Final year of Highway 12 Litchfield to Cokato project starts June 9

WILLMAR, Minn. – The final year of construction for the two-year Highway 12 Litchfield to Cokato resurfacing and concrete repair project gets underway June 9, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Traffic impacts

A detour will be in place from June 9 until the project’s completion, scheduled for Aug. 15, 2025 (see map below).

Highway 12 will be closed to through traffic from Dassel to Cokato.
Through traffic will be routed to Highway 15 and County Roads 21 and 3.
Highway 12 will be accessible to local homes and businesses. To provide access, only one lane will be worked on at a time, starting from west to east.
Construction dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseeable circumstances.

2024 project summary: Litchfield to Dassel – COMPLETED

Highway 12 was resurfaced from Holcombe Avenue in Litchfield to east of Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin.
Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps were upgraded to improve accessibility in Litchfield and Darwin.
New sidewalk was created from Davis Avenue to Hubbard Avenue in Litchfield.
A culvert was replaced at the county ditch 1.5 miles east of the Highway 12 and Meeker County Road 34 intersection in Litchfield.
A pedestrian push button station was installed at Davis Street in Litchfield.
The concrete was repaired, and asphalt shoulders were replaced on Highway 12 from east of Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin through the Highway 15 intersection in Dassel.
The Darwin Rest Stop was resurfaced, and improvements made to sidewalks.

2025 project summary: Dassel to Cokato

The concrete will be repaired, and asphalt shoulders will be replaced from east of Highway 15 in Dassel to the end of the concrete section in Cokato.
Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps in Dassel will be upgraded to improve accessibility.
Ramps along the trail from Dassel to Cokato will be upgraded to improve accessibility.

Project benefits and cost

Benefits of the project include a smoother road surface, improved drainage, and improved accessibility and enhanced safety for pedestrians. Duininck, Inc., is the contractor, and the project cost is approximately $11.3 million.
Stay connected

Learn more about the Highway 12 project at mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy12litchtocokato.
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