‘People on Highway 14 can see us’
Courtland businesses delighted with sales returning after suffering during construction
From left, Olson Auto of Courtland Fixed Operations Manager Joe Montgomery, finance manager Crystal Rudolph and body shop manager Jessi Havemeier stand in the dealership parking lot, just south of the new U.S. Highway 14 four-lane highway. Traffic has returned after the two-year closure during construction.
COURTLAND — Four lanes of Highway 14 traffic cruised along the north edge of Courtland on the new four-lane highway with an interchange and two small roundabouts Thursday.
The speed limit is 65 mph on the four-lane portion of the road from New Ulm to Courtland. The speed limit is 55 mph on the two-lane highway from near the CR 37 (20th Street South) interchange to the TH 14-TH 15 intersection east of New Ulm.
A Minnesota State Highway Patrol vehicle was parked on the eastbound shoulder of the two-lane part of the highway.
Finance manager Crystal Rudolph of Olson Auto in Courtland wasn’t at a loss for words about how business changed after the Nov. 21 highway opened with four lanes from New Ulm to Nicollet.
“Once the road opened, we saw sales double,” Rudolph said.
She talked about the challenges of the two-year highway project that closed Highway 14 much of the time.
“It was pretty difficult to get here (during the project),” said Rudolph. “People literally thought you could get here when they saw the Highway 14 road closed signs.
“Google Maps said you couldn’t get to us,” she added.
“Then everybody was on it (Highway 14) when it opened. They all wanted to see it,” said Rudolph. “People on Highway 14 can see us. We get business from all over the U.S. We offer free delivery to seven states, which has helped. We’re online. Fixed Operations Manager Joe Montgomery does a really good job getting vehicles that people want.”
“We try to offer something for everybody,” said Montgomery.
Rudolph, who lives in New Ulm, said she tried to not use the State Highway 68 detour during the Highway 14 project.
“It’s (Highway 68) not a safe road. I usually leave for work in the dark and return home after dark,” she added. “I saw a lot of car accidents with deer (on Highway 68).”
Montgomery said the Highway 14 expansion project was good for helping customers and dealership staff get to Olson Auto.
“Saturday (dealer) traffic has been huge since the road opened,” he added.
Business was bustling at the Crow Bar on Main Street, Courtland Thursday noon.
Vehicles lined both sides of the road. Many people inside were devouring a plate of liver, onions, vegetables and dessert bar.
Most people at the Crow Bar Thursday said expanding Highway 14 to four lanes from New Ulm to Mankato means less travel time.
A resident who lives near the four-way stop recently added at the intersection of Main Street and CR 24/CR 12 in Courtland complained about more noise when semi trucks slow down and accelerate from the stop.
Most people said adding the four-way stop made the intersection safer and was worthwhile.
Nicollet Mayor Fred Froehlich, who was eating lunch Thursday at the Crow Bar, said the Highway 14 four-lane expansion project from New Ulm to Nicollet was a long time coming but worth it thanks to lots of lobbying at the Minnesota Legislature.
“They must have been tired of hearing us talk about the need for it,” said Froehlich who advocated for a full interchange in 2013 after the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) initially did not plan to build a full interchange at the intersection of Highway 14 and State Highway 111 in Nicollet.
The state highway department initially wanted to build an RCUT (Reduced Left-Turn Conflict Intersection) also known as a J-turn at the intersection.
“It’s our only alternative,” Froehlich said at a Nicollet City Council meeting. “An RCUT is unacceptable for this community. If it’s built here, it would be the only one on Highway 14 in the state. Other places with half the traffic we have or less already have interchanges. I hope MnDOT sits down with us again before it’s etched in stone.”
A full interchange was later built on Highway 14 at Nicollet as part of a four-lane expansion project to North Mankato.
Courtland farmer Tim Waibel said his biggest concern is the need to rebuild 561st Avenue, a township road used as a detour near Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, between old highway 14 and Nicollet CR 21.
“The new highway is very nice to use,” said Waibel. “The most disappointing thing is we have property on 561st Avenue. The gravel road had so much traffic. The school (MVL) is building an addition and the road really took a pounding when it was used as a (Highway 14) detour. The State of Minnesota helped a little bit (with road maintenance costs) but could have done a lot more. The township operates on a barebones budget for maintenance and doesn’t have the funds to rebuild the road.”
“I realize it was our turn for road construction. I’m not blaming anybody. The traffic had to be there,” he added.
Minnesota Department of Transportation District 7 Project Supervisor Todd Kjolstad said he would respond to the township road question regarding the highway agreement by the end of next week.
Courtland native Mark Fiemeyer said he thinks the four-way stop is important for added safety.
Fiemeyer said his hardware store business remains the same as it was prior, during and after the Highway 14 project.
“I can’t make a profit here. I’m trying to figure out how I can keep affording stuff like the insurance with my retirement money,” he said.
Courtland Mart owner Darv Turbes said more than 7,000 vehicles passed the gas station/convenience store daily when Highway 14 ran through the center of Courtland a couple years ago. He said about 500 vehicles pass the business daily now.
Turbes said he has no plans to close the business.
“I have great confidence that the people of Courtland will continue to support the business,” Turbes said.
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- Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Highway 14 four-lane expansion project fro New Ulm to Nicollet that opened Nov. 21 includes two small roundabouts on either side of an interchange just north of Courtland. Project work is forecast to continue to next June, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Staff photo by Fritz Busch From left, Olson Auto of Courtland Fixed Operations Manager Joe Montgomery, finance manager Crystal Rudolph and body shop manager Jessi Havemeier stand in the dealership parking lot, just south of the new U.S. Highway 14 four-lane highway.
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- Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Highway 14 four-lane expansion project includes two small roundabouts on either side of an interchange just north of Courtland. Project work is forecast to continue to next June, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Highway 14 four-lane expansion project includes two small roundabouts on either side of an interchange just north of Courtland. Project work is forecast to continue to next June, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
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- From left, Olson Auto of Courtland Fixed Operations Manager Joe Montgomery, finance manager Crystal Rudolph and body shop manager Jessi Havemeier stand in the dealership parking lot, just south of the new U.S. Highway 14 four-lane highway. Traffic has returned after the two-year closure during construction.
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- Staff photo by Fritz Busch From left, Olson Auto of Courtland Fixed Operations Manager Joe Montgomery, finance manager Crystal Rudolph and body shop manager Jessi Havemeier stand in the dealership parking lot, just south of the new U.S. Highway 14 four-lane highway.
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