Otter Tail County Plans Six Major Road, Bridge Projects for 2026
Two bridge replacements headline Otter Tail County's six-project 2026 road program, with construction set to begin this spring on routes serving Deer Creek, Bluffton, and four other communities.
A bridge over Bluff Creek near Deer Creek and a structure spanning the Leaf River near Bluffton are both slated for full replacement this year, leading a six-project road and bridge program the Otter Tail County Highway Department released last week as its 2026 major roadwork slate.
The two capital jobs represent the program's highest-stakes investments. The replacements on CSAH 76 and CH 143 address long-term public safety risks while protecting routes used by emergency responders, school buses, and commercial haulers in areas where alternative routes are limited.
The other four projects span a range of needs across the county. Near Parkers Prairie, crews will raise the grade on CSAH 6 between CSAH 65 and TH 29, a design fix intended to shield the road from seasonal flooding and accommodate heavy farm and industrial loads. CSAH 35 from CSAH 18 to CSAH 1 near Underwood is scheduled for full reconstruction. The Perham area will see CSAH 8 reconditioned from north of TH 10 to the east junction of CSAH 80, and CSAH 24 on the east side of Erhard is set for resurfacing.
Otter Tail County operates one of the largest county road systems in Minnesota, and the 2026 program reflects a deliberate mix of capital work and cost-effective preservation. Resurfacing in Erhard and reconditioning near Perham can extend pavement life significantly if completed before deterioration advances to the point where full reconstruction becomes unavoidable.
The program also includes countywide seal coat and crack-seal work, culvert maintenance, traffic marking, and Highway Safety Improvement Program installations such as edgeline striping and rumble stripes.
All project dates are provisional and weather-dependent. Staged work is expected to begin this spring and continue through the construction season, with sequencing subject to contractor schedules and permitting. Motorists should plan for lane closures, detours, and flagging operations; property owners near active work zones may face temporary interruptions to driveway access.
The Highway Department maintains an interactive project map and a road-status dashboard with near-real-time detour and closure information. Residents who depend on specific county routes for daily commutes or commercial deliveries can also reach the highway office at 218-998-8470 or hwy@ottertailcounty.gov.
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