The City of New Ulm is planning to reconstruct Garden Street from Center to 5th North Street during the summer of 2027. This will be the first full reconstruct of this roadway section since 1952. The project will include water and storm sewer rehabilitation, upgraded lighting, a mini roundabout at the 5th North intersection and pedestrian safety improvements.

At this time the city has two concept ideas for the look of the roadway redesign. Both design concept will reduce the roadway from 56 feet to 44 feet and add additional boulevard space. The two traffic lanes are 14 feet in both concepts. The greatest difference between the two design concept is the second design will include an eight foot median between the driving lanes. The first design concept has no median but has wider boulevards.

City Engineer Joe Stadheim one of the main goals with the redesign was public safety. By reducing the roadway it is hoped to lower traffic speeds through the corridor.

The two design concepts each call for pedestrian bump outs at the 1st North intersection and 2nd north intersection. This section of the road is adjacent to Harman Park and experience high pedestrian traffic. The bump outs are designed to slow vehicle traffic in this area, but also reduce the amount of time pedestrians are in the traffic lanes.

Two design concepts were displayed during New Ulm’s open house for the 2027 Garden Street project. In 2027, the city will reconstruction Garden Street from Center to 5th North. he project will include water and storm sewer rehabilitation, upgraded lighting, a mini roundabout at the 5th North intersection and pedestrian safety improvements. The greatest difference between the design concept is a median between the driving lanes.

David and Becky Schaetzke were among the first people to attend the opening house. The Schaetzkes live on Garden Street only a few feet south of where the road construction begins.

David Schaetzke said he did not have a strong preference for the two design concepts but said the median concept could look attractive with tree plantings and would further slow traffic.

Becky Schaetzke agreed that slowing traffic down on N. Garden was a benefit. She approved of the traffic safety measure.

“I appreciate the bump outs,” Becky Schaetzke said.

Engineering firm SEH served as consultants on the project and attended the open house. SEH consultant Doug Scott said the traffic calming measures added to the roadway were fairly common in road design. Another benefit of the redesign was the change to improve storm water draining.

Garden Street resident David Schaetzke points to the expanded boulevard planned for the Garden Street reconstruction. Schaetzke was one of several Garden Street residents to attend the open house on the redesign Tuesday. L to R: City engineer Joe Stadheim, Assistant City Engineer Kyle Windschitl, David Schaetzke and Beth Gohr.

Scott said the two concepts would reduce the amount of paved surfaces and add green space to absorb the water. The addition of new trees would also help capture the water.

The total cost of the Garden Street project is estimated at around $5.2 million, but the city is scheduled to receive $3.4 million grants from Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for this project. These grant fund can only be used for the street repairs. The underground improvements will need to be covered by the city. A portion of the city’s cost will be covered through property assessments.

New Ulm safety commission will review the plans during their next meeting Thursday, March 6. The recommendation will be forwarded to the New Ulm City Council.

Stadheim said the New Ulm City Council will have the final say in which concept design to pursue. The council could make a decision as earlier as their second meeting in March.

Further details on the Garden Street project can be found at www.gardenstproject.com/

The outline of temporary pedestrian bump outs are still visible at the intersection of 1st North and Garden Street. The concept design for the 2027 Garden Street reconstruct includes permanent pedestrian bump outs at this location.

North Garden Street is scheduled for a reconstruct in 2027 from Center Street to 5th North. The reconstruct will reduce the roadway from 56 feet to 44 feet and will include additional pedestrian safety features.