 Crews prepare for paving the Anne Street east leg of the roundabout.
Crews are currently working on Stage 3. The project began May 16 and continues on schedule.
Motorists on Hwy 71 are now head to head in the newly paved southbound lanes. The southbound Irvine Avenue ramps are also open. The northbound lanes and Irvine Avenue ramps are now closed. The west side entrances of Highway 71 are open with alternating closures on the east entrances.
The roundabout north, west and south legs are open. Anne street east leg will continue to detour using Fern and Minnkota.
Anne Street eastbound lanes are closed in front of the walk-in clinic through early September. Motorists will detour utilizing Hannah Avenue, 30th Street and Pine Ridge Avenue.
MnDOT wants to remind motorists to obey posted speed limit signs, avoid distractions and do not enter a closed road.
*Labor Day Weekend: Crews will wrap up work for the week on Friday, September 2 at 12:00 p.m. and resume work beginning on Tuesday, September 6.
What's happening now?
- Milling/Paving
- Hwy 71 northbound lanes
- Drainage installation and pavement reclamation
- Median/intersection reconstruction along the rest of the corridor
This is what's next (beginning week of September 6 , weather permitting)
- Continue with the current Stage 3 construction activities
- Paving continues in northbound lanes. Northbound ramps at Irvine are closed.
- Paving Anne Street east leg, closure continues. Detour utilizing Fern to Minnkota.
- Detour on Anne Street east will be in place for motorists traveling eastbound. Motorists will follow the signed detour using Hannah Avenue, 30th street and Pine Ridge Avenue.
What work remains to complete the project?
- Once Anne Street east leg paving and curbing is complete, it will open mid-September. Stage 4 activities begin.
- Fern Street signals will be removed once Anne Street east leg is open.
- Northbound lanes will open after Anne Street east leg is open and Fern Street temporary signals are removed.
- Complete construction of medians (J-Turns). During median construction (mid-September through early October), motorists will utilize the signed detours, Irvine Avenue ramps or the Anne Street roundabout, depending on their location.
- Example- motorists wanting to turn south out of Lakes Concrete will turn north on Hwy 71 and utilize the Irvine Avenue ramps to turn south on Hwy 71.
- Project remains on schedule to be complete early October.
Traffic Impacts:
-
Hwy 71:
- Northbound lanes closed north of roundabout to Winter Sumac Rd.
- Northbound traffic cannot access the Irvine Ave on/off ramps
- Detour routes include Glidden Rd and Lakewood Dr, dependent on work at those intersections. Signs will be posted directing traffic
- Townhall Rd., Winter Sumac Rd. and East Movil Lake Rd. alternating closures on the east side of Highway 71, use alternate route.
- Blueberry and Balsam- alternating closures.
- Slow down and expect delays
-
Anne St:
- Roundabout is open on north, south and west legs. East leg at Anne street must detour onto Fern and Minnkota.
- Anne Street east is closed in front of the Sanford walk in clinic (eastbound lanes only) through early September. Motorists will access the walk in clinic from Minnkota. Motorists traveling on Highway 71 needing access to the Sanford Hospital campus will utilize Fern Street, Minnkota, Hannah Ave., 30th street and Pine Ridge Ave.
-
Winter Sumac Rd:
- Shoulder work at Winter Sumac Rd, expect delays
-
Hwy 71/197:
- Lane closure at Hwy 71 northbound off of Hwy 2, expect delays
- Access to all businesses will be maintained through the duration of the project
- Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes when possible
- Speed limits are reduced throughout the entire project, follow posted speed limit signs
Stay connected
- View staging maps, detour maps, and current traffic impacts on the project website www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/hwy71-bemidji
- Join the project staff at the weekly construction update meeting in person or virtually. The meetings will be held at the MnDOT building, 3920 Highway 2 West. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m. The schedule may vary, so visit the project website for the upcoming schedule and virtual link.
- Sign up for weekly project email updates on the project website
- Join the Northwest Minnesota Facebook group for news, events and updates
- Follow us on Twitter @mndotnorthwest for news, events and updates
- For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store
Work zone reminder
- Slow down when approaching every work zone
- Never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones
- Stay alert; watch for workers and slow-moving equipment
- Obey posted speed limits; fine for a work zone violation is $300
- Minimize distractions behind the wheel
- Be patient and expect delays, especially during peak travel times
For more information on projects in northwest Minnesota, follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/groups/MnDOTnorthwest and Twitter at @mndotnorthwest. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.
We will be sending these project updates each week. There’s plenty of ways to stay connected though, as the weekly public meetings occur every Wednesday throughout the project. Visit the project website to view staging/detour maps and refer to the stay connected section below for all of the ways to stay up to date as the project moves along this summer.
www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/hwy71-bemidji
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