Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass ramps close at Willmar Avenue Aug. 11
WILLMAR, Minn. – The exit and entrance ramps from Willmar Avenue/County Road 23 to the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass will close Aug. 11, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The closure is part of a two-year project to resurface the Willmar bypass. Crews will install a temporary crossover lane that will be used in 2026 to direct southbound traffic to the northbound lane so the southbound lane can be resurfaced.
Travelers should find alternate routes until the ramps reopen Oct. 24.
The Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass resurfacing project began Aug. 4. It is being completed in stages to minimize travel impacts and is scheduled to run through Sept. 19, 2026. An updated summary that includes traffic impacts for both years of the project is attached.
Current travel information
- The Highway 23 Willmar bypass is closed from County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- Traffic is detoured Aug. 4 through Nov. 1, 2025
- Vehicle traffic is routed to Highway 71 and County Road 3
- Semi-truck traffic is routed to Highway 71 and Highway 7
- All four ramps at the Highway 23 Willmar bypass and County Road 5 are closed
- Ramps at Willmar Avenue/County Road 23 will be closed Aug. 11 through Oct. 24, 2025
- Additional lane, shoulder, and ramp closures may occur
- Travelers are encouraged to follow the MnDOT approved detour routes for everyone’s safety
- Dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseeable circumstances
2025 project summary
- Resurface Highway 23 Willmar bypass from Kandiyohi County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- Replace existing asphalt with concrete pavement
- Replace culverts along the project route
- Update guardrails under bridges and median high-tension cables along the project route
Project benefits and cost
Benefits of the project include a smoother road surface, extended road life, improved drainage, and enhanced safety. Duininck, Inc., is the contractor, and the project cost is approximately $21.6 million.
Stay connected
- Learn more about the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass project at mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy71-23willmar.
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