Formal commitment to cooperate with adjacent government bodies to build a bridge to replace the Courtland Cutoff bridge was made Tuesday by the New Ulm City Council.

The council had discussed the matter a week ago after a replacement bridge, possibly at 20th S.,was suggested as a possible way to ease some of the city’s traffic problems.

State money is available to pay 100 per cent of construction cost of replacement bridges, if the state okays the project. Local governments would pay for design work and for all-weather roads leading up to the bridge.

The council authorized its president,William Gafford, and City Manager Richard Salvati to negotiate an agreement under which the city would assume a share of the planning and design expenses for the project. No definite percentage was mentioned.

Councilmen also passed a resolution asking Brown County to pay a share of the planning and design expenses necessary to build the bridge, connecting roads and related improvements.

The council resolutions noted the bridge provides a convenient link between Hwy. 15-68 and Hwy. 14, and that the present bridge is structurally deteriorated and periodically out of service due to flood conditions.

New Ulm Daily Journal

May 12, 1976