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Highway 71 Bemidji

Construction update, October 7

Crews continue work along the medians on the Highway 71. Both northbound and southbound lanes are open with inside lanes closed for median work.  Inside lanes and medians are planned to reopen in the next few days. There may be intermittent closures at the medians for final finish work in the next week. Crews are expected to begin equipment and construction sign removal in the next week. 

What's happening now?

• Median/intersection reconstruction along the corridor
• Pavement markings and rumble strips
• Remove temporary pavement
• Complete drainage pond near Anne Street
• Landscaping throughout the corridor

This is what's next (weather permitting)

• Turf establishment
• Light pole installation
• Equipment removal
• Construction sign removal

• Project remains on schedule to be complete next week
• For more information on how to navigate a roundabout, please visit the MnDOT website.

Traffic Impacts:

• Hwy 71:
  • Medians are currently closed, utilize Irvine Avenue ramps or Anne Street roundabout (depending on location) for cross traffic on Highway 71
  • Medians planned to be open in the next few days
  • Once paving and sign installation are complete at the medians, there will be intermittent closures through mid-October

• Slow down and expect delays

• Anne St:
  • All four legs of the roundabout are now open
• 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
• The final weekly public meeting took place September 28. Weekly updates will continue through October 14.
• 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.

More about this project

www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/hwy71-bemidji

^{MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print) for this event, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.}