BAXTER, Minn. - Minnesota grown plants will be installed along the west side Highway 371 just north of Little Falls and south of Fort Ripley beginning early June, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The plantings create a living snow fence-a natural barrier that disrupts the flow of wind blown snow and keeps it from reaching the roadway. They create turbulence that disrupts the wind’s force and stops the snow.

Dan Gullickson, a forester and MnDOT’s project manager, said the program creates benefits for both participants and the public. MnDOT benefits from lower highway maintenance costs for plowing and removing ice and snow in fence-protected areas. The public gains a safer trip on a highway more likely to be free of drifts and icy patches.

For more information on living snow fences, visit the project’s Web site: www.dot.state.mn.us/environment/livingsnowfence/.

Impacts to traffic will be minimal since the work is conducted off the roadway. Motorists should slow down and watch for delivery vehicles in the area where crews are working.

Work is expected to be completed by July 20.

The project is one of nearly 100 Minnesota road and bridge projects that will be funded with $502 million in federal economic stimulus dollars.

Hoffman and McNamara is the prime contractor for the $200,000 project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was signed into law Feb. 17, 2009.

For updated statewide traffic, construction, weather and travel information, visit www.511mn.org.