Major road construction planned

By Brad Swenson

Bemidji Pioner Political Editor

      The sound of snowplows barely gone, the time nears for the sound of road graders across the region.

      The summer construction season brings nearly $23 million of state road work to northwest Minnesota, according to the state Department of Transportation in Bemidji.

      “This summer’s program will include major projects such as Phase IV of the reconstruction of Highway 197 from First Street East to the Mississippi River bridge in Bemidji,” said MnDOT District Engineer Wes Gjovik.

      The 0.8 mile reconstruction project is estimated at $2.56 million and includes the final grade and surfacing of the route along south Lake Bemidji.

      Districtwide, Gjovik also highlighted the reconstruction of state Highway 200 in Ada and reconditioning of state Highway 6 north of Talmoon to the junction with state Highway 1.

      Also included are major resurfacing projects on U.S. Highway 71 from Blackduck to 13 miles north, U.S. Highway 2 from the junction with state Highway 59 to Fosston, state Highway 371 south of the junction with state Highway 200 to Hackensack and on state Highway 92 north of Bagley to Gonvick, he said.

      Thin overlays are also planned for state Highway 197 from Third Street to 23rd Street in Bemidji and on state Highway 11 from Warroad to Roosevelt.

      The state Highway 6 Talmoon project involving 18.5 miles, at $4.29 million, is the most expensive 2004 project, followed by the Ada project at $3.92 million. At $3 million is the U.S. Highway 2 resurfacing of the eastbound lane to Fosston.

      The Blackduck project involves 12.7 miles of resurfacing U.S. Highway 71 at $952,000 while the Bagley state Highway 92 project involves 12.3 miles of resurfacing at $1.65 million. The Highway 371 resurfacing of 9 miles at Hackensack is $1.7 million.

      The district is replacing two bridges one on state Highway 32 south of Fertile at $570,000 and the other on state Highway 75 north of Hendrum at $1.88 million, Gjovik said. Both projects will require detours onto county roads.

      In addition to highways and bridges, MnDOT’s Northwest District program includes funding for the long-planned Park Rapids Rest Area. Although MnDOT has plans to close some rest areas around the state, the Park Rapids site is a partnership project which includes MnDOT, the city of Park Rapids, Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Hubbard County, Gjovik said.

      The $598,000 visitors center/rest area will be at U.S. Highway 71 in Park Rapids.

      Other projects include chip seal work of 21.3 miles of state Highway 89 from U.S. Highway 2 to the Red Lake Reservation border, installation of U.S. Highway 2 turn lanes in Crookston and Highway 2 railroad crossing signals at Erskine.

      “Impacts to the traveling public will vary with each project and drivers are asked to slow down when approaching a construction zone and allow additional time for possible delays,” Gjovik said.

Bemidji Pioneer: www.bemidjipioneer.com