Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The Highway 14 Seminar at the Farm Show included maps indicating new intersection and interchange locations between New Ulm and Nicollet. This map shows the western end of the project at New Ulm down to the planned realignment at Courtland.

NEW ULM — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) held a Friday seminar on the Highway 14 four-lane expansion project at the Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show.

MnDOT Construction Supervisor Todd Kjolstad gave a short presentation on the project before taking questions.

Four-lane expansion construction is planned to begin this spring with a plan to be finished in October 2023. The exact start time of the project is weather-dependent, but construction could begin in early April.

Kjolstad said within the next couple of weeks, commuters will see the clearing of trees and shrubs in preparation for construction.

The project has a significant realignment of Highway 14 and County Road 37. County Road 37 will have a bridge overpass with Highway 14 going under it. County Road 37 will continue northeast and connect with another township road.

Highway 14 from Country 37 to Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL School should remain open to local traffic from April to the middle of May.

Another area of focus in the first year is north of Courtland where the road realignment will go. The new Highway 14 will bypass Courtland to the north. The realignment will reconnect with current Highway 14 before MVL and across the road from S&S Motors.

Two weeks before construction starts, signs will identify detours. Highway 68 is expected to be heavily used for detours.

Kjolstad said the area’s topography poses limitations for detours. There are significant elevation changes north of Highway 14 and Swan Lake is an obstacle.

Kjolstad confirmed the new alignment on 14 north of Courtland would require the four-lane to travel between Courtland and the Courtland Cemetery.

However, the people who own the Courtland Cemetery cannot clearly identify the location of the graves. Before excavation begins an archeologist will confirm no graves are in the road construction area.

The project will also include the installation of 21,980 feet of structural snow fence placed along the north side of Highway 14. This will be one of the longest stretches of snow fence in Minnesota.

A MnDOT open house is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 at the Courtland Community Center. Kjolstad said this presentation will go into greater specifics of the different access roads

Kjolstand can be contacted with further questions on this project at todd.kjolstad@state.mn.us. or 507-381-0307.

MnDOT will also provide weekly updates on their website at dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/14newulmtonmankato.