Construction projects on Highways 57, 14 set to begin

Construction is set to begin in days on both Highway 57 in Mantorville and Highway 14 between Dodge Center and Byron.
Minnesota Department of Transportation has scheduled a public information meeting for tomorrow, Friday, April 12, to learn more about the Highway 57 reconstruction project. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 pm. at the Dodge County Government Services Building, 721 N. Main St., Mantorville.
No formal presentation is planned but information on the project will be available and project engineers will be available to answer questions. Anyone needing a sign language, foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or who needs documents in an alternative format such as braille or large print, should email their request to Janet Miller, ADArequest.dot@state.mn.ur or call 651-366-4720.
Construction is expected to start on Monday, April 15, and finish in late summer and will reconstruct Highway 57 from the South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro bridge to 9th Street in Mantorville. There will also be replacement of storm water pipes and upgrading pedestrian and bike facilities.
During the construction period a detour will route traffic around the project. Motorists should use County road 12, County road 9 and County Road 16, MnDOT officials said.
A second project that will affect area residents is improvements scheduled for Highway 14 between Dodge Center and Byron. Beginning April 14, motorists on County Road 9 will not be able to cross or turn left on Highway 14, and Highway 14 traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 200th Avenue and 260th Avenue.
The work will include:
Constructing a J-turn at Highway 14 and County Road 9
Installing a high-tension cable median barrier between Dodge Center and Kasson
Resurfacing pavement between Kasson and Byron
Improving and repairing drainage
Rehabilitating the eastbound and westbound Highway 14 bridges over Highway 57. The work includes new end posts, approach panels and expansion joints
Upgrading the Road Weather Information System (RWIS) site near Byron with new pavement sensors and processing unit.
The project is expected to be completed in late summer 2024.
Motorists may experience traffic delays at the project area during heavier travel times such as the morning and afternoon commuting times.
It’s anticipated that construction of the J-turn will be completed by the end of June.
Vehicles to the north of Highway 14 will be detoured west on County Road 34 to southbound 200th Avenue/Airport Drive N to Highway 14.
Vehicles to the south of Highway 14 will be detoured west on County Road 10 to County Road 25/Airport Drive S to Highway 14.
One lane of traffic in each direction on Highway 14 will be open throughout construction. Highway 14 traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 200th Avenue and 260th Avenue beginning April 14, and this will last several weeks. There will also be a lane closure in each direction for the resurfacing work between Kasson and Byron. A start date will be announced once scheduled. It is expected that the resurfacing work will be finished by the end of August.
There will be a detour for the bridge improvements at Highway 57. It is anticipated the detour will last a couple days. Exact dates will be shared once determined.
To learn more about these projects, go to MnDOT’s website where you can also sign up for email and text message updates.