Highway 169 construction between Milaca and Princeton starts July 8

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) plans to begin construction on Highway 169 between Milaca and Princeton starting with the installation of a J-turn in Pease.

MnDOT will resurface both directions of Highway 169 between Milaca and Princeton, replace pipes and reconstruct the access at Highway 169 and Mille Lacs County Road 8 in Pease. Work will require detours.

Pease

Starting July 8 to sometime mid-September, MnDOT will reconstruct access at Highway 169 and Mille Lacs County Road 8 (west of Highway 169 is Main Street; east of Highway 169 is 105th Street) into a J-turn.

J-turn intersections decrease fatalities and injuries caused by broadside crashes on four-lane divided highways, like Highway 169. Drivers always make a right turn, followed by a J-turn. This eliminates the wait for a gap to cross both directions, which reduces potential conflicts.

MnDOT also plans to replace stormwater pipes beneath road, install overhead intersection lighting, and update pedestrian approaches and install a crossing in the median.

The detours for this project are: County Road 5 and County Road 13 to access Main Street in Pease, and County Road 4 and County Road 13 to access 105th Street.

The total cost of this project is estimated at $1.7 million.

Milaca to Princeton

Starting July 29 until mid-October, MnDOT will resurface both directions of Highway 169 between a half-mile south of County Road 36 in Milaca and one mile north of County Road 29/Rum River Drive in Princeton. This will include mills, overlay asphalt, shoulders, and turn lanes. MnDOT will also replace or repair pipes beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 169.

The total estimated cost of this project is $7.2 million.

The detours for this project will be related to the pipe work beneath the southbound lanes at off peak hours and will be as follows: Highway 23 in Milaca, County Road 5, and County Road 13 in Long Siding.

For additional information about these projects and to sign-up for project updates, visit https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/projects/h169pease/.