Staff photo by Fritz Busch The new Cottonwood River bridge on Highway 4 south of Sleepy Eye was opened to traffic by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Dec. 9. On Jan. 28, the Brown County Highway Committee agreed to accept MNDOT’s request to reinstate Highway 4 detours on CSAH 24 and CSAH 8 on CSAH 24, 8 for two to four weeks this spring.

SLEEPY EYE — Brown County commissioners recently learned the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to reinstate the State Highway 4 detour route on County Roads 24 and 8 this spring.

The Brown County Highway Committee agreed Jan. 28 to accept MnDOT’s request to reinstate the Highway 4 detour for two to four weeks after spring highway load restrictions are lifted.

Brown County Highway Engineer Andrew Lang told commissioners Tuesday that MnDOT and the project contractor, Ulland Brothers, Inc. will return, likely in mid-April, to complete minor finishing work near the Cottonwood River bridge.

The Highway 4 detour route to be reinstated includes Brown County Road 8 from Highway 14 to County Road 24.

After eight months of detours, MnDOT removed the Highway 4 detour south of Sleepy Eye Dec. 9 and opened Highway 4 from CR 24 north to Sleepy Eye.

The 18.9 million project included replacing three bridges including a large bridge over Cottonwood River and two smaller bridges, bituminous mill and overlay of 25 miles of 10-ton highway from Sleepy Eye to St. James plus rumble strips, updated guardrail, drainage pipe and culvert repair.

There is some finishing work to be completed south of CR 24 to St. James. That work is expected to be completed under traffic.

The county highway committee plans several intersection and curve sight line improvement tree clearing projects. Intersections are Highway 4 and CR 22, and on CR 29 at North Highland Ave, 257th, CR 12. The highway department will contact landowners about tree trimming and/or removal where it is required.

If any sites exceed highway maintenance capabilities, quotes will be acquired and brought to the board for consideration.