Minnesota Department of Transportation

Downtown work goes underground

May 6, 2020

At the weekly Highway 61 reconstruction project progress report Tuesday, Dick Swenke, Rochester Sand and Gravel’s public information coordinator, provided an update on the work that took place last week and what’s coming in the week ahead. On the north end of the project between Central Point Road...

More detour modifications on the way

May 6, 2020

A semi tractor-trailer became stuck and needed a tow early Monday morning at the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Territorial Road. According to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, it was the second incident involving semis in that area since the Stage 1 detour went into effect for the Highway...

Stage 1 on April 27

Apr 30, 2020

Steve Brown of Lake City took this aerial photo of the Stage 1 area of the Highway 61 reconstruction project on April 27. At the weekly update meeting the next morning, Rochester Sand and Gravel public information officer Dick Swenke said all of the pavement had been milled and the concrete removed...

Detour sparks confusion, concern

Apr 30, 2020

With road construction taking place along two stretches of Highway 61 in Lake City, officials have fielded complaints of inadequate signage and extra traffic on city streets from drivers short-cutting the marked detours. Traffic increased along North High Street and South Oak Street, including...

Downtown highway work ahead of schedule

Apr 23, 2020

“We haven’t run into any roadblocks yet so we’re gaining ground on the project at this point,” Dick Swenke said Tuesday during the first weekly webinar on the Highway 61 reconstruction project. Swenke, the communications representative for contractor Rochester Sand and Gravel, was one of several...

Spring load restrictions end in area

Apr 15, 2020

Spring load restrictions ended Monday, April 13, on unrestricted state highways in the southeast and metro frost zones, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones and restricted routes can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Spring load restrictions are still in...

MnDOT explains load restrictions as they apply to Hwy. 61 project

Apr 8, 2020

Editor’s note: The Graphic asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for more information about spring weight restrictions and their impact on the timing of the Lake City Highway 61 reconstruction project. Their response is below. The spring road restrictions affect many roads in...

Update: Hwy. 61 detour delayed due to cold weather

Apr 8, 2020

Cold weather has delayed the first detour of the Hwy. 61 reconstruciton project The detour was supposed to begin Tuesday, April 14 as construction crews start work on the Hwy. 61 reconstruction project, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), but on Monday, April, 13,...

More signs of impending highway project

Apr 1, 2020

Road closed signs and silt fencing have appeared along the route of the upcoming Highway 61 reconstruction project this week. Rochester Sand and Gravel is the primary contractor on the project. Dick Swenke, the company’s public information officer for the project, said there has also been tree-...

Spring vehicle load limits go into effect

Mar 4, 2020

Winter truck load increases will end and spring load restrictions will begin Friday, March 6, at 12:01 a.m. on unrestricted state highways in the south, southeast, metro frost zones, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). The frost zones and restricted routes can be found...