The Minnesota Department of Transportation began clearing trees and brush within the state right-of-way in central Minnesota, including Highway 371 in the Brainerd lakes area in Crow Wing County.
Local projects include Business Highway 371, from Barrows to Brainerd, to reconstruct or resurface and improve access; and Highway 371, in the Brainerd lakes area, to improve access from Gull Lake Dam Road to Green Gables Road.
Motorists may encounter shoulder closures, lane shifts, or flaggers as crews work along the road at various locations. All work will be complete by March 31.
The tree cutting and brush removal helps clear areas for construction in 2022 as well as improve areas for drainage once the construction work is completed. Removal work takes place in the winter months to ensure the seasonal nesting patterns of bats are not disrupted.
Expect tree and debris clearing at these additional known 2022 project locations:
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- Highway 23 from Foley to Milaca, Benton and Mille Lacs counties, to resurface/reconstruct and improve access and drainage, includes a roundabout in Foley.
- Highway 23 from east of Paynesville to Richmond, Stearns County, to expand to a four-lane highway.
- Highway 65 in Mora, Kanabec County, to reconstruct the Snake River bridge and install a multi-use trail.
- Highway 169/210 from Aitkin to north of Hassman, Aitkin County, to widen shoulders, improve drainage and reconstruct the road surface.
- Highway 169 in Elk River, Sherburne County, to construct a freeway system with four interchanges.
Motorists are asked to watch for crews working along the MnDOT right-of-way, slow down and obey traffic laws. Cleared trees will be recycled and used for mulch and erosion control throughout the project area. Learn more about MnDOT’s tree guidelines at www.mndot.gov/roadsides/vegetation/trees .
For more information on these projects in central Minnesota, visit
www.mndot.gov/d3/projects
. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, call 5-1-1 or visit
www.511mn.org
.
