Bemidji's Highway 197 to Get Roundabouts, Trail in 2026 Reconstruction

Six roundabouts and a 10-foot multi-use trail will replace aging signals and crumbling infrastructure along Bemidji's Highway 197 corridor under a reconstruction project MnDOT included in its 2026 construction priorities, published March 31.

The project rebuilds the stretch between Hannah Avenue and Gillett Drive, targeting deteriorated pavement, storm sewer, curb and gutter, and sidewalks that have outlived their service life. MnDOT coordinated phasing with the City of Bemidji to prevent overlapping construction from stacking disruptions on the same corridor.

Stage 1, covering the segment between Gillett Drive NW and Highway 71, is scheduled for 2026, with additional stages running through 2027. Work will fall primarily within the May through October construction window each year.

Three of the six roundabouts will replace signalized intersections at Hannah Avenue, Middle School Drive, and the Menard's access point, with MnDOT and the City of Bemidji jointly responsible for the full complement of six. The roundabouts are designed to reduce the high-speed, angle collisions associated with traditional signalized intersections. Realignment of Gillett Drive NW, turn-lane improvements, and upgraded corridor lighting round out the scope.

The 10-foot trail, installed on both sides of the highway, brings pedestrian and bicycle access into ADA compliance along a route used by residents, shoppers, and students traveling to the nearby middle school.

Business owners along the corridor raised concerns about the project spanning two construction seasons and the effect on customer access and revenue. MnDOT outlined plans to hold the most disruptive closures to two to three weeks for critical concrete pours, and the coordinated phasing with the city is designed to keep parallel work on Middle School Drive and Hannah Avenue from compounding the disruption.

Project maps, phasing schedules, and project team contact information are available on MnDOT's Highway 197 project page for business owners and residents tracking construction timing.