Following the removal of the bricks, the concrete edge of the crosswalks were milled down and paved over with asphalt.

New Ulm Public Works Superintendent Jeff Hoffmann said the reason for changing crosswalks to asphalt was to reduce tripping hazards. The concrete edges and the bricks inside the crosswalk were deteriorating and becoming a safety issue. The city had already removed a brick crosswalk from the 1st North Street intersection last year. The plan is to removed the bricks from five other crossings on Minnesota Street this spring.

The plan is to move south on Minnesota Street, to remove other brick crosswalks. Wednesday, the other crosswalk at 3rd N. and Minnesota will be paved over as well as the first crosswalk at 2nd N. Thursday the second crosswalk at 2nd N. will be paved, leaving only the brick crosswalks at Center Street.

Hoffmann said the removal of the brick crosswalks on Minnesota is needed before next year. In 2026, the city will seal coat downtown Minnesota Street.

Street crews pour asphalt into the 3rd St. crosswalk on Minnesota Street Tuesday. The paving project was part of plan to replace the deteriorating brick crosswalks on Minnesota Street.

The newly paved crosswalks on Minnesota will be striped on either Friday or Monday.

Street crews pat down newly poured asphalt at the 3rd St. crosswalk on Minnesota Street Tuesday