Fergus Falls Officials Brief Businesses on Major Exit 54 Reconstruction, Urge Cooperation

City officials and economic development leaders in Fergus Falls met with local business owners on March 3, 2026, to outline an impending major reconstruction project at Exit 54, the interchange of Interstate 94 and Highway 210, and to press for coordinated planning with MnDOT. The sessions, described by organizers as briefings for businesses most directly served by the interchange, emphasized that cooperation across public and private stakeholders will be critical as the project advances.

Officials said the work is a major reconstruction of the Exit 54 interchange, located where I-94 and Highway 210 meet on the west side of Fergus Falls. Attendees at the March 3 meeting included downtown and highway corridor business owners who rely on traffic from the interstate and state highway, and who sought details on timing and access during construction. Economic development leaders led the outreach to ensure the business community received the same baseline information from city staff and MnDOT representatives.

City economic development staff and MnDOT personnel focused on coordination of schedules, communications and permitting, according to briefing materials distributed at the session. The briefings were framed as an opportunity to align expectations between the city of Fergus Falls, MnDOT and private partners that will be affected by reconstruction activity at Exit 54. Organizers told business owners the goal was to reduce surprises that can disrupt customers, deliveries and staffing during major highway work.

Local business owners attending the March 3 briefing were urged to register for ongoing updates and to share site-specific concerns with city staff so plans for access and staging can reflect on-the-ground realities near Highway 210 and the I-94 ramps. Economic development leaders said they will compile business feedback gathered at the briefings to present to MnDOT project managers as plans are finalized for the interchange work.

As Fergus Falls moves from outreach to project execution, the cooperation between the city, MnDOT and private partners will shape traffic management and business access strategies for Exit 54. City and county economic leaders indicated the briefings that began March 3 are the first step in a series of coordinated communications aimed at keeping businesses informed as the reconstruction progresses.