Staff photo by Fritz Busch High water on the Minnesota River near Minnecon Park make picnic tables unusable Friday. Construction work on the Minnesota River bridge Gateway New Ulm Project continues on top of the bridge. Contracting partners work to complete the bridge, roadway surfaces leading to the bridge and final turf establishment. The original project completion date was June 2020. The river was observed at 797.56 feet at 11:45 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

NEW ULM — New Ulm Gateway project Minnesota River Bridge construction continued under sunny skies Friday.

With favorable weather, the road could be open to traffic early this winter, according to a highway department engineer.

MnDOT Assistant District 7 Engineer Zak Tess said the bridge concrete desk was placed last week and is curing.

After the concrete curing period, concrete bridge rail will be placed and cured before signing, striping and other minor work will be done before the road is open to traffic.

“Weather permitting, we are hopeful the road will be open to traffic in early winter,” Tess said Friday.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and contracting partners are working to complete remaining bridge work including completion of the bridge and road surfaces leading to it and final turf establishment.

On Aug. 19, the new interchange opened to all directions except the west leg into the city that requires crossing the bridge that is still under construction.

The interchange was completed ahead of schedule. It will provide improved safety and mobility for area travelers at the Y (U.S. Highway 14 and State Highway 15) intersection.

Highway 14 and 15 travelers heading west into New Ulm are detoured to the 20th Street Bridge.

The Highway 14/15 New Ulm Gateway project began in December 2017. It includes a roundabout at the Highway 14 and Front Street intersection.

In addition, Highways 14 and 15 will be raised above the 100-year flood elevation level. A trail to the north side of the highway from German Street to the interchange is part of the project.

The original project completion date was intended to be June 2020.

Meanwhile, the Highway 14 four-lane expansion project from New Ulm to Nicollet is unfunded. However, MnDOT is advancing the design and environmental processes to be prepared for potential funding from programs like the Minnesota legislator’s Corridors of Commerce.

The Minnesota River at New Ulm was observed at 797.56 feet Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The river was forecast to crest at 798.7 feet Saturday afternoon. Minor flood stage is 800 feet.

For more information, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.projects

fbusch@nujournal.com