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BAXTER — Motorists traveling in central Minnesota can expect short-term lane closures beginning June 13 as Road Weather Information Systems stations are installed at nine different locations.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, no detours will be required for this project. Work will be completed under traffic with flagging operations when lane closures are required for everyone’s safety.
The contractor is Design Electric and the project cost is $1.5 million and is scheduled to be complete by late October.
Road Weather Information Systems is an environmental sensor station in the field that is used to collect weather data such as atmospheric parameters, pavement conditions and visibility. MnDOT uses the information gathered as well as the camera images for maintenance decision support.
There are currently 139 Road Weather Information Systems throughout Minnesota, with an additional 19 systems to be added throughout the state by late October 2022.
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The information is also sent to the National Weather Service as well as Minnesota’s 511 traveler information system.
In addition to the installation of new stations in central Minnesota, there will also be new stations installed in northeastern Minnesota during this project.
Locations
The new station locations will be in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Stearns and Todd counties, including:
- Highway 23 near Richmond at milepost 187.8;
- Highway 47 near Isle at milepost 89.0;
- Highway 71 near Clarissa at milepost 197.5;
- Highway 169 near Farm Island at milepost 245.4;
- Highway 169 near Princeton at milepost 176.9;
- Highway 169 near Waukenabo at milepost 272.9;
- Highway 200 near Longville at milepost 144.0;
- Highway 210 near Motley at milepost 101.0; and
- Highway 371 near Nisswa at milepost 46.2.
