Most roads are impassable in southwest Minnesota this morning
WILLMAR, Minn. – (8:00 a.m.) Following an evening of strong winds, and blowing and drifting snow which created blizzard conditions, combined with stranded vehicles, most state highways in southwest Minnesota are impassable this morning. Vehicles that were stranded during the blizzard require towing so that MnDOT can get to the roads and clear them. Travelers who ventured out on closed roads this morning and became stranded have made the situation worse.
“MnDOT’s goal today is to get one lane open,” said MnDOT District 8 Maintenance Superintendent Lonnie Hoffman, “and that will be a tall order on most roads.” Crews will start with high volume roads first, such as Highways 7, 71, 212, 23, and 15. Hoffman said that the lower volume roads are in tough shape until crews can get blowers to the sites. “We’re still working under challenging conditions as winds are still causing drifting, but we will do our best,” Hoffman said, “We’re throwing everything at it that we can.”
As the situation stands now, the road status will be unchanged throughout much of the day. The majority of state highways in the twelve counties of southwest Minnesota District 8 remain closed or in a No Travel Advised status. See the listings below. As roads are removed from No Travel Advised status or are reopened, they will be posted to 511mn.org.
The public is urged to stay off roadways in southwest Minnesota until they have been posted as reopened on 511mn.org. While a portion of roadway may appear okay to travel on, there are portions they could encounter that are hazardous, therefore all sections of the roadway are assigned with the travel advisory. MnDOT reminds everyone that it is illegal to travel on a closed road and if travelers require rescuing, they are liable for all related rescue costs.
State highways in these counties are closed
- Chippewa
- Kandiyohi (south and west of Willmar)
- Lac qui Parle (except Hwy 75 and roads west of Hwy 75, which are No Travel Advised)
- Lincoln (except Hwy 75 to Ivanhoe, Hwy 271, and Hwy 19 SD border to Ivanhoe, which are No Travel Advised)
- Lyon
- Murray
- Pipestone
- Redwood
- Renville
- Yellow Medicine (except Hwy 75 and Hwy 68 SD border to Canby, which are No Travel Advised)
No travel is advised in all or portions of these counties
- McLeod (except Hwy 212 Stewart to Glencoe which is Road Closed)
- Meeker (except Hwy 4 Grove City to Cosmos, and Hwy 7 Cosmos to Cedar Mills, which are Road Closed)
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