Hwy 14 opening delayed on New Ulm to Nicollet four-lane expansion project

Highway expected to open to thru-traffic mid-November

MANKATO, Minn. – The opening of Highway 14 from New Ulm to Nicollet to thru-traffic will be delayed by approximately one month, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said today.

Originally anticipated to open in mid-October, officials now expect Highway 14 to open to thru-traffic in mid-November due to concrete paving delays. MnDOT is working closely with the contractor and anticipates concrete paving on the project will resume in mid-October.

Additional construction work remaining before the highway can open to traffic includes paving bituminous shoulders, installing guardrail and signage, striping, and adding rumble strips.

The new interchanges at County Road 37 near New Ulm and County Road 12/24 near Courtland opened to local traffic in mid-September.
“We understand the public is eager for the completion of this long-awaited expansion project and appreciate continued patience and understanding as crews work to complete this project,” said Victoria Nill, assistant district engineer for construction. “We look forward to celebrating when Highway 14 opens to thru-traffic later this year.”

Traffic has been detoured to Highways 15, 68 and 169 since the start of the project spring 2022. After Highway 14 opens to traffic in mid-November, construction on the project is expected to continue with little impact to traffic until the contractual completion date of the project in June 2024.

Highway 14 from New Ulm to Nicollet has been under construction since spring 2022 to improve safety and travel for this important freight and trade corridor. Overall, the project on Highway 14 between New Ulm and Nicollet is approximately 12.5 miles in length and will complete a continuous four-lane road between New Ulm and Rochester.
Improvements include:

Converting the existing two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway
Bypassing Courtland by realigning Highway 14 north of the city
Constructing new interchanges in Courtland and at County Road 37 in New Ulm
Constructing safer intersections at New Ulm Quartzite Quarries and Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School
Adding turn lanes
Installing snow fence between Courtland and Nicollet to prevent excessive blowing and drifting snow

Hoffman Construction is the prime contractor.

Project information is available online at: https://mndot.gov/d7/projects/14newulmtonmankato/index.html.

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