Flooding closes Highway 12 at two places east of Ortonville

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol have closed U.S. Highway 12 at approximately two miles east and at seven miles east of Ortonville due to flooding.

Traffic is detoured to Highway 75, Highway 7 and Highway 119. Highway 12 east of Ortonville will remain closed until further notice.

Motorists should plan accordingly.

When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.

Here are west central Minnesota road closures reported by MnDOT in Detroit Lakes. These state highways are closed until further notice:

*Highway 75 is closed near Kent. Traffic is detoured to Wilkin County Road 3 and Wilkin County Road 26.

*Highway 12 is closed approximately 2 miles east of Ortonville. Traffic is detoured to Highway 75, Highway 7 and Highway 119.

*Highway 12 is closed approximately 7 miles east of Ortonville at Horseshoe Lake. Traffic is detoured to Highway 75, Highway 7 and Highway 119.

Anyone who must travel in the West Central Minnesota area should follow these safe driving practices: www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/fl_during.shtm.

Log on to www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info/ for North Dakota current road conditions and http://www.safetravelusa.com/sd/ for South Dakota current road conditions.

For updated information, call 511 or click on www.511mn.org when traveling in any area of the state where potential flooding conditions exist. For weather and flood warnings, go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site www.noaawatch.gov/floods.php or listen to NOAA weather radio, watch the Sun Tribune Web site or local radio stations.