News Release

Bemidji, Mn. -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is alerting motorists to the start of construction work on Highway 1 and Highway 72 in Beltrami and Koochiching County beginning Monday, May 23rd. The work is in the area from the west junction with Highway 72 (Busy Corner) to the junction with Highway 71 and from Busy Corner south to Blackduck and will require detours in two stages.

According to Larry Randall, Mn/DOT Senior Engineering Specialist in the Bemidji office, the work consists of culvert replacements, a mill and overlay, and the replacement of bridge #91074.

Randall said the first detour going into effect on Monday, May 23rd will be on Highway 1 from Busy Corner to Shooks. Traffic will be routed for east bound vehicles north and east on Beltrami County Highway 36 to Highway 72 at Kelliher and then south to Highway 1. For vehicles traveling from the opposite direction, the detour is in reverse. This first detour is expected to last 5-7 days.

The second detour on Highway 1 is from Shooks to the junction with Highway 71. Traffic for east bound vehicles will be routed north on Highway 72 to Kelliher, east on Beltrami and Koochiching County Highway 36, and then south on Koochiching County Highway 16 to Highway 71. For vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, the detour is in reverse. The second detour will go into effect when the first stage detour is removed, expected during May 31 - June 3rd, and is expected to last 21-23 days.

Randall said the detour routes have a 9-ton axle weight restriction and absolutely no overweight or over-width permits will be allowed.

For updated road condition information in Minnesota, dial 511 or log on to www.511mn.org.

See ORANGE.

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