 21) in Kasota. Design and grading for a future walking and and biking trail connecting Mankato and St. Peter will be done, along with improved intersection lights, bridge repair and replacement and snow fence installation.

Highway 19 bridge replacement

A $2 million bridge (box culvert) replacement project under Trunk Highway 19 and short section of pavement reconstruction is underway just east of Winthrop. Project completion is planned for late September.

Originally planned for 2022, the project was postponed until this year due to unanticipated soil conditions. Project benefits include improved drainage and safety.

Fiscal year 2025 projects

Planned fiscal year 2025 projects include a $15.3 million project to reconstruct Trunk Highway 60, bridge rehabilitation and ADA improvements in Lake Crystal. Snow fence will be installed district-wide.

Roundabouts are planned to be constructed for $2 million in 2026 at the Trunk Highway 15/County State Aid Highway 5 intersection in Klossner and Trunk Highway 111/County Road 5 intersection north of Nicollet.

Fiscal year 2027 projects include a $5.5 million project to mill/overlay and make ADA improvements on Trunk Highway 22, from County State Aid Highway 20 to Trunk Highway 111 and $800,000 to install a new culvert bridge next to an existing Trunk Highway 30 culvert bridge 3.5 miles east of Westbrook.

For more information, visit https://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/10yearplan/district-chip.html.