The Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce voted last week to become a member of the U.S. Highway 14 Partnership, an advocacy organization fighting for improvements that will make Highway 14 safer and more accommodating to the large volume of commercial traffic that uses it every day. The Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce joins more than 60 other businesses, chambers of commerce and local governments in southern Minnesota who are calling for the state to “fix it now” through their membership in the Partnership.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome the Waseca Chamber into our organization,” said New Ulm Mayor Robert Buessman, who serves as president of the Partnership. “The Partnership has made some solid progress in recent years, but there is still more work to be done before the Highway 14 project is complete. I’m happy to have the Waseca Chamber lend their voice to our efforts as we ask the Legislature to fund the expansion of Highway 14. Our goal is to safely connect the economies in our region.”

The Highway 14 project aims to increase the number of traffic lanes from two to four between the cities of New Ulm and Rochester. Headway was made this summer when a portion of the highway from North Mankato to Nicollet was completed, along with a 2.5-mile stretch between Owatonna and Dodge Center. The Partnership is currently advocating for state funds to help complete the final phases of the project, which include the portion between Nicollet to New Ulm and finishing the Owatonna-to-Dodge Center segment. It is estimated that an additional $300 million is needed to fully complete the project.

“The entire Highway 14 project is about helping connect economic centers across southern Minnesota by making it easier and safer to transport goods and materials,” said Kim Foels, president of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to be a member of the Partnership and play a role in finishing the expansion of Highway 14.”

For more about the U.S. Highway 14 Partnership, visit our website www.USHighway14.com .

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