Hwy 61 re-opens to traffic at Ski Road/296th Street intersection on Aug. 28 near Frontenac, closure at Ski Road/Hill Avenue intersection begins

LAKE CITY, Minn. – Highway 61 is scheduled to re-open to traffic Aug. 28 at the Ski Road/296th Street intersection near Frontenac, and the Ski Road/Hill Avenue intersection will close as crews begin constructing turn-lanes, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Passing lanes are being added in both directions at the Highway 61 and Ski Road/296th Street intersection to reduce congestion and allow for safer passing. The work is not fully complete yet, but the intersection will re-open on Aug. 28 and crews will continue construction of the passing lanes. The intersection north of that on Highway 61 at Ski Road/Hill Avenue will close starting on Aug. 28 for turn-lane construction and it will re-open in September.

Highway 61 remains closed to through traffic. Motorists who don't need to access properties in the work zone should use Goodhue County Road 5 in Lake City and Highway 58 in Red Wing to detour around the project site.

Traffic impacts

A Goodhue County Road 2 detour in Frontenac will allow access for residents and businesses as well as those trying to reach Frontenac State Park during construction.
To reach Mount Frontenac Golf Course during the Ski Road/Hill Avenue closure, motorists from Lake City can take Goodhue County Road 5, right on Goodhue County Road 2, left onto Highway 61 and left on Ski Road. Motorists from Red Wing can take Highway 58, left on Goodhue County Road 5, left on Goodhue County Road 2, left on Highway 61 and left on Ski Road.
Crews are anticipated to complete the first layer of resurfacing Highway 61 from Sevastopol Road/277th Avenue to Ski Road/Hill Avenue by Aug. 26. Crews will add the final layer of resurfacing in September. It will remain open for residents and people visiting businesses. Flaggers will direct motorists through the project area, so short traffic delays are possible.
The Wells Creek Bridge is expected to re-open to traffic mid-September when improvements are complete.
Bicyclists following the Mississippi River Trail will follow the same detour routes as vehicles.

This work is part of the project that is resurfacing approximately 10 miles of Highway 61 from Lake City to Red Wing. It also includes realigning some intersections to increase visibility, widening the road in multiple places to accommodate a bike lane, upgrading guardrails and completing bridge maintenance.

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