Highway 197 project moves into Stage 1B in Bemidji

Traffic on Highway 197 shifted onto newly built temporary lanes as the Bemidji corridor project entered Stage 1B, tightening travel through Paul Bunyan Drive between the L&M Fleet Supply entrance and U.S. Highway 71. MnDOT said motorists should expect lane closures, reduced speeds and delays during the transition, a change that will be felt immediately by commuters, shoppers and businesses along one of Bemidji’s busiest north-side routes.

MnDOT announced June 3 that the work would move into Stage 1B on Thursday, June 4, weather permitting, after the first stage had been completed. The agency said construction is being sequenced in coordinated stages with the City of Bemidji to maintain access as much as possible while the corridor is rebuilt.

That coordination matters because the project is not a simple resurfacing job. MnDOT has described Highway 197, also known locally as Paul Bunyan Drive, as an important business corridor, and the redesign is unfolding over several construction seasons. The April 22 project announcement said the work is planned in three phases during the 2026 and 2027 construction seasons, with MnDOT’s portion replacing the signalized intersections at Hannah Avenue, Middle School Drive and the Menards intersection with roundabouts.

The city’s 2026 work is centered on Hannah Avenue and Middle School Drive, where improvements are planned to improve safety and mobility for all users. That work includes roundabouts and new sidewalks. MnDOT says its 2027 portion will complete the multi-year project on Highway 197 between Hannah Avenue and Middle School Drive.

The project also includes realigning Gillette Drive Northwest to meet the new intersection, along with boulevard space, a multi-use trail on both sides of the highway and upgraded corridor lighting. Between MnDOT and the city, six roundabouts are planned on Highway 197 in Bemidji between 2025 and 2027, a sweeping reconstruction that will change how traffic moves through the corridor for years to come.

For now, the immediate story is the shift into Stage 1B. The first phase is done, the temporary lanes are in place, and the next stretch of work has begun. For drivers, that means slower trips and more caution through the construction zone. For businesses along Paul Bunyan Drive, it means another season of access changes as Bemidji’s main highway corridor is rebuilt around roundabouts, sidewalks and a new traffic pattern.