Motorists may encounter delays as Highway 10 and local roads in Rice undergo several changes beginning Monday.
Motorists can expect the following changes through mid-October. The closures are needed while crews construct the new ramps at eastbound Highway 10/County Road 2.
• Eastbound Highway 10 in Rice will become a single lane with traffic switched onto the new eastbound Highway 10 bridge.
• Westbound County Road 2 will close beneath the new Highway 10 bridges. A signed detour will follow westbound Highway 10, to County Road 31, to County Road 2.
• Both ramps between eastbound Highway 10 and County Road 2 will close. Motorists traveling eastbound Highway 10 into Rice will be directed to exit early at County Road 31, one mile before County Road 2.
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• The signals at Highway 10/County Road 2 and Highway 10/County Road 31 will be permanently removed.
In addition, the height restriction on County Road 2 at Highway 10 is in effect until Oct. 25. Farmers, freight haulers and heavy equipment operators with high loads should be aware that County Road 2 beneath the new bridges has a temporary over-height limit of 15 feet.
The closures and height restriction are needed as part of the Highway 10/County Road 2 interchange project. When complete later this year, the project will increase safety and mobility by replacing the current intersection with an interchange, create flow-through traffic for all four Highway 10 lanes through Rice, extend acceleration lanes and improve local roads and utilities.
MnDOT, the city of Rice and Benton County worked together to develop a cost-effective project that will improve county and local infrastructure and create a more efficient transportation system.
For detour maps or more project information, visit www.mndot.gov/d3/hwy10rice/index.html .
