Residents to meet MnDOT officials about Hwy 60 plans

Windom, Minn.
Windom, Minn. DOT officials say their priority right now is not new construction, but rather maintaining current roads and fixing bridges.
MPR Photo/Sanden Totten

Southwest Minnesota residents who are unhappy with construction plans for Highway 60 will meet with state DOT officials later today in Windom.

The residents want the highway converted to four lanes. Hwy 60 runs from the southwestern corner of the state northeast past Mankato.

The meeting is focused on a 30 mile stretch of the highway from Windom to St. James. The segment is mostly two lanes, with four lane bypasses around Mountain Lake and Butterfield.

Local residents say the lane switches confuse drivers and lead to accidents.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Rebecca Arndt with the Minnesota Department of Transportation though said there are many highways elsewhere in the state with higher accident rates than the Windom to St. James segment.

"The number of crashes, type of crashes, are more at a state average or even below that," said Arndt.

Supporters of the four lane upgrade say legislation passed last spring endorses the plan.

DOT officials say their priority right now is not new construction, but rather maintaining current roads and fixing bridges.