I-94 Exit 54 near Fergus Falls closes through October for reconstruction

Drivers using Interstate 94 west of Fergus Falls need a new route: the Exit 54 ramps are closed through October, and traffic to and from Highway 210 is being funneled to County Road 1, also known as Tower Road, at Exit 55.

The closure took effect May 4 and is more than a routine lane restriction. For up to three nights, bridge demolition is scheduled from 8:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., and during those windows I-94 will close in both directions near the interchange while traffic is routed around the work area using the ramps. After demolition, the interchange ramps will stay closed 24/7 through the rest of the project.

For commuters, freight haulers and anyone trying to reach the west side of Fergus Falls, the change means longer trips and more turning points. Highway 210 will remain open for east-west traffic, but access to the interstate has shifted away from the direct connection at Exit 54. MnDOT has told businesses to steer customers, vendors, employees and suppliers to the Tower Road detour, a sign that the disruption reaches far beyond through traffic.

The project is part of a larger reconstruction of the west Highway 210 and I-94 junction, a corridor that connects Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County farms, local employers and medical and retail traffic moving in and out of town. MnDOT says the work will replace the existing two bridges with a single structure, build trails on both sides of Highway 210 for pedestrian and bicycle use, and add three roundabouts, including one at Redwood Lane. The westbound off-ramp will be rebuilt with a flatter approach, and the eastbound on-ramp will be realigned to make merging easier.

MnDOT laid out the schedule at a public open house April 23 at the AmericInn by Wyndham in Fergus Falls. Construction was expected to begin April 27, weather permitting, with lane and shoulder closures before the May 4 traffic switch. Park Construction of Minneapolis is the prime contractor on the $18.6 million job.

For now, the practical advice is simple: plan for Exit 55, expect delays around the interchange, and build extra time into any trip that depends on easy access to Highway 210 or I-94. In a county where the interstate is a daily lifeline, this closure will shape travel patterns well into October.