MnDOT to host July 10 open house for Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass resurfacing project
WILLMAR, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to attend an in-person construction open house on Thursday, July 10, to learn about the two-year Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass resurfacing project. The open house will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the MnDOT Conference Center, 2505 Transportation Rd., Willmar.
There are no formal presentations and people are invited to stop by at their convenience during open house hours. MnDOT staff will be available to answer questions about the construction phase of the project, including the timeline and detours.
To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodation to be present at the open house, call Janet Miller at 800-657-3774 or email janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us . Please request at least one week in advance.
2025 project summary
- Resurface Highway 23 Willmar bypass from Kandiyohi County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- Replace existing asphalt with concrete pavement
- Replace culverts along the project route
- Update guardrails along the project route
2026 project summary
- Resurface the southbound lanes of Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass from the southwest junction of Business Highway 71 to the northeast junction of Business Highway 71
- Replace existing asphalt with concrete pavement
- Replace culverts along the project route
- Update guardrails along the project route
2025 traffic impacts
- The Highway 23 Willmar bypass will be closed from County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- All four ramps at the Highway 23 Willmar bypass and County Road 5 will be closed
- Vehicle traffic will be routed to Highway 71 and County Road 3
- Semi-truck traffic will be routed to Highway 71 and Highway 7
- The detour will be in place Aug. 8 through Nov. 1, 2025
- Dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseeable circumstances
The project is scheduled to run from Aug. 4, 2025, through Sept. 19, 2026. Additional lane and ramp closures are required throughout the project timeline. A project area map and the 2025 detour are attached, and all traffic impact maps are available online at mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy71-23willmar.
Project benefits and cost
Benefits of the project include a smoother road surface, extended road life, improved drainage, and enhanced safety. Duininck, Inc., is the contractor, and the project cost is approximately $21.6 million.
Stay connected
- Learn more about the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass project at mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy71-23willmar.
- Join the Southwest Minnesota Facebook group for news, events, and updates
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