Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Hwy 169—Milaca to Princeton

Includes Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 in Pease

2024 roadwork

J-turn at Co. Rd. 8 and Hwy 169 in Pease.
Project on Hwy 169 Milaca to Princeton. Select map to enlarge

MnDOT will resurface both directions of Hwy 169 between Milaca and Princeton, replace pipes and reconstruct the access at Hwy 169 and Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 in Pease. Work will require detours.

Summary of work

Pease

Early July to mid-September

  • Reconstruct into a J-turn access at Hwy 169 and Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 (west of Hwy 169 is Main St.; east of Hwy 169 is 105th St.)
  • Replace stormwater pipes beneath road
  • Install overhead intersection lighting
  • Update pedestrian approaches and install a crossing in the median

Milaca to Princeton

Late July to mid-October

  • Resurface both directions of Hwy 169 (mill and overlay asphalt) between half-mile south of Co. Rd. 36 in Milaca and one mile north of Co. Rd. 29/N Rum River Rd. in Princeton, includes shoulders and turn lanes
  • Replace or repair pipes beneath southbound Hwy 169

About J-turns

J-turn at Co. Rd. 8 and Hwy 169 in Pease.
J-turn access at Hwy 169 and Co. Rd. 8 in Pease. Select image to enlarge

Improve access and safety

J-turn intersections decrease fatalities and injuries caused by broadside crashes on four-lane divided highways, like Hwy 169. Drivers always make a right turn, followed by a J-turn. This eliminates the wait for a gap to cross both directions, which reduces potential conflicts.

J-turns were installed at these Hwy 169 intersections in 2020:

  • Co. Rd. 11 north of Milaca
  • Co. Rd. 12 south of Pease
  • Co. Rd. 13 in Long Siding

How to use J-turns

1 Stop and yield to vehicles in both lanes to your left 2 Crossover into the lane in the median 3 Yield to vehicles in both lanes to your right 4 Make a U-turn and head towards your destination 5 Either continue through the intersection or turn right

How to use J-turns

  1. Stop and yield to vehicles in both lanes to your left
  2. Crossover into the lane in the median
  3. Yield to vehicles in both lanes to your right
  4. Make a U-turn and head towards your destination
  5. Either continue through the intersection or turn right

Learn more about J-turns on state highways

Future impacts

Information is tentative and subject to change once a contractor is on board in 2024.

Motorists

  • Lane closures and changes to access

Detour plans

Southbound Hwy 169
Detour for pipe work beneath southbound lanes at off peak hours

  • Detour: Hwy 23 Milaca, Co. Rd. 5, Co. Rd. 13 Long Siding

Co. Rd. 8 in Pease
Detour to construct J-turn

  • Main St. (Co. Rd. 8) closed west of Hwy 169
  • 105th St. (Co. Rd. 8) closed east Hwy 169

Pedestrians

  • Changes to access in Pease, follow road signs