A soggy start to June has slowed down a project on parts of Minnesota 65 in the North Metro.
“We were originally gonna start on this work in early June,” said MnDOT’s Kent Barnard. “Then rain kept delaying us each week.”
Despite the constant rain drops, MnDOT crews are squeezing in work on highway 65 when they can.
“We’re going to switch to head-to-head traffic on the northbound side of the roadway once the weather cooperates,” Barnard said. “We’re going to be replacing Coon Creek bridges beneath highway 65. We’re just a little bit south of 147th Avenue and Andover Boulevard.”
This major project will impact drivers from East Bethel to Spring Lake Park.
“We’re resurfacing about 16 1/2 miles from County Road 10 in Spring Lake Park all the way up to 217th in East Bethel,” Barnard said. “Then from 217th all the way up to 237th were putting in a cable median barrier. All total the project length is about 19 miles.”
Detours set up
MnDOT is making other improvements on 65 too.
“We’re also replacing the bridges out here,” Barnard said. “Quite a few culverts in this area. We’re doing some work on the drainage out here. We’re replacing some areas where we’ve got settlement of the pavement.”
MnDOT has set up a detour for cars and trucks to follow so delays can be minimized.
“We’d like to encourage people to slow down and drive carefully and find an alternate route if possible,” Barnard said. “Alternate routes could be 35, or highway 47, highway 10 depending upon where you’re going.”
On July 8 MnDOT crews will move construction to the north. A key part of Minnesota 65 is going to be shut down.
“The hard closure will be from 187th Lane up to Viking Boulevard which isn’t a very long distance,” Barnard said. “Traffic will be able to travel north on highway 65 or travel in that area south and there will be access fully to businesses and homes in that area.”
This project will finish in late July.
