Highway 61 reopens to traffic north of Lake City as construction nears completion

LAKE CITY, Minn. – The Highway 61 detour between Lake City and Red Wing has been removed and the road is open to traffic, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Motorists should be alert for construction work that will continue in the work zone over the next several weeks, including final paving and installation of guardrails, lighting, seeding, pavement markings/striping, rumble strips and aggregate shouldering. Flaggers will direct motorists through the areas where crews are working, so short traffic delays are possible. All project work is expected to be complete by early November.

This work is part of the project that is resurfacing approximately 10 miles of Highway 61, installing eight new light poles at four intersections and building nine turn lanes and two passing lanes between Lake City and 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.

Safety

Motorists may encounter lane closures or lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, equipment and other unexpected obstacles when driving near or through work zones. MnDOT advises motorists to:

Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
Go hands-free and minimize other distractions (e.g., don’t eat or drink while driving).
Follow posted speed limits; the fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
Avoid making lane changes within work zones.
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