News Release

Bemidji, MN. --- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is notifying the public of two detours from State Highway 72 between Shooks and Waskish in Beltrami County to accommodate a box culvert project.

In addition to the installation of a box culvert a cattle pass will also be removed and a centerline culvert will be installed. Mn/DOT is taking advantage of the dry weather to get a head start on this project which will be suspended for the winter and resumed again next spring.

The detour routes are restricted to 9 ton, with a 12 ft. width restriction and 75 ft. length restriction. Traffic is currently diverted off of State Highway 72 to State Highway 1 and Beltrami County Rd. 36 between Busy Corner and Kelliher until November 22nd. Another detour will also be place from November 17th - 20th approximately 3 miles south of Waskish. This detour will direct traffic to Beltrami County Rd. 23 to Beltrami County Rd. 111. A portion of this detour has a gravel surface and motorists are cautioned to slow down and drive with care.

State Highway 72 will have a bituminous surface when reopened, but when work resumes next year, a milling and overlay will be conducted to finish up the project.

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