Confusion accompanies Hwy.14 projectBarricades, signs, use of alleys need clarification

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- It was the first of the promised weekly Monday meetings in which Minnesota Department of Transportation employees and representatives of the contractor, Mathiowetz Construction Co. of Sleepy Eye, and sub-contractors, as well as New Ulm Public Utilities staff, update the public on the U.S. Highway 14 reconstruction project's progress.

Because it was the first day of construction, there wasn't much progress to report. However, those attending this first meeting quickly learned there's a fair amount of confusion surrounding Monday's start. Most of it involved signage.

Keith Olson, Mathiowetz Construction's on-site project supervisor, reported M R Paving had finished the paving and shoulder work on the 20th North Street extension on Saturday.

"They got the striping done this morning, and they just started digging on the milling from 9th (North) to 7th (North)," Olson said.

He then explained stripping of the bituminous layers and removal of the concrete base underneath should be completed this week, allowing work to start on the next three-block segment, from 17th North Street back to 14th North Street.

When he mentioned that local traffic was permitted in crossing over and traveling on the remaining segments of North Broadway, the first sign of confusion arose. It was pointed out that the barricades at those intersections between 9th North and 17th North had the words "Road Closed" on them and were placed across the right-hand traffic lane.

That sparked a debate as to the need for the words "Road Closed Open to Local Traffic" should be put on those barricades.

Robert Williams, MnDOT project engineer, said he would prefer "just telling people to go around those barricades" rather than changing the wording. However, others worried that having been told that, motorists might try going around other barricades meant to keep cars off the roadway. Williams finally decided the matter needed further discussion.

The project staff then was told that signs purchased by the merchants to direct traffic to their firms weren't going up because there was confusion about where they could be placed.

"One person put a sign out on the boulevard and was told that business signs weren't allowed on the boulevards. So, where do we place them?" the participant asked.

Williams suggested that the City Engineer be contacted for a determination.(Later, Building Inspector Al Gag provided the following explanation:

"The side streets intersecting with Broadway all are 40-foot-wide streets on an 80-foot-wide right-of-way. That means there is 20 feet of right-of-way on the property, starting at the curb. As for the property on Broadway, I really can't say. That's state right-of-way, and theirs may be deeper than ours."

Gag emphasized that the 20 feet have to be measured from the curb as the inside edge of the sidewalk is not on the right-of-way line. However, he added that the City Council can grant variances allowing the placing of business signs on public right-of-way.

Two merchants expressed concern about trucks carrying merchandise might get tickets for having to travel on streets not rated for truck traffic.

"We understand this is a project that lasts two years so we're not going to be out taking advantage of the situation," Police Chief Erv Weinkauf replied.