In the City of New Ulm and Brown County in 2029 or 2030,the City of New Ulm will undertake a significant road construction project to reconfigure the intersection of Center Street and Garden street.

Although, safety is the identified reason for this project, convenience and congestion are the genuine motivating factors at play.

For 30 minutes before school starts and thirty minutes at the end of the school day, the intersection in question, is called a nightmare by those transporting about 35% of students. This challenge exists for about nine months a year. This writer and many other residents question the proposed solution to this traffic problem.

A roundabout at Center Street and Garden Street is not the best way to solve this congestion. The topography of the area was not appropriately considered by the planners.

Buses and truck traffic traveling down the Center Street hill will find it very difficult to slow down or stop to enter the roundabout safely. This challenge will multiply significantly during Minnesota’s five months of winter.

Real problems exist for buses and trucks wishing to drive to MLC and beyond. After navigating the confines of the roundabout, it will be exceptionally difficult for these vehicles to shift gears and gain the speed necessary to ascend the hill.

Brown County is responsible for the middle two lanes of Center Street (County Road 13): it is their job to promote commerce by providing adequate roads for the regions residents.

The suggested roundabout at Center Street and Garden Streets will terminate a valuable gateway to New Ulm for trucks and/or large vehicles.

Personally, I feel the stop signs for Garden Street control the traffic adequately; However, for those who demand change, there is another solution better than a roundabout.

The slopes of Center Street drop down to Garden Street making the construction of a bridge over Garden Street both workable and cost effective.

There should be no access to Garden Street from Center Street and no access from Garden Street to Center Street in order for traffic to make those connections; a few turns out of the Center Street/Payne Street roundabout will do the trick.

The proposed plan also includes a pedestrian underpass and an additional tunnel under the Center Street hill. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic can easily be accommodated by a larger sidewalk along Garden Street.

The Journal article that reported this questionable project stated that federal funding was committed. That is great, but remember federal funds are our tax dollars too.

County commissioners and city councilors listen to constituents. Kindly re-evaluate this project while we have the chance.

— Dick Seeboth is a New Ulm resident and a former Brown County commissioner