Highway 19/21 New Prague intersection temporarily closes July 15

Motorists should plan for the Intersection of Highways 19 and 21  (Main Street & 4th Avenue NW) on the west side of New Prague being closed to thru traffic Thursday, July 15 – Friday, July 16 during scheduled milling and resurfacing work.  Although this schedule could be adjusted based on weather conditions, through traffic should follow any temporary detours.

 The current detour for the reconstruction project in downtown New Prague is expected to stay in place until the project completion, scheduled for this October. 

The current detour for motorists traveling westbound through New Prague consists of 10^th Avenue NE, 7^th Street NE/NW, and Highway 21.  Eastbound traffic is detoured south on Highway 13, Le Sueur County Road 29, and 10^th Avenue SE.  Motorists desiring to go to downtown businesses will need to watch for special signing.

The 2020-21 Highway 19 reconstruction project runs from the intersection of Highway 13/21 to 7^th Avenue SE and consists of replacing deteriorating infrastructure including underground utilities, storm water drainage systems and roadway pavement and sidewalks.  Construction work in 2021 includes work on Highway 19 between 5^th Ave NW and 7^th Ave SE.   

The City of New Prague and MnDOT are partnering in the project and more information on the background can be found at www.newpraguemainstreet.com.  Individuals interested in watching the project progress can also view the camera at www.mndot.gov/d7/projects/hwy19newprague.

SM Hentges & Sons, Inc. of Jordan was awarded the projects with a bid of $12,499,000.

Find more information and detour maps at www.mndot.gov/d7/projects/hwy19newprague. For more information on 2021 construction projects in south central Minnesota, visit www.mndot.gov/d7/projects.html.

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

www.mndot.gov