D3 - Hwy 169 in Garrison: 2026 construction
 Summer is winding down, and now the time has come to close the intersection
Starting Tue, Sept. 8, after Labor Day, MnDOT will fully close the Hwy 169 intersection at Hwy 18 and Monroe St. in Garrison. This allows crews to build the final connections to the new roundabout. (Photo above)
The contractor has 17 consecutive days to complete the roundabout, finish road surface work, install permanent markings and signage, and remove the temporary roundabout currently in use.
 Navigating the area through late September
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Hwy 169 remains detoured for through traffic from south of Garrison to Bennettville.
- Signed detour remains in place via Crow Wing Co. Rd. 26, Crow Wing Co. Rd. 8, Hwy 18, Hwy 6, and Tame Fish Lake Rd. (Crow Wing Co. Rd. 14 / Aitkin Co. Rd. 11)
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Access into Garrison stays open, but the intersection itself will be fully closed. Please plan ahead and use the nearest access point along the detour:
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Hwy 169 south of Central St.: via Co. Rd. 26 - downtown Garrison, Concourse, Pike Point water access
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Hwy 169 north of Hwy 18: via Tame Fish Lake Rd. (Aitkin Co. Rd. 11)
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Hwy 18 west of Hwy 169: via Hwy 6/Hwy 18
- MnDOT will coordinate with emergency responders and keep access open
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Work continues on Hwy 169 from Central St. in Garrison to Co. Rd. 26, including updates to the historic St. Alban’s Bay culvert.
- Expect single-lane traffic with no shoulders, lane shifts, reduced speeds and flaggers at times.
Thanks in advance
MnDOT appreciates your patience as crews finish this stage of work. We know the full closure will be challenging for Garrison—especially after a busy summer using the temporary roundabout—and we thank you for your understanding as we complete these improvements.
Learn more about roundabouts in Minnesota, visit mndot.gov/roundabouts
 Future south connections to roundabout at Hwy 169 and Monroe St.
What’s next
In late September, Highway 169 will reopen in Garrison but close from the south limits of Garrison to County Road 26. Crews will finish the Historic St. Alban’s Bay culvert and reclaim and recycle the road surface, a process that requires wide equipment. Highway 169 will detour via County Road 26, County Road 8, and Highway 18 will remain in place. The Pikes Point boat landing will also close until mid-October.
Preserving the past for the future
MnDOT is halfway through rehabilitating the historic St. Alban’s Bay Culvert, a rustic stone bridge built in 1938-39 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) along the western shore of Mille Lacs Lake. The structure features National Park Service-style, rock‑faced Isle granite masonry built around a concrete box culvert.
Crews are currently restoring the stone wall and rail using historic preservation standards, matching local granite, and traditional masonry techniques.
 Crews remove, label, and box each stone while foundation work is completed, then reset each piece in its original location—like a puzzle.
 Behind the wall is the first half of the updated box culvert under southbound Hwy 169 (creek side). Work on the second half (lake side) begins in September.
 The granite used in the wall was quarried in Isle and is known as Isle Granite or Cold Spring Pearl White.
Learn more about the seven historic properties along this Hwy 169 Garrison project.
 Future west roundabout leg to Hwy 18.
When all lanes reopen in mid-October, travelers will experience smoother pavement, updated infrastructure, and improved safety and traffic flow in the Garrison area.
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