Open House lays out plans for new four-lane construction between Butterfield and Mountain Lake
Interested persons had the opportunity size up the Minnesota State Highway #60 “Middle Gap” extension from Butterfield to Mountain Lake during an Open House held Thursday, April 24, in the Mountain Lake City Hall Council Chambers.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) design engineers were on hand to share the details of the construction plans, as well as address public concerns and comments.
The construction of the two additional lanes between the two cities is scheduled for 2015-2016.
The approximately five miles will include the construction of two new eastbound lanes to the south of the existing two-lane section. As well, the existing two-lane section of roadway will become the westbound lanes. Work will also be done those two current lanes, such as the repaving of existing shoulders, repairing of concrete and the lengthening of existing turn lanes. Other parts of the project will be construction of stormwater ponds.
A short-term detour is tentatively planned south of Highway #60 in 2015. In Cottonwood County, that detour will be south from Mountain Lake on Cottonwood County Road #1 and east on Cottonwood County Road #16, continuing on into Watonwan County on Watonwan County Road #10 and then north on Watonwan County Road #5 to Butterfield.
Permanent right-of-way is being acquired for expansion of the highway.
History of “60” work between St. James and Windom
Construction between Butterfield and St. James (the “East Gap”) began on July 10, 2013. At that time, work included grading, bridge work and connections. This year’s focus will be on road paving and work on the railroad bridge at Butterfield.
The third and final segment (the “Wests Gap”) between Mountain Lake and Windom is planned for 2017. While a roundabout at United States Highway #71 in Windom was not a part of the environmental review, it is being considered for construction in 2017.
When all three gaps of this project are completed, it will mean a complete four-lane expansion of Highway #60 between St. James and Windom that includes;
* Two new eastbound lanes of six miles to the south of the existing two-lane section between St. James and Butterfield.
* Two new eastbound lanes of five miles to the south of the existing two-lane section between Butterfield and Mountain Lake.
* Two new westbound lanes of eight miles to the north of the existing two-lane section between Mountain Lake and Windom. (This alignment of lanes was selected because it has fewer business and farmland impacts, and is the most cost effective).
* Realignment of three county roads to lessen the skew between roadways.
* Possible realignment in the Bingham Lake area.
* More final designs are underway.
The total cost of the project is an estimated $78 million.
Listed by MnDot as the benefits of the project are:
