Staff photo by Fritz Busch State Highway 4 continues to deteriorate south of Sleepy Eye as shown in this photo. Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a TH 4 detour agreement for CSAH 8 and CSAH 24 in 2024 Tuesday. The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to perform grading, bituminous mill & overlay, lighting and bridge construction on TH 4 from Ellsworth Street in Sleepy Eye to CSAH 18.

BROWN COUNTY — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) plans to perform TH4 grading, bituminous mill & overlay, lighting, replacing a span bridge over the Cottonwood River and span bridge (box culvert) south of Sleepy Eye in 2024.

Brown County commissioners unanimously approved TH 4 detour agreements for CSAH 8 and CSAH 24 in 2024 Tuesday.

“Obviously this is needed. We wanted Highway 4 to be a 10-ton road,” said Commissioner Tony Berg, who’s motion was seconded by Commissioner Brian Braun.

Estimated to last 120 days, stage one of the detour uses CSAH 24 to Leavenworth and CSAH 8 to TH 14 while the Cottonwood River bridge is built.

Estimated to last 60 days, the stage two detour uses CSAH 8 from the south county line to Leavenworth, and CSAH 24 east to TH 4 while the road is milled, overlaid and a smaller bridge is built. The calculated compensation amount is $13,894.19.

The project was previously planned for 2023 construction before Brown and Cottonwood County discussed more Highway 4 needs including making it a 10-ton, instead of 7-ton route.

The project between Sleepy Eye and St. James includes adding rumble strips, updating guardrail and repairing drainage pipes and culverts. Benefits include a smoother road surface, improved drainage and increased safety.

Commissioners unanimously approved a TH 14 detour agreement for CSAH 12 and CSAH 29 in 2024 in New Ulm, motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Commissioner Veerkamp.

Plans by MnDOT include building a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 14 and Highland Avenue in 2024.

MnDOT requested the use of 3.23 miles of CSAH 12 and CSAH 29 as part of a TH 14 detour estimated to last 58 days. The detour uses CSAH 112 to CSAH 29 and CSAH 29 to TH 14 and Garden Street. Calculated compensation is $5,307,90.

Commissioners also unanimously approved:

• Drainage system repair requests including County Ditch 2 northwest of Godahl in Albin Township has about 9,350 feet of open ditch and 54,800 feet of county tile. The existing tile line (Branch 13) south of CSAH 10 has had multiple washout repairs in the past. A sandy area caused tiles to shift out of alignment and wash sediment into the tile line. Branch 13 replacement consists of about 2,950 feet of 8″ to 12″ tile.

A motion by Commissioner Tony Berg, seconded by Dave Borchert approved a $54,537 low bid from Ellingson Construction of West Concord. The engineer’s estimate was $58,212.

• A $42,625,12 low bid from Sandgren Trucking & Excavating, Franklin, was approved for CD 47, Leavenworth Township on a motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Berg. With 24,850 feet of county tile, the main tile line east of CSAH 8 has had multiple washout repairs. Tile conditions deteriorated and washed a lot of sediment into the system. The main replacement has about 1,750 feet of 12″ to 18″ tile. The engineer’s estimate was $45,636.

• An $87,105.45 low bid from Ellingson for CH 58 in Cottonwood, Lake Hanska, Linden and Sigel Townships was approved on a motion by Berg, seconded by Borchert. The system had 28,100 feet of open ditch and 25,480 feet of county tile. The existing tile line east of CSAH 13 has had multiple washout repairs, reducing cover above tile, creating the need to reroute tile lines. Branches 5 and 5-C replacement consists of about 3,460 feet of 8″ to 18″ tile. The engineer’s estimate was $94,970.