Reminder: Detour, major delays start July 6 on Highway 34 between Detroit Lakes and Osage
DETROIT LAKES, Minn.—The Highway 34 resurfacing project, between County Road 29 east of Detroit Lakes to County Road 26/47 west of Osage, will begin on Thursday, July 6, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Starting July 6, the detour will be installed and work zone preparations will begin. Then, crews will start culvert work with intermittent closures on Highway 34 starting Monday, July 10.
Crews will begin the culvert work near County Road 29 (four corners). As they finish at the west location, the operations will move east. In the areas where culverts are being replaced, the road will be impassable and flaggers will direct local traffic on Highway 34 to alternate routes around the culvert sites. Motorists should expect long delays and be prepared to encounter multiple crews and various closures in the work zone.
Thru-traffic will be detoured to County Road 47, Highway 87 and County Road 29. Motorists who do not have a destination in the work zone must use the detour. From one end of the project to the other, the detour could add 20 extra miles to your drive; however, work zone delays on Highway 34 will also significantly impact travel time. Please plan accordingly.
Business and residential access will be maintained at all times. If you must use Highway 34 to access a cross street, you can still do so, but be aware of restrictions and major delays in the areas where crews are working (e.g. you may need to enter from the west instead of the east, or vice versa).
Paving is expected to start in August, along with the hard closure for the bridge replacement at the Shell River near Osage, planned for early August. Overall, construction is expected to wrap up by mid-October.
All schedules and work plans are subject to change at any time based on weather, contractor schedules or other unforeseen circumstances or issues.
This year, MnDOT will complete a 21-mile resurfacing project on Highway 34, from County Road 29 (four corners) to County Road 26/47 (old Highway 225). The project also includes culvert replacements and bridge replacement over the Shell River, west of Osage. Central Specialties, Inc., based in Alexandria, is the prime contractor for the $15.7 million project. For more information and to sign up for project email updates, visit the project website at mndot.gov/d4/projects/hwy34.
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