News Release

MN/DOT TO BEGIN COMPLETION OF THE WILLMAR BYPASS TO ORIGINAL DESIGN THIS FALL

Willmar, Minn. – Construction will begin Tuesday (September 5) to complete the Highway 71/23 bypass at Willmar to its original design as a four-lane with diamond interchanges between junction 15^th Street and north junction Highway 71.

According to Jeff Vlaminck, the Minnesota Department of Transportation Willmar region engineer, the first phase will be the construction of a new bridge that will carry northbound traffic over Civic Center Drive on the north end of the bypass and to overlay the existing two-lanes.

Beginning Tuesday, motorists will encounter delays on Civic Center Drive due to the bridge construction. Traffic will be maintained and the work zone will be posted at 35 mph. Motorists are advised to slow down for their safety and the safety of the workers. Lakeview Construction, Glenwood, Minn., is the prime contractor of the bridge construction.

Paving of the previously graded northbound lanes and construction of the diamond interchanges at south junction Highway 71, Highway 12, Civic Center Drive and north junction 71 will be completed next summer. An interchange at Willmar Ave. is also being considered in the near future as a project sponsored by Kandiyohi County and the city of Willmar.

Vlaminck stated that the bypass was constructed as a two-lane highway due to a financial crisis in the early 1980’s. At that time, the northbound lanes were left unpaved and the bypass interchanges were designed for a two-lane highway.