Construction ahead
City sets plans for road, alley reconstruction in 2023
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- Staff photos by Clay Schuldt The railroad crossing on Valley Street will receive safety improvements including warning lights and safety grates in the next year. The city received federal funds for this project. The $350,000 cost will be split 90% federal and 10% local. Shown below, Washington Street from 7th South to 10th South is scheduled for improvement in 2023. The street is one of the deficient roads in need of repair and was the top of New Ulm’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project list for next year.
Staff photos by Clay Schuldt The railroad crossing on Valley Street will receive safety improvements including warning lights and safety grates in the next year. The city received federal funds for this project. The $350,000 cost will be split 90% federal and 10% local. Shown below, Washington Street from 7th South to 10th South is scheduled for improvement in 2023. The street is one of the deficient roads in need of repair and was the top of New Ulm’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project list for next year.
NEW ULM — The City of New Ulm is looking at $9 million in potential Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) in 2023.
The city council received a report on the 2023 CIP from City Engineer Joe Stadheim Tuesday.
The CIP includes a list of projects recommended for the next year. Most of the projects are reconstructions of deficient roads and alleys and utility improvements.
Since 2008, the city has been working to reduce the number of failing roads. New Ulm had 29 miles of failed roads. Over the last 15 years, the city reconstructed 38.1 miles of roadway, or an average of 2.5 miles per year. In total, New Ulm has 87.71 miles of paved roads.
Stadheim recommended continuing the roadway rebuilds in 2023. The 2023 CIP will reconstruct 3.6 miles of roads and reconstruct three failed alleys.
The 2023 Utility, Street & Alley improvements include the:
•Washington Street from 7th South to 10th South Street for $1.47 million.
•Minnesota Street from 7th North to 9th North for $996,310.
•Oakwood Avenue from Boettger Road to Milford Street for $671,500
•Alley Block 97 from 8th South Street to 9th South Street between Broadway and State Street for $46,200.
•Alley Block 96 from 9th South to 10th South between Broadway and State Street for $46,200.
•Alley Block 95 from 12th South Street to 13th South Street between Broadway and State Street for $46,200.
•Miscellaneous storm sewer, concrete sidewalk and ADA Improvements for $100,000.
Stadheim said the alley projects are chosen on recommendation from city street department staff.
“These are the worst of the worst, that they can’t maintain anymore,” Stadheim said. “They can’t be Band-aided.”
2023 MSAS Improvement projects include:
•North Highland Avenue from Oak Street to US Highway 14 for $852,500.
•North Broadway from 20th North Street to CSAH 13/North Highland Avenue for $1.2 million.
Stadheim said the Highland Avenue project will start in the summer after school lets out to avoid conflict with high school traffic.
Railroad
•Installation of warning lights and safety grates at the Valley Street railroad crossing between Center Street and 1st North Street.
The city received federal funds for this project. The $350,000 cost will be split 90% federal and 10% local.
Surface Reconstruction projects include:
German Street from 12th South Street to 16th South Street for $172,000.
State Street from 17th North to 19th North for $86,000.
8th North from Broadway to Washington Street for $86,000.
17th North from Franklin Street to Jefferson Street for $43,000.
6th South from Broadway to German Street for $86,000.
1st South from Valley to Front for $43,000.
Brown County Project
A mill and overlay improvement project is planned for County State Aid Highway 26. This road is 10th South Street from Broadway to Flandrau State Park.
Stadheim said this project is dependent on Brown County receiving State Park Road Account Funding. It will be announced in April if the county was awarded the funds. The cost is estimated at $1.3 million.
Airport Projects include:
Terminal Parking Lot Rehabilitation, Terminal Apron Expansion, Aircraft Fuel System Replacement and Wildlife Safety Fencing.
Stadheim said these projects are also dependent on federal grant funding. The estimate is $1.36 million.
The CIP list includes tree planting for all proposed 2023 construction projects. The estimate is $22,000.
The preliminary estimate for 2023 CIP projects is $9 million. There is about $6.8 million dedicated funding to these projects. Another $2.3 million in bonding will be needed.
A public hearing for the plans and specs for these projects will be held during the Feb. 7th, 2023 City Council meeting. Staff anticipates receiving project bids and awarding contracts in March.
Beyond 2023
Stadheim included a projected 5-year CIP plan. The list included potential projects extending to 2027.
Highlights of the plan include the Highway 14 and Highland Avenue Roundabout Construction proposed for 2024 at $2.4 million.
Road improvements to Garden Street from Center to 5th North are planned for 2026. This would include a mini-roundabout at 5th North. The estimate is $3.2 million.
Combining all CIP projects over the next five years, the city is looking at an estimated cost of $39.25 million.
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