Contacts
- Dana Hanson
218-846-3609
Location
Minnesota Department of
Transportation
1000 Hwy 10 West
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
218-846-3600
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West central Minnesota flooding update: Highway 75 near Kent to open today
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. —(2:15 p.m.) The Minnesota Department of Transportation will open Highway 75 near Kent today by 5 p.m. Highway 75 has been closed at this location since April 1 due to flooding.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol urge motorists to drive with caution as flooding continues to affect area highways and interstates in west central Minnesota.
Road closures
The following state highways are closed until further notice:
- Highway 75 is closed north of Georgetown. The dike on Highway 75 in Georgetown was removed today. However, due to several Highway 75 closures to the north traffic remains detoured to Clay County Road 26, Highway 9 and Highway 2.
- Traffic is not allowed cross over into North Dakota via Minnesota Highway 55. The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed Highway 11 between the state line and Fairmount due to flooding.
- Highway 12 is closed approximately 2 miles east of Ortonville. Traffic is detoured to Highway 75, Highway 7 and Highway 59.
Open – use caution
The following state highways in west central Minnesota are currently open but conditions can change rapidly. Motorists should use caution when approaching the following areas:
- Highway 225 north of Highway 34 at Guyles Road. Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.
- Highway 200 approximately 12 miles east of Mahnomen at Twin Lake Creek. Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.
Open – water receded
The following state highways in west central Minnesota are open and water has receded from the driving lanes:
- Highway 75 near Kent. Open to traffic, water has receded.
- Highway 55 east of Wendell at the Mustinka River. Open to traffic, water has receded.
- Highway 117 between the west state line and Highway 27. Open to traffic, water has receded.
- Highway 12 approximately 7 miles east of Ortonville at Horseshoe Lake. Open to traffic, water has receded.
Every flood is dangerous to motorists. If you must travel in the west central Minnesota area, follow these safe driving practices (source: Federal Emergency Management Agency http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/fl_during.shtm):
- Expect the unexpected – flash floods can occur anytime, anywhere.
- Flooding can knock out bridges, undercut highways and clog roads with mudslides and debris.
- MnDOT will identify which roads are closed and warn motorists of potential pavement break up or soft shoulders that could give way.
- Drivers are warned not to drive around barricades and to check the state's traveler information Web site www.511mn.org or call 5-1-1 for road conditions, closures and alternate routes.
- Do not drive into flooded areas.
- If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.
- Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
- A foot of water will float many vehicles.
- Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.
- Log on to http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info/ for North Dakota current road conditions and http://www.safetravelusa.com/sd/ for South Dakota current road conditions.
For updated information, call 511 or click on www.511mn.org when traveling in any area of the state where potential flooding conditions exist. For weather and flood warnings, go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site http://www.noaawatch.gov/floods.php or listen to NOAA weather radio or local radio stations.