Forest Lake detours begin as MnDOT undertakes $17M Highway 97 reconstruction project
Both directions of Minnesota 97 between Hornsby Street and Falcon Avenue in Forest Lake will be closed beginning 5 a.m. Monday. The closure will remain in place through late fall, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The work is part of a two-year, $17 million reconstruction of Minnesota 97 between Interstate 35 and U.S. 61 that includes resurfacing the road, constructing a single-lane roundabout at Fenway Avenue and adding turn lanes in specific locations.
In addition, a new multi-use trail will be constructed along the south side of Minnesota 97 to provide a safer space for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as a connection to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail.
A raised median also will be added to divide eastbound and westbound traffic on the two-lane roadway; the median also will serve as an accessible pedestrian crossing.
Minnesota 97 will be open to traffic between Falcon Avenue and U.S. 61, and Hornsby Street and all I-35 ramps will remain open, according to a MnDOT news release. Local residential and business access will be maintained throughout construction, although routes will change periodically, the release states.
Motorists can bypass the closure using the following detours:
Eastbound through traffic can use northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61
Westbound through traffic can use northbound U.S. 61 to westbound U.S. 8 to southbound I-35
Southbound I-35 traffic can access eastbound Minnesota 97 by using Broadway Avenue to northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61.
All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule dependent and subject to change, according to MnDOT.
For more information, go to mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy97-forestlake/.
Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes
artOPENer Studio Tour hits 19 St. Croix Valley stops
Bayport couple found dead in home; natural causes determined
Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal
Obituary: How a bridge got Mary McComber, mayor of Oak Park Heights, into local politics
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Parts of Interstate 494 will be closed from Friday to Monday, MN DOT says
Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work If there's one thing Minnesotans can count on seeing, its orange cones lining the streets as soon as snow clears. "It's a constant struggle," said Minneapolis resident Lindsey Fine. Bloomington resident Nicholas Severson echoed Fine's frustration saying, "I was disappointed, at the same time we live in Minnesota." Though frustrations may continue to rise as one of the state's busiest throughfares is offline for upgrades: Interstate 494. Kent Barnard with the Minnesota Department of Transportation says well over 100,000 drivers use the road every day. Hence, the reason for construction. It's time for some much-needed TLC. Barnard says construction aims to create "smoother road surface and improve accessibility for people out there driving improve traffic flow." Aesthetics aside, some repairs are crucial. Including, replacing bridges. That's why both directions of Interstate 494 are shut down between Highways 100 and 77 near Richfield from Friday night to Monday morning. Drivers like Fine are in the crosshairs, trying to maneuver through. "These are major roads that we need to use to get to where we are going, and we can't," said Fine. Detours will be marked but if you're travelling westbound in I-494 you can use northbound Highway 77 to westbound Highway 62. Drivers travelling eastbound on I-494 can hop on northbound Highway 100 to eastbound Highway 62. "That congestion is already terrible, and I feel bad for the people who will deal with that," said Severson. If you have plans to travel out of state this weekend, know that airport access will also be impacted. The highway will re-open Monday at 5 a.m.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Forest Lake detours begin as MnDOT undertakes $17M Highway 97 reconstruction project
Both directions of Minnesota 97 between Hornsby Street and Falcon Avenue in Forest Lake will be closed beginning 5 a.m. Monday. The closure will remain in place through late fall, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The work is part of a two-year, $17 million reconstruction of Minnesota 97 between Interstate 35 and U.S. 61 that includes resurfacing the road, constructing a single-lane roundabout at Fenway Avenue and adding turn lanes in specific locations. In addition, a new multi-use trail will be constructed along the south side of Minnesota 97 to provide a safer space for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as a connection to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. A raised median also will be added to divide eastbound and westbound traffic on the two-lane roadway; the median also will serve as an accessible pedestrian crossing. Minnesota 97 will be open to traffic between Falcon Avenue and U.S. 61, and Hornsby Street and all I-35 ramps will remain open, according to a MnDOT news release. Local residential and business access will be maintained throughout construction, although routes will change periodically, the release states. Motorists can bypass the closure using the following detours: Eastbound through traffic can use northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61 Westbound through traffic can use northbound U.S. 61 to westbound U.S. 8 to southbound I-35 Southbound I-35 traffic can access eastbound Minnesota 97 by using Broadway Avenue to northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule dependent and subject to change, according to MnDOT. For more information, go to Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes artOPENer Studio Tour hits 19 St. Croix Valley stops Bayport couple found dead in home; natural causes determined Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal Obituary: How a bridge got Mary McComber, mayor of Oak Park Heights, into local politics
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
I-94 partially closed at Lowry Hill Tunnel as semi-truck hits wall, splits in half
I-94 partially closed at Lowry Hill Tunnel as semi-truck hits wall, splits in half originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Interstate 94 is still partially at the Lowry Tunnel after a semi struck the wall separating the eastbound and westbound lanes, splitting in half. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the closure could last until mid-afternoon Friday, with the semi truck losing its cargo. The Minnesota State Patrol has confirmed earlier reporting from MN Crime that the semi was hauling ammunition. A spokesperson told Bring Me The News the semi struck a wall, causing the vehicle to roll over. Sign up for our BREAKING NEWS newsletters Traffic cameras at the tunnel show debris from the truck in both the eastbound and westbound lanes. The driver of the semi suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No other vehicles were involved. As of 1 p.m., traffic had resumed in the eastbound lanes, but cleanup was still continuing westbound. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
