MnDOT to improve safety with a new roundabout on Highway 169 and 27 north of Onamia
Prep-work begins May 18
BAXTER, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin a three-month project to improve safety and access with a new roundabout at the north junction of Highway 27 and Highway 169 north of Onamia, Mille Lacs County.
The intersection area has a history of severe crashes, and the new roundabout is designed to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by lowering vehicle speeds and cutting down on high-risk turning movements. While roundabouts may feel unfamiliar to some drivers, they have repeatedly shown strong safety benefits across Minnesota and the nation.
Prep-work begins May 18 as crews mobilize equipment, install traffic control devices, widen shoulders and prepare work areas. Motorists should expect segments of lane and shoulder closures and reduced speeds throughout the area.
Project highlights
- Install a four-legged roundabout at the intersection of Highway 27, Highway 169 and the west Frontage Road
- Reconstruct adjacent entrances:
- Realign Mille Lacs County Road 35 (Twilight Road) to and from westbound Highway 27
- Install a right in-out entrance at the Veterans Club on eastbound Highway 27
- Install concrete median with 3/4 accesses to and from Highway 169
- Install pedestrian crosswalks and approaches
Highway 27 access closes, detours
After the Memorial Day weekend, access to and from Highway 27 at the intersection will close to construct the new roundabout. Use the signed detour along Mille Lacs County Road 23 (Stevens Road) (PNG) to reach destinations along Highway 27.
Highway 169 will remain open for through traffic, but motorists should be prepared for lane shifts and narrow lanes with no shoulders. Traffic will shift to either side of the work zone as construction progresses. Be prepared to slow down and stop at busy times, especially recreational weekend peaks.
Local access will remain open, but travelers should expect changing entrances, follow signs.
Landwehr Construction is the prime contractor for the $4.5 million project. When completed in late August, the roundabout will enhance safety, reduce speeds through the area, maintain steady traffic flow and better accommodate travel needs at the intersection.
Visit the project webpage for current impacts, more details, project maps and contacts at mndot.gov/d3/projects/onamia.
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