MPR: Officials celebrate start of U.S. Highway 14 expansion project in southern Minnesota

EXCERPT: “Work to expand another 12 miles of U.S. Highway 14 to four lanes in southern Minnesota is underway. It’s the last leg in a decades-long effort to create a four-lane transportation corridor between Rochester and New Ulm. Local, state and federal officials gathered in Courtland, Minn., on Tuesday morning for a ceremonial groundbreaking. In addition to expanding Highway 14 to four lanes between New Ulm and Nicollet, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says crews will construct a bypass around the community of Courtland and build two new interchanges, among other improvements. The $84 million project — including a $22 million federal grant received in 2020 — comes after years of calls to improve safety along that stretch of highway. Gov. Tim Walz noted at Tuesday’s gathering that a former neighbor and friend was one of dozens of people killed in crashes along two-lane Highway 14 in recent decades.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/3k1YPQb