MnDOT open houses for Hwy 75 projects in Halstad and Hendrum

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Those who travel highway 75 in Halstad or Hendrum are encouraged to attend an open house to learn about this summer’s construction project.

Open house attendees will be able to learn about the project’s construction details, planned traffic changes, along with detour routes and schedule. A large layout of the project will be on display and MnDOT staff will be on hand to answer any questions about the project.

The open houses will be held at the following locations and times:

·         Halstad- April 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Legion Recreation Center, 580 Second Avenue West

·         Hendrum-  April 3, 6 to 8 p.m., Hendrum Fire Station, 309 Main Street West

Each of the projects include a grade raise at the levee, lighting upgrades, replacement of city sewer and utilities, sidewalk reconstruction and pedestrian accessibility improvements. It is scheduled to begin in June and will last through September, weather permitting.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, call 651-366-4720. To request other reasonable accommodations, call 651-366-4718; the Minnesota Relay Service toll-free at 1-800-627-3529 (TYY, Voice or ASCII) or 711, or email your request to adarequest.dot@state.mn.us.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

Spring load restrictions begin

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Winter load increases will end Thursday, March 14 and spring load restrictions will start Friday, March 15 on highways in the south, southeast, metro and central frost zones, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map.

Road restriction maps showing locations of weight-restricted routes are listed at mndot.gov/loadlimits. Click on Spring Load Restrictions and then any of the mapping options.

Overweight permits for more than 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight will continue and new permits will be issued if all axle and group weights are legal. See axle weight limits.

Full-summer overweight permits can be issued during the spring load restriction period when engaging in interstate through movement travel only (no starting or stopping off the interstate system).

Middle-range overweight permits become available within each frost zone when spring load restrictions are lifted. Full-summer overweight permits become available two to three weeks after spring load restrictions are lifted. 

Ending dates for spring load restrictions are variable and based on how weather is affecting roadway strength. 

MnDOT will report start and end dates on its 24-hour automated message center at 1-800-723-6543 for the U.S. and Canada, and locally at 651-366-5400 for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

For questions about legal axle weight during spring load restrictions or the gross vehicle weight schedule, call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement at 651-350-2000.

For questions about oversize/overweight loads/permitting call MnDOT’s Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Overweight Permits at 651-296-6000 or email ofcvopermits.dot@state.mn.us

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

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Business Hwy 2 in East Grand Forks to temporarily close for RR maintenance

BEMIDJI, Minn.—Business Highway 2 in East Grand Forks, between Fifth Avenue NE and County Road 17, will be temporarily closed from Monday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Nov. 2, as railroad crews complete a project to replace the concrete surface at the crossing.

Traffic will be detoured to Fifth Avenue NE and Highway 2.

Local access to American Crystal Sugar will be maintained for sugar beet trucks. Due next week’s traffic flow changes, the Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to watch for additional traffic from beet harvest, always drive with caution, and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

Road closure and detour on Highway 9 near Glyndon begins June 18

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Motorists on Highway 9 will encounter a detour between Clay County Road 18 and Highway 10 near Glyndon starting Monday, June 18. The road will be closed as crews repave the road surface and complete bridge maintenance.

During the closure, traffic will be detoured to County Road 18, County Road 19 and Highway 10. The project is expected to take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting.

MnDOT urges motorists to always drive with caution, and reminds them to slow down in the work zone and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

MnDOT encourages safety on roads during busy planting season

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this spring need to be aware of large farm equipment moving from farm to farm, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 

“Planting season is in full swing and farmers in every corner of the state are out on the highways,” said Ray Starr, acting state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to encounter slow-moving farm vehicles, especially on rural, two-lane roads.”

Farm equipment is large and heavy, making it hard for operators to accelerate, slow down and stop. The equipment also makes wide turns and sometimes cross over the center line. In addition, farm vehicles can create large blind spots, making it difficult for operators to see approaching vehicles. All of these factors can cause serious crashes. 

Over the past five years, there were 688 crashes involving farm vehicles that resulted in 23 fatalities and 348 injuries.  Nearly half of the fatalities were an occupant of the farm vehicle.

Twenty-two percent of all farm equipment crashes and 29 percent of the fatalities were distraction-related. Other factors were speed-related and alcohol-related.

Motorists should:

·        When approaching farm equipment, slow down and use caution.

·        Watch for debris dropped by trucks. It is safer to brake or drive through debris than to veer into oncoming cars or off the road.

·        Wait for a safe place to pass.

·        Wear seatbelts.

·        Drive with headlights on at all times.

Farm equipment operators should:

·        Use lights and flashers to make equipment more visible.

·        Use slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 30 mph.

·        Consider using a follow vehicle when moving equipment, especially at night.

MnDOT hosts open house May 5 in Detroit Lakes

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the community to an open house Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at the MnDOT District 4 headquarters, 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes. Interested in learning about MnDOT? Here is your chance to see the equipment and tools used at MnDOT up close. Staff will be on hand to share current and future career opportunities. 

The Minnesota State Patrol will be in attendance. They will provide information for becoming a state trooper and a commercial vehicle inspector.

If you have questions about the event call 218-846-3646.

MnDOT District 4 manages and maintains more than 3600 lane miles of state, U.S. and interstate highways in the Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Morris and Wheaton areas.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, call Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 or 1-800-657-3774 (Greater Minnesota), 711 or 1-800-627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). You also may send an email to ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us. Please request at least one week in advance, if possible.