Highway 22 Mankato to Saint Peter project nearly complete; detour to be lifted by 1 p.m. Oct. 23
MANKATO, Minn. – The Highway 22 Mankato to Saint Peter project is nearly complete, and the detour is expected to be lifted by 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The 2025-26 project reconstructed Highway 22 from south of Blue Earth County Road 57 in Mankato to just south of the Minnesota River Bridge in Saint Peter. The project also included:
- Construction of a roundabout at Highway 22 and Hill Street near Kasota (Le Sueur County Road 21) to improve safety
- Construction of more than 80 new turn and passing lanes
- Bridge repair and replacement
- Channelized acceleration lane for northbound traffic entering from Blue Earth County Road 57, improving safety and traffic flow
- Improved lighting at intersections and snow fence
- Improvements to the Rabbit Road bridge over Highway 22
Preparation also began for a future multi-use walking and biking trail connecting Mankato and Saint Peter. Work included grading and construction of a pedestrian underpass near Kasota.
MnDOT received funding to design the trail and purchase property. However, paving between Mankato and Saint Peter and construction of a trail bridge over the Canadian Pacific rail corridor north of Mankato remain unfunded and would be the responsibility of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Project benefits and costs
Benefits of the project include improved safety, smoother pavement, and better traffic flow along the corridor.
Mathiowetz Construction Company was awarded the project with a bid of $36,896,294.56.
MnDOT thanks everyone involved in the project and expresses its appreciation to residents, businesses, and drivers for their patience and understanding throughout the work.
###