News Release

Mankato, Minn. - To find out what alternative routes for U.S. Highway 14 between New Ulm and North Mankato are proposed for further study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Mn/DOT is encouraging the public to attend an open house on Wednesday, October 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Courtland Community Center, 300 Railroad Street, Courtland.

The public information meeting will also include interchange concepts recommended for analysis in the Draft EIS.

Mn/DOT has been working with agencies and the public for the past two years to develop a broad range of alternatives. Early on, several alternatives were dismissed from further study based on public input, environmental considerations and local land use plans. Recently, a few corridors and interchange designs were identified for more detailed review and those are the ones that will be displayed at the open house for comment.

Mn/DOT representatives, along with consulting staff, will be on hand to answer questions, explain the screening process and discuss the schedule of activities. For more information on Highway 14 from New Ulm to North Mankato go to www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/14newulmtonmankato .

The construction of a four-lane expansion of Highway 14 from New Ulm to North Mankato is not expected to begin until at least 2015 to 2020 with current funding levels.

Funding for projects such as the Highway 14 expansion will be the topic of an open house running simultaneously at the Courtland Community Center on October 13. Mn/DOT will be hosting a an open house on the other end of the community room that focuses on the draft long range (2008-2030) plan for a thirteen-county wide area in south central and southwestern Minnesota.

Anyone with special needs who would like to attend the open houses can contact Public Affairs Coordinator Rebecca Arndt at 507-389-6883 or by e-mail at rebecca.arndt@dot.state.mn.us .

Traveler information, including incident reports, is available by calling 511 or logging on to www.511mn.org. Know the Road. Dialup or log on.

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