Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Washington St.—Brainerd

Hwy 210 from Baxter Dr. to Pine Shores Rd., Crow Wing County

Two-year look ahead

The Washington St. project will take two full construction seasons to complete from spring 2026 to fall 2027.

Traffic impacts, work plans

Overall, motorists will encounter changes as they navigate through Brainerd. Detours will be necessary to work beneath the road and upgrade the Mississippi River bridge.

Brainerd is open

Access to those that live, work and visit areas along the project will be open and maintained at all times. However, expect changes:

  • Use of a side streets, alley or back/side entrances
  • Expect gravel surfaces or temporary entrances
  • Pedestrians will have sidewalk closures with detours (walk adjacent side of road)
  • Plan ahead and consider alternatives for you, your family, co-workers and businesses

Off-road work to occur at anytime along this project.

2026 work east to west

Mid-April to late October

Crews will work east to west on Hwy 210 from Pine Shores Rd. to Kingwood St. in 2026, which includes the east, mall and railyard segments.

Hwy 210 work areas in 2026
2026 work areas on Hwy 210/Washington St. Pine Shores Rd. to Kingwood St. Select map image (PNG) to enlarge

Work highlights

  • Construct two new roundabouts
  • East segment will be resurfaced
  • Update city utilities and sidewalks

Impacts by segment

  • East - Pine Shores Rd. to 10th Ave. NE - one lane each way
  • Mall - 10th Ave. NE to Fifth Ave. NE - close, detour
  • Railyard - Fifth Ave. NE to Kingwood St. - close, detour
  • Sidewalks - detour, follow signs

The contractor will continue to work westward to Eighth St. if time allows. All lanes and accesses on Hwy 210 will open over the 2026-2027 winter season.

Detour plans

2026 work on this project will require segments of road closures with signed detours to work beneath the road and on the Hwy 210 bridge.

Year
Segment
Closed
Detour maps
Until mid- May 2026 East, Mall, Railyard Hwy 210 work zone ; access changes, single-lane closures - follow road signs

Prep work, lane closures on area roads as crews prepare the work zone
Mid-May - early August 2026 Mall

Hwy 210 closed 10th Ave. NE to 5th Ave. NE to construct roundabouts

10th Ave. NE access closed north of westbound Hwy 210

Hwy 210 through traffic detour (PNG): 10th Ave. NE and Hwy 25

  • Local access only: 4th Ave. NE and E St. NE

Truck detour for CR 3 closure at Hwy 210 (PNG):

  • Hwy 210, 10th Ave. NE, 4th St. NW, Beaver Dam Rd. and CR 49/Wise Rd.
  • Note: Routes chosen to handle semi-trailer or longer vehicles, turn radius in the area
Early August - late October 2026 Railyard Hwy 210 closed 5th St. NE to Kingwood St. to reconstruct road and install watermain

Hwy 210 railyard detour (PNG):

  • Eastbound: S 6th St./Hwy 371B, Oak St., Hwy 25 back to Hwy 210
  • Westbound: Hwy 25, Oak St., S 8th St back to Hwy 210

Regional and truck detours: Avoid delays and use these signed through traffic/truck routes around the Brainerd work zone.

2027 work west to east

Spring-fall

Crews will reconstruct west to east on Hwy 210 from west of Baxter Dr. to Kingwood St. in 2027, which includes the west, bridge and downtown segments.

Hwy 210 work areas in 2026
2027 work areas on Hwy 210/Washington St. Baxter Dr. to Kingwood St. Select map image (PNG) to enlarge

Work highlights

  • Resurface west segment
  • Reconstruct road surface
    • Includes signals, city underground utilities and sidewalks
  • Update the Mississippi River bridge, includes approaches, drainage structures and wider sidewalks

Impacts by segment

  • West - one lane each way
  • Bridge - detour
  • Downtown - detour
  • Sidewalks - detour

All lanes and accesses on Hwy 210 will open over the 2027-2028 winter season. Any remaining wrap-up work will occur in 2028.

Detour plans

2027 work on this project will require segments of road closures with signed detours to work beneath the road and on the Hwy 210 bridge.

Year
Segment
Closed
Detour maps
2027 Bridge Hwy 210 closed NW 4th St. to E River Rd. to reconstruct road, update underground drainage- includes Mississippi River bridge crossing

Hwy 210 through traffic detour (PNG): Cypress Dr., College Dr., 4th St. to Hwy 371B/S 6th St.

Note: Laurel St. bridge open to local traffic only, includes emergency services
2027 Downtown

Hwy 210 closed E River Rd. to S 6th St. to reconstruct road

Hwy 210 through traffic detour (PNG): Cypress Dr., College Dr., 4th St. to Hwy 371B/S 6th St.
2027 Downtown Hwy 210 closed between S 6th St./Hwy 371B and Kingwood St. to reconstruct road Hwy 210 through traffic detour (PNG): Hwy 371B, S 6th St., Oak St. and SE 13th St./CR 45
2027 - TBD Mall

Hwy 25 closed at Hwy 210 to east of 10th Ave. NE to reconstruct connections

 Hwy 25 detour (PNG): Oak St., SE 13th St./CR 45 and Hwy 210

**All information is tentative and subject to change until contractor is on board. Materials, weather and unexpected items found beneath the road can also change schedules.