Editor’s Note: The City of New Ulm presents a weekly column highlighting activities in different departments in the city government. Once a month the city will answer questions from readers. Questions on New Ulm city issues can be sent to comments@ci.new-ulm.mn.us.

We are past the unofficial mid-point of summer so let’s look at how the multiple roadway construction projects are progressing.

The Mn/DOT HWY 15 mill and overlay project, administered by the State of Minnesota, includes resurfacing of the roadway from 7th North Street in New Ulm to 170th Street in Searles, bridge rehabilitation at the Cottonwood River and Little Cottonwood River, replace and/or modify traffic signals at 3rd North Street, Center Street, 10th South Street and 20th South Street, improve sidewalk access within the City and watermain utility improvements. The benefits from this project include smoother pavement, additional left turn capacity for improved safety, improved accessibility to the sidewalk network and added lifespan to the bridges.

At this time, the sidewalk and watermain improvements have been completed. Traffic signal improvements continue to progress. The traffic signals are set and have power at 3rd North Street and 10th South Street. Work continues on the Center Street signal. These signals will remain in all-way flashing red mode through the duration of the mill and overlay operations within the City. The new concrete bridge deck surface has been completed on both bridges. Remaining work on the bridges include guard rail improvements and approach panel construction. The mill and overlay work on this project is expected to begin the week of July 31st and will be completed under traffic while in the City, so motorists are advised to be cautious of workers and equipment. Mn/DOT and the contractor are working to remediate the seeding deficiencies along Broadway. The expected completion for this project is mid-September.

Mn/DOT is developing a Broadway tree replacement project that is expected to be implemented this fall.

The 2017 Utility Street & Alley Improvement project (City of New Ulm project) is also progressing. Utility reconstruction on North Washington Street has been completed with reconstruction of the roadway in progress. Concrete work is expected to be completed in early August with pavement and restoration work following.

Oakwood Avenue roadway reconstruction continues. The existing pavement removals are completed. The roadway has been graded. Within the next week the roadway will be fine graded with the bituminous base course of pavement being constructed. The remaining work will be select removals of concrete curb & gutter and concrete sidewalks, restoration and the final lift of bituminous pavement.

Dacotah West improvements are complete except for topsoil placement, seeding/sodding, tree plantings and paving of the final lift of bituminous pavement. All Dacotah West work is expected to be completed by mid-August except for tree plantings which will take place later this fall.

Roadway grading and concrete work is complete on 17th South Street from State Street to Washington Street with bituminous pavement and seeding/sodding work remaining. Tree plantings are also scheduled for this fall.

Project work remaining includes reconstruction of Alley 175 South and initial improvements to Alleys 154 South and 119 South, sediment removal from the storm water holding pond at 5th North Street & Garden Street, Theater retaining wall reconstruction and roadway and utility reconstruction on North German Street from 12th North Street to the Railway right-of-way.

Interested individuals can view weekly construction updates via the City website, www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us. You can also sign up for text/email alerts for road closures on the City website by clicking on the Alert Notification tab or by texting 56073 to 888777.