Hwy 4 St. James to Sleepy Eye project begins April 22 with bridge replacement

MANKATO, Minn. – Construction on the Highway 4 St. James to Sleepy Eye project is expected to begin on Monday, April 22, as crews start replacing the bridge over the Cottonwood River south of Sleepy Eye, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Construction on the St. James to Sleepy Eye project will be completed in phases.

During the initial phase of construction starting April 22, Highway 4 from Sleepy Eye to Brown County Road 24 will be closed and traffic detoured to Highway 14 and Brown County Roads 8 and 24 for the duration of the project.

For safety, public carry-in water access near the Cottonwood River on Highway 4 south of Sleepy Eye will be closed during bridge construction. For more information visit the Department of Natural Resources at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/water_access/index.html.

Construction on the Butterfield Creek Bridge is tentatively expected to begin sometime in late June or early July, and traffic will be detoured to Watonwan County Roads 3 and 32, and Highway 30 until August or September.

Resurfacing on Highway 4 from St. James to Sleepy Eye is expected to begin in late July and traffic will be detoured to Highway 14, Brown County Road 8, Watonwan County Road 5, and Highway 30 until mid to late September.

The Highway 4 project between St. James to Sleepy Eye includes roadway, bridge, and drainage improvements. In addition to resurfacing approximately 25 miles of roadway, three bridges will be replaced.

Additionally, the improvements made to the road will allow Highway 4 from St. James and Sleepy Eye to become a 10-ton route.

The project is expected to be complete in early October, weather permitting.

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