MnDOT will begin construction in downtown Grand Marais on Monday, May 18. Reconstruction work will begin on Hwy 61 near Broadway Avenue. A local detour will be put in place for regular traffic on 1st Avenue West and 2nd Street. All truck traffic will be detoured using County Highway 7 for the duration of the summer. Resurfacing and culvert work will take place on Hwy 61 later in the season. 

MnDOT will hold weekly virtual public meetings on Thursdays at 1pm via WebEx starting May 21, regularly update the project website, and send weekly email updates. To learn more about the project, connect to the public meeting, see maps, and sign up for the email updates visit: mndot.gov/d1/projects/hwy-61-grand-marais. 

MnDOT road work has been identified as a critical service in Gov. Tim Walz’s Stay at Home executive order. MnDOT is being as flexible as possible with schedules during this period of lower traffic volumes to keep projects moving forward and minimize the impact to motorists. Following guidance from state and federal health officials, and to prevent further spread of COVID-19, crews will maintain social distancing practices while working.

Important reminders for motorists regarding work zone safety:

• Slow down when approaching every work zone, then navigate through with care and caution.
• Stay alert; work zones constantly change.
• Watch for workers and slow moving equipment.
• Obey posted speed limits. Fine for a violation in a work zone is $300.
• Minimize distractions behind the wheel.
• Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

For more information on projects in northeast Minnesota, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/MnDOTnortheast and Twitter at @mndotnortheast. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit 511mn.org.