News Release

Bemidji, Mn. -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is alerting the public to a rail crossing upgrade on State Highway 59 just north of Thief River Falls which will require a detour to be in place for the duration of the project.

Northern Plains Railway will be conducting the upgrade beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 and is expected to have the project completed by the end of the work day on Friday, August 18th.

Northbound traffic will be routed east on Pennington County 31, north on State Highway 32, then west on Marshall County 2 and back to State Highway 59. The detour for southbound traffic will be vice versa. The detour length is approximately 6.5 miles.

Mn/DOT is asking the public to slow down and drive with care while the detour is in effect.

For statewide information on construction and other related road conditions, call 5-1-1 or log on to Mn/DOT's website at www.511mn.org.