Highway 197 Bemidji construction update: July 8
Stage 1B: Highway 197 traffic using temporary bypass lane during construction. Crews are grading and beginning concrete curb and gutter. Photo taken July 8.
What’s happening now?
Crews will be installing concrete curb, gutter, inner and outer rings of the roundabout as well as medians in the next week. There will be a traffic shift moving into Stage 1C on July 17. See Stage 1C map for details.
The current stage (1B) includes full reconstruction of the highway and the installation of a new roundabout at the Menards intersection. A regional truck detour will remain in place to support heavy vehicle traffic.
What’s next?
Stage 1C- Reconstruct the intersection
Stage 1C (reconstruct the intersection) will include work at the south segment of the Highway 197/Highway 71 intersection. Highway 71 lanes south of the intersection will be closed beginning July 17.
This includes a detour for all traffic, see map below.
MnDOT asks motorists to continue driving with caution and paying close attention while traveling through the construction area.
Reminders:
- Traffic impacts for July 18 events on or near Hwy 197: For those attending the customer appreciation event on July 18, you can access the business using the temporary crossover on Highway 197. For those attending the car show off of Highway 197, access the event from Middle School Dr. For both events, utilize the detour below for northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 71.
- The business liaison on the project is the Bemidji Chamber. Stay connected with local businesses impacted by construction by following the Bemidji Chamber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BemidjiChamber
- Crews ask that vehicles remain on the temporary bypass lanes and do not enter the work zone.
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Please support your local businesses! During the construction, if you're trying to access a business within the work areas, check in with them on the best way to get there. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Other local construction projects:
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The City of Bemidji project is well underway and making progress. Currently, the City is working on paving, striping and signing Middle School Dr. and Hannah Ave. They are planning to have those sections open to traffic mid-July.
Find the City of Bemidji staging maps, including current detour map here: Highway 197 MnDOT Construction
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Beltrami County road 22 is currently under construction. This is a county project. For more information, reach out to the Beltrami County Public Works Department, 218-333-8173. Slow down and use caution in the work zone.
Highway 197 current traffic impacts
Stage 1B: June 4 to late-August
- Traffic impact: Utilize temporary bypass, temp signals at Hwy 71 and Menards access road.
- Regional truck detour (see map)
Stage 1C: July 17 to mid-August
- No closure during Beltrami County Fair
- Reconstruct Hwy 197/Hwy 71 intersection
- East/West bypass lanes remain open
Have questions?
- Call the project hotline 218-444-CONE (2663) or email 197@bemidji.org to connect with the business liaison.
Under the Hard Hat:
In this section, we will discuss a new topic each week to give further insight to the background of the project.
How do roundabouts work?
Due to the curvature of the roundabout entry, drivers slow and check traffic coming from the left. A raised center prevents drivers from watching other traffic and only being concerned with yielding to traffic already in the circle. This prevents the intersection from "locking up," which could happen if the traffic in the roundabout had to stop for entering traffic. Pavement markings, curves at entry points, and raised islands direct traffic into a one-way counter-clockwise flow around the center island. The radius of the roundabout and the angles of entry slow the speed of all vehicles to around 15-25 mph.
 Highway 197 Bemidji construction is currently in Stage 1B.
2026 Construction schedule
Construction will be completed in stages, starting May 4 through fall 2026.
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May 4 to mid-June
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Stage 1A: Construct temporary bypass lanes and crossover
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Mid-June to late-August
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Stage 1B: Reconstruct Highway 197, construct most of the roundabout (all except the northern leg)
- Traffic impact: truck detour
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July 17 to mid-August
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Stage 1C: Reconstruct Highway 71/197 intersection
- Traffic impact: East/West bypass lanes remain open, Highway 71 traffic detour
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Mid-August to mid-September
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Stage 1D: Extend Gillette Dr, construct northern leg of the roundabout
- Traffic impact: East/West bypass lanes remain open
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Mid-September to late-September
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Stage 1F: Remove Highway 197 bypass lanes and temporary signals at Highway 71
- Traffic impact:
- Highway 197 East/West lanes open
- Highway 71 closes at the north segment of the intersection
- Highway 71 traffic detour
Stay connected
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Visit the Highway 197 Bemidji project website for details, detour maps, weekly public meeting information, and to sign up for email updates.
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