MnDOT closes Hwy 71 south junction for grading near Hillcrest Drive

MnDOT closed the south junction of Hwy 71 near Hillcrest Drive for grading, forcing through traffic between Turtle River and Tenstrike onto the posted detour while crews worked the corridor from Beltrami County roads 23 to 29. The closure leaves the highway open for local access, but anyone trying to move straight through the work zone has to go around it.

Drivers with no destination on Hwy 71 should stay off the closed stretch and follow the detour rather than trying to cut through the construction zone. Residences and businesses along the highway remain reachable, but travelers should expect workers, trucks and heavy equipment in the area, and slow-moving farm equipment has been sharing the detour at times. A violation in a work zone carries a $300 fine.

The closure is part of a broader summer reconstruction of Hwy 71 between Turtle River and Tenstrike that began June 1 and is expected to finish by October, weather permitting. The road needs rebuilding because of aging infrastructure. Knife River Materials is the prime contractor on the $8.8 million project, which includes pavement reconstruction, a southbound bypass lane at Turtle River Lake Road and entrance culvert replacements.

The work is intended to deliver a safer roadway, improved drainage and a smoother, longer-lasting driving surface. Before construction started, project staff met with residents May 19 at Turtle River Town Hall in Bemidji to answer questions and explain the highway work and other area projects. Travelers are directed to the signed detour while the rebuilding continues north of Bemidji.