Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass resurfacing project and detour start Aug. 4
WILLMAR, Minn. – A two-year project to resurface the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass gets underway Aug. 4, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The project will be completed in stages to minimize travel impacts and is scheduled to run through Sept. 19, 2026. A summary that includes traffic impacts for both years of the project is attached.
How travel will be impacted in 2025
- The Highway 23 Willmar bypass will be closed from County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- Traffic will be detoured Aug. 4 through Nov. 1, 2025
- Vehicle traffic will be routed to Highway 71 and County Road 3
- Semi-truck traffic will be routed to Highway 71 and Highway 7
- All four ramps at the Highway 23 Willmar bypass and County Road 5 will be closed
- All ramps at Willmar Avenue/County Road 23 will be closed for about one month, date to be determined
- Additional lane, shoulder, and ramp closures may occur
- Travelers are encouraged to follow the MnDOT approved detour routes for everyone’s safety
- Dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseeable circumstances
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 under bridges and median high-tension cables 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 under bridges and median high-tension cables along the project route
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
- For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store
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