Highway 14 scoping study has chance to start again

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PAUL -- A scoping study of the North Mankato-New Ulm segment of the U.S. Highway 14 four-lane expansion project, recently launched by Minnesota Department of Transportation only to be interrupted by a consulting contract moratorium, still may have a chance of being quickly resumed.

While the study couldn't be resumed under a blanket waiver for road projects just obtained by MnDOT because it's funded from the state general fund, MnDOT should be able to obtain a separate waiver for the project, Rep. James Clark, R-New Ulm, said Monday.

The waiver already obtained by MnDOT applies to contracts being paid out of trunk highway, county state aid and municipal highway funds, Clark said.

"I don't see why it wouldn't be granted," Clark said, "because it's all really coming out of the same pocket. I think Jon Huseby (District 7 Engineer) should be able to get a separate waiver approved."

The new budget reduction law prohibits state agencies from making professional or technical consulting contracts between March 1, 2002 and July 1, 2003. Waivers can be sought from the Department of Administration.

Because MnDOT District 7's contract with H.R. Greene to complete the North Mankato-to-New Ulm scoping study fell into that category, MnDOT had to order the firm to stop work on the project, effective March 8. The segment, which will start at North Mankato, will end at Highway 15 outside of New Ulm.

The scoping study ordinarily would be done during the second stage, environmental and preliminary design, of the pre-construction phase, Project Manager Mark Scheidel, MnDOT District 7 Mankato, said. Phase three is right-of-way acquisition and final design, and the fourth phase is the actual construction.

"However, it was decided to move it into the corridor management plan phase, or the first phase in developing a project," Scheidel explained. "Because there was discussion about a by-pass around Nicollet and Courtland, the scoping study was started because it establishes the need and narrows options ahead of time. Ordinarily, it is combined with the environmental impact statement."

While traffic patterns around Nicollet and Courtland will be studied to determine the need, if any, for a by-pass, Scheidel said MnDOT is also looking at traffic patterns in and around New Ulm as a part of the scoping study.

"It's not that New Ulm is being considered for a by-pass," Scheidel said. "It's that traffic in and around New Ulm would play a part in determining the need for a by-pass around Nicollet and Courtland."

It's a large amount of money that's involved in the consulting contractor moratorium.

"The cost of the study itself is a little hard to determine as it is mingled with the cost of developing the corridor management plan," Scheidel explained. "The cost of the entire first phase, including the scoping study, is $272,185, of which $13,750 will be borne by the affected counties."

Scheidel said the fact that MnDOT has begun the scoping study doesn't mean the segment is on MnDOT's project calendar. "It won't go on the calendar until after the environmental impact statement is completed."

To help in getting money for the North Mankato-New Ulm segment, the Highway 14 Partnership has submitted a formal request to Congress for $3 million to fund the EIS when the scoping study is completed.