MANKATO — A bypass for Hwy.15 at New Ulm has been listed as a priority item by a Region 9 group studying needed highway improvements in southern Minnesota.

The Hwy. 15 bypass was listed along with other goals presented by Region 9 to Minnesota Highway Department officials at Mankato Thursday night.

NEW ULM MAYOR Carl Wyczawski today called the action “very significant” and said it should help speed movement toward providing such a bypass. Wyczawski, who fell on ice Wednesday and cracked a rib, was unable to attend the Thursday meeting.

A committee of officials from New Ulm, Brown and Nicollet counties have been working on a suggested bypass for Hwy. 15.

Officials have noted that Hwy. 15is dangerous and overcrowded as traffic flows on Broadway from the south city limits to Seventh N.

“Since Hwy. 15 already is scheduled for improvement from one mile north of New Ulm to Winthrop we’ve deemed it necessary to call our plight to the highway department’s attention,” Wyczawski had said.

Officials, saying the Hwy. 15 bypass is necessary, have expressed hope the bypass can be included in projects now being drawn up by Highway planners.

When a bypass site can be determined, officials plan to meet with Lloyd Nelson, district engineer for the state highway department, then pursue the bypass issue with Frank Marzitelli, state highway commissioner.

The Minnesota Highway Department has asked for suggestions from various regions to help prepare its long-range road plan, which is designed to improve the state’s transportation system through the year 2000.

Region 9 presented its recommendations in the form of a statement outlining the goals and objectives for the region.

“We don’t believe any one area of improvement such as expressways,the upgrading of two-lane highways or the improvement of bridges should be singled out for work,” said George Brophy of Region 9.”Rather, we believe there should be a mix of the three.”

GOALS FORMULATED by the full Region 9 commission include:

1) Development of a modern east-west corridor of highways to develop growth;

2) Increasing the capabilities of Highways 30, 83, and 99 to 9 tons.Those roads are near the Iowa border;

3) Improvement of other major corridors for safe travel including Hwy. 60 from Worthington to St. James, Hwy. 169 from Blue Earth to its intersection with Hwy. 60 at Mankato, Hwy.169 bypasses at

Mankato and LeSueur and the Hwy.15 bypass at New Ulm.

4) Improvement of substandard bridges in the region.

Developing the east west corridor of highways, officials said, would include Hwy. 14.

Development of developing Hwy.14 as a four-lane highway through the region has been discussed. Also under consideration has been development of Hwy. 14 as a two-lane highway between Waseca and Sleepy Eye.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Jan. 29, 1976