Two projects on I-35 – one near Hinckley, the other north of Moose Lake – will pose challenges to northbound travellers in days ahead, according to MnDOT officials.

Highway 23 ramps closed

The on- and off-ramps at the I-35/Highway 23 Interchange (#180) just south of Hinckley are scheduled to close Tuesday, July 27. The ramps will remain closed for about ten days, weather permitting.

“We’ve had that Highway 23 under reconstruction for quite a while,” said MnDOT Special Assistant to the District 1 Engineer John Bray. “The new overpass is now built, so now we’re going to be rebuilding the new ramps. They’ll close for 10 days, and the contractor will hit all four ramps simultaneously, and they should have it done.”

Signed detour routes will be posted using Pine County Highway 61, Highway 48 and the I-35 Interchange (#183).

This is the final phase of the $1.6 million reconstruction of the freeway interchange. The project is being built by Redstone Construction Company of Mora, Minnesota.

- Moose Lake to Mahtowa

Traffic bottlenecks and significant delays on Interstate 35 between Moose Lake and Mahtowa are likely as crews begin freeway repairs on Monday, August 2.

Traffic on I-35 between Moose Lake and Mahtowa will be single-lane starting on Aug. 2 and throughout August, according to Bray. Delays are probable, and local drivers should use local roads to avoid bottlenecks.

Bray said that MnDOT changed the start time of the project because of traffic expected from the Tall Ships Duluth festival July 28-Aug. 3.

“They’re expecting something in excess of 100,000 people for that week-long event ... and most are from the Twin Cities,” explained Bray. “When we merge everything into single-lane traffic – head to head – if you get a whale of a lot of traffic coming up during that week you could have some real problems.”

There will also be freeway ramp closures at the I-35/Highway 73 interchange (Ramps #214) south of Moose Lake. The exit from southbound I-35 and the entrance to I-35 northbound will be closed for reconstruction for about eleven days. MnDOT recommends using Interchange #216 as an alternate route.

During this same period, the northbound entrance at the Carlton County Highway 6/I-35 interchange (Ramps #220) will close for about four days for repairs. The recommended alternate route is via Carlton County Roads 140, 61, 4 and Interchange #227.

MnDOT reports that there will also be an approximate week-long closure in August of the William A. Culkin Memorial Highway Rest Area, located along northbound I-35 near Mahtowa. The rest stop is scheduled to open before the Labor Day holiday weekend.

For further information regarding this major transportation improvement investment visit: www.dot.state.mn.us. For real-time traveler information anywhere in Minnesota visit 511 or log onto www.511mn.org.

Hoffman Construction Company of Black River Falls, Wisconsin (www.hoffmanconstructionco.com ) is constructing this $3.9 million transportation improvement project for District 1 of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT).

Bray emphasized the need for driver safety and vigilance on the highway during construction season, especially in head-to-head traffic while contractors are out on the road.

“Drivers only get one chance, and if they waste that chance doing something stupid, they could regret it for the rest of their lives,” said Bray.