Highway 169 closes as detour begins May 11 north of Garrison
BAXTER, Minn. – After the fishing opener, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will close Highway 169 between Highway 18 and Pike Avenue in Garrison through mid-June.
A signed detour between Garrison and Bennettville (PNG) will use Highway 18, Highway 6 and Tame Fish Lake Road (County Road 14/11).
Local access will remain open in the work zone. However, travelers should expect changing entrances, flaggers directing stop-and-go traffic, and gravel or grooved surfaces. Plan for delays and use the detour to enter the area closest to your destination at Highway 18 or Pike Avenue.
Motorists can also expect periodic lane or shoulder closures and reduced speeds with crews working along the entire corridor during this project.
This closure marks the first phase of a six-month, $12.4 million project to improve five miles of Highway 169 from Crow Wing County Road 26 to Pike Avenue. Work includes resurfacing and a new roundabout at Highway 18 in Garrison.
During this closure, crews will:
- Resurface (mill and pave asphalt) north of Highway 18 to Pike Avenue
- Prepare work areas for later construction in Garrison, including a temporary roundabout for city access and shoulder widening at County Road 26
When lanes reopen in mid-October, travelers will experience a smoother road surface, updated infrastructure, and improved safety and traffic flow in the Garrison area.
Visit the Highway 169 Garrison project webpage for more information or to sign up for email updates.
# # #