Major Highway 55 road work begins April 12 in Brooten and Belgrade

Motorists will encounter lane or shoulder closures, as crews begin to reconstruct Highway 55 through the cities of Brooten and Belgrade in Stearns County, Monday, April 12.

Highway 55 will have multiple crews at work, as they reconstruct the asphalt road surface and adjacent entrances; replace curb/gutter and underground pipes; and update or add sidewalk and ramps.

Work, impacts in Brooten

Highway 55 between the Stearns/Pope county line and Roe Street in Brooten through late-May:

• April 12 through April 15: Both directions of Highway 55 to encounter single-lane closures to widen the road at School Avenue and prepare the work area between School Avenue and Railway Avenue.

• April 15 through April 26: Westbound Highway 55 will close and detour along Railway Avenue, Second Avenue and School Avenue. Eastbound Highway 55 will shift east of School Avenue to the north side to reconstruct the south side of the road. Expect access closures, follow signs.

• April 26 through May: Eastbound Highway 55 will close and detour along South Western Avenue and Roe Street. Westbound Highway 55 will continue to detour along Railway Avenue, Second Avenue and School Avenue.

Work, impacts in Belgrade

Highway 55 (Highway 71) between Langdon Avenue and Borgerding Avenue in Belgrade through late-May:

•  April 12 through April 23: Motorists will encounter flaggers with alternate one-way traffic as crew's set-up the work area and install pipes beneath Highway 55.

• April 23 through late-May: Both directions of Highway 55 will shift to the south side of the road to reconstruct the north side of Highway 55, which includes the westbound lane, shoulder and sidewalk.

Highway 55 will be open and maintained to those who live, work, shop or visit Brooten and Belgrade. However, expect changes and follow signs. Contact your destination ahead of time for best route.

For current Highway 55 project information, visit www.mndot.gov/d3/projects/h55stearns, or contact Mike Klasen, construction project manager, at 320-248-2294 or michael.klasen@state.mn.us.

Safety is MnDOT's number one priority. For our safety and yours, please stay out of closed or barricaded road or sidewalk areas, be alert for flaggers and be prepared to stop. Pedestrians will also have signed detours.

When complete in mid-July, the $2.9 million project will provide a smoother road surface and improve pedestrian and motorist safety in Brooten and Belgrade.

For current construction in central Minnesota, visit www.mndot.gov/d3/construct. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, call 5-1-1 (511mn.org).