Highway 97 road safety improvement project in Forest Lake resumes March 23

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Motorists will encounter a Highway 97 closure and detour as crews begin the final year of a two-year project to improve traffic flow and safety in Forest Lake, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Crews will continue reconstructing Highway 97 and add turn lanes at specific locations, while also building a single-lane roundabout, constructing a multi-use trail, and installing raised medians throughout the corridor.

Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, March 23, Highway 97 will close between Everton Avenue and Highway 61, weather permitting. The closure will be in place through fall 2026.

Motorists can bypass the closure using the following detours:

Eastbound: Northbound Interstate 35, eastbound Highway 8, southbound Highway 61.
Westbound: Northbound Highway 61, westbound Highway 8, southbound I-35.
Southbound I-35 to Eastbound Highway 97: Southbound I-35, Broadway Avenue, northbound I-35, eastbound Highway 8 to southbound Highway 61.

Highway 97 will be open to traffic between I-35 and Everton Avenue. Local residential and business access within the closure zone will be maintained during construction.

This work is part of a two-year Highway 97 road improvement project between I-35 and Highway 61 to extend the usability and longevity of the pavement and improve ride quality for motorists. The work also aims to improve safety and traffic flow while providing better access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The first stage of the project work between Hornsby Street and Everton Avenue was completed in 2025.

All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule dependent and subject to change.

MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution and slow down in work zones where workers are present.

For more information about this project work or to sign up for email updates, visit the project website at: mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy97-forestlake.

For updated road condition information, visit www.511mn.org.

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