STATE HIGHWAYS
In this district, MnDOT will work on Highway 1 and Highway 32 in Thief River Falls. Between them, the county, city and watershed there are eight different projects happening in that vicinity this summer.
MnDOT will also resurface between Bena and Ball Club on Highway 2, and construct a new multi-use trail in Bena.
Highway 200 in Laporte will be reconstructed and the grade raised to improve safety and reduce flooding impacts.
MnDOT will also work on a project in Deer River. A virtual open house will be held next Thursday. Read more about it here.
A project in Waskish will start Monday, May 4 on Highway 72. Read more about it here.
BELTRAMI COUNTY ROADS
Construction on County State Aid Highway 39 to County Road 300 in Blackduck has already begun. A detour is currently in place, and no through traffic is permitted.
Other projects scheduled to start within a few weeks include CSAH 15 (Irvine Avenue north of Nebish), CSAH 2 (N. Plantagenet Road), and CSAH 4 (Grace Lake Road). These projects will include resurfacing, which is removal and replacement of road surface. CR 404 (23rd Street)’s resurfacing project and CR 406 (Mill Street)’s mill and overlay project will also begin this spring.
Other projects on CSAH 22 (Island View Drive, Movil and Big Turtle Lake Roads) and CSAH 20 (Birchmont Beach Road by Town and Country Golf Club, and also Lake Bemidji Shoreline Protection) are expected to begin in June or July.
CSAH 57 (Sumac and Hazelwood Roads) will be under a complete reconstruction project, which is expected to start later on in the summer.
All county projects must be completed by the fall, but some may be completed sooner than that.
Seal coating will also take place on various roads throughout the county in mid summer.
CITY OF BEMIDJI PROJECTS
In Bemidji, crews will begin work on a four block Birchmont Drive project Monday, May 4. This project will be from 10th to 14th Streets, and will be complete by the end of July.
Work will begin after the 4th of July for a reconstruction project of an intersection of America Avenue at 5th Street, a continuation of last year’s reconstruction project of 4th and America.
The 2020 Street Renewal will also begin after the 4th of July, and includes segments of 27th Street, Gould Avenue, Wilson Avenue, 29th Street, Riverside Drive, Country Lane, Greenbriar Lane and Ivy Lane. The estimated cost will be $861,486.
MAHNOMEN project
CHS will be laying railroad track through Mahnomen in mid-May, which will cause a few short street closures while that work is completed.
Beginning on May 11, Washington Avenue will be closed for five days where it crosses the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks near U.S. Highway 59 just north of the CHS facility in Mahnomen. Drivers proceeding east into downtown Mahnomen are asked to detour from U.S. Highway 59 onto Jefferson Avenue past the Mahnomen Health Center to North Fifth Street/County Highway 9 to avoid the road closure.
Once that work is finished, the project will continue north to Highway 200 where it crosses the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks. Again, Highway 200 will be closed in that area near the Burger Hut for five days and drivers will be detoured along Jefferson Avenue east and then along North Fifth Street/ Country Highway 9.
Watch for signs announcing the closures and directing drivers to detour routes.
“As we work to improve the railroad tracks in this area, we are working with the City of Mahnomen and local businesses in that area to make sure work is completed quickly and safely,” says James Hardy, general manager, CHS. “Once completed, this project will allow our facility to load shuttle trains, which improves our ability to stay competitive in the market.”
If you know of a project in the north country that is not listed here, please send information on the location and street/road/highway name to our News Director.
