03-04-2025
Road construction in Willmar, Raymond and Svea among MnDOT's 2025 projects
Apr. 3---- Several road construction projects will interrupt the flow of traffic in southwest Minnesota this year, including a two-year concrete resurfacing project on Highway 71 and 23 in Willmar.
The
announced the 2025 road construction projects on Wednesday, asking travelers to prepare to slow down for construction work zones as road projects begin to ramp up across the state.
"With construction projects beginning in the coming weeks statewide, drivers should use caution as they see more work zones, more lane closures and orange cones — and most importantly more workers wearing their high-safety gear along the highway," said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "We're all safer when we pay close attention, slow down, remain patient and work together to safely share the limited space in a work zone."
There are nearly 180 road construction projects planned this season to help maintain and improve Minnesota's roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure; improve safety and mobility; and support jobs that will be worked on statewide.
There are an additional 51 projects that will improve airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit infrastructure.
The $20.9 million
is expected to begin in the late summer of 2025 and be completed in 2026. It will take place in three stages.
The benefits of the project will provide a smoother road surface, extend the life of the roadway, improve drainage and enhance safety, according to MnDOT.
The plan is to resurface the Highway 23 Willmar bypass from Kandiyohi County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business 71, as well as resurfacing the southbound lanes of the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass from the southwest junction of Business Highway 71 to the northeast junction of Business Highway 71.
The existing asphalt will be replaced with concrete pavement, existing guardrails will be updated and drainage will be improved.
The first stage of the project is from the western limits to the Highway 71 interchange, the second stage is the Highway 71 interchange and the third stage is the Highway 71 interchange to the eastern limits of the project during which the Willmar Avenue ramps will be closed.
The traffic impacts of the project will include traffic control measures consisting of construction staging, lane crossovers, temporary ramp accesses and closures and a detour for the section of the project west of the Highway 71 overpass.
Another significant project that will take place in 2025 in Willmar is the
into the Willmar Industrial Park.
The cost of the project is estimated to be $900,000; it was selected to receive funding from the Transportation Economic Development Program to connect Minnesota Highway 40 to the Willmar Industrial Park due to the construction of the Willmar Rail Park.
That program specifically targets transportation improvements that will lead to measurable economic benefits. For a project to be eligible, it must contribute to job creation or retention or another measurable economic benefit.
A left- and right-turn lane will be constructed on Highway 40 from 1,300 feet east of County Road 55 to 1,400 feet west of County Road 5 in order to improve traffic movement through the intersection and enhance safety.
The project will require a detour using County Road 5, U.S. Highway 12 and County Road 55 that will be in place for approximately one month.
A
of a left-turn lane on Highway 23 at Kandiyohi County Road 1 near Raymond, and the construction of a left-turn lane at the intersection of Highway 71 and County Road 3 near Svea, is expected to begin April 14, 2025, and be completed by June 28, 2025, depending on weather.
The Raymond project was estimated to cost $1.64 million and the Svea project was estimated to cost $2.42 million, according to earlier information from MnDOT. However, construction bids came in lower than expected and the total project cost is now estimated to be approximately $2.18 million.
The projects will enhance safety and provide space for left-turning vehicles at the intersections.
During the Raymond project, a detour will be in place for vehicles to take Highway 23 to County Road 5 to County Road 3 to 135th Street and back to Highway 23. A detour for trucks will take them from Highway 23 to County Road 5 to Minnesota Highway 7 and back to Highway 23.
During the Svea project, a detour will be in place taking traffic from Highway 71 to Highway 23 to County Road 5 to Highway 7 and back to Highway 71.
A major $25.7 million project will take place in Marshall
from 700 feet west of Marlene Street to the intersection of Bruce Street.
The city of Marshall will be replacing aging utilities as part of the project and a single-lane roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Highway 19/College Drive, Country Club Drive and South Second Street. The project also includes the installation of an electric vehicle charging station in the Avera parking lot, sidewalk improvements and the striping of a bike lane from Marlene Street to just west of Fairgrounds Road.
The project is expected to take two years and will be completed in stages to minimize travel disruptions.
Two
estimated to cost $1.5 million are planned on Highway 23 north of Marshall crossing the Redwood River and Threemile Creek near Green Valley.
Construction is expected to begin May 12 and the bridges will be resurfaced at the same time. Traffic is expected to be detoured for approximately one month.
Finally, the second stretch of a $9.5 million
will take place in 2025 from Dassel to Cokato. The Litchfield-to-Dassel resurfacing project was completed in 2024.
The project consists of repairing the concrete and replacing the asphalt shoulders and upgrading sidewalks and pedestrian ramps.
Highway 12 from Dassel to Cokato will be closed during the project and traffic will be routed to Highway 15 and County Roads 21 and 3.
When approaching a work zone, motorists should be prepared to encounter traffic changes, including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic.
When entering a work zone, drivers must obey posted speed limits, practice undistracted driving, move over to give room for construction workers, be patient, use the zipper merge, avoid making unnecessary lane changes and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
It is also important that drivers know the traffic and road conditions before they travel, which can be found at
or by using the free 511mn smartphone app available on Google Play or the App Store.
Travelers can also visit
, which includes interactive maps linking to more detailed construction project websites, or sign up for project email updates and other specific topics.
