Southwest Minnesota concludes 2021 construction program

The Minnesota Department of Transportation 2021 construction program has concluded in District 8. District 8 encompasses twelve counties in southwest Minnesota: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine.

“We had a good construction season; the weather cooperated, and most projects came in on schedule,” said Paul Rasmussen, District 8 Assistant District Engineer – Construction. “However, we did have some work zone infractions, and I would ask that all drivers be mindful of the men and women working on our roadways throughout the year. Please allow extra time in your travels and slow down when you see orange cones or any heavy equipment, including our snowplows this winter. We want to see everyone make it home safely.”

The district had a full schedule of projects which encompassed multiple components, including bridge and culvert replacements, resurfacing and concrete repair projects, slope repairs, safety and accessibility improvements, and preservation work. Bridge maintenance operations, stop bar relocations, chevron and delineator post installations, and striping projects were also carried out on several highways throughout the district.

Projects completed during the 2021 Construction Program

· Hwy 12 Willmar – resurfaced 1.3 miles from 6th St SE to 24 St SE in Willmar, and 3.4 miles from CR 1 in Pennock to CR 5 in Willmar

· Hwy 14 Balaton – repaired erosion and stabilized slope near Lake Yankton in Balaton

· Hwy 19 Morton – repaired drainage and created pond one mile east of Morton

· Hwy 19 Morton – repaired drainage and stabilized slopes 2.8 miles east of Morton

· Hwy 40 culverts – replaced two metal culverts and an old timber bridge with concrete box culverts in Kandiyohi and Chippewa counties

· Hwy 40 Milan Bridge – completed historic riprap restoration and final project tasks on carryover of the Milan bridge replacement project

· Hwy 59 repairs – repaired concrete pavement from Hwy 30 to Hwy 14 in Lyon and Murray counties

· Hwy 71 Sanborn – replaced bridge over Cottonwood River south of Sanborn

· Hwy 71 Willmar – completed several roadway and safety improvement projects along the Hwy 71 corridor in Willmar, including the construction of J-turn, opening a median and a U-turn, repairing concrete, extending a left-turn lane, and constructing a pedestrian crossing

· Hwy 75 resurfacing – completed installation of seal coats and permanent pavement markings on carryover of the Hwy 75 resurfacing and culvert repair project from Hwy 212 to Hwy 7

· Hwy 212 Granite Falls – repaired and restored the historic overlook on the west side of the Minnesota River

· Hwy 271 resurfacing – resurfaced from Hwy 19 to the Minnesota/South Dakota border, excluding the town of Hendricks

Three projects will carry over into 2022

· Hwy 12/Hwy 40 Willmar – realign Hwy 12 and reconstruct Hwy 40 on the west side of Willmar; construct two roundabouts and two bridges; construct a new rail line; roadwork on the multi-year project was completed this year and the railway portion of the project got underway

· Hwy 19 Sulphur Lake – remove bridge over Sulphur Lake four miles southwest of Morton for safety; bridge and abutments are being removed in 2021 and site restoration will continue into 2022

· Districtwide ADA improvements – update sidewalks, ramps and driveways in Canby, Clara City, Litchfield, Tyler, and Willmar; punch list items will be completed in 2022

For project maps, details on the 2021 construction program, and information about upcoming projects, visit the MnDOT District 8 project webpage.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/MnDOTsouthwest/.

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492