North Business 71 intersection to open Tuesday

WILLMAR -- The safety improvement project at the intersection of Business 71, Kandiyohi County Road 24 and 23rd Street Northeast in Willmar is expected to be completed and the intersection open to traffic on Tuesday, weather permitting, according to a news release from the District 8 office in Willmar of the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Motorists have encountered lane closures and a detour since the project began on Sept. 27.

The new intersection design will improve safety by reducing the number of injury crashes by approximately 80 percent, according to MnDOT.

Northbound and southbound Business 71 traffic will have direct access to 23rd Street and County Road 24.

Access to Business 71 from County Road 24 and 23rd Street will be limited to right turns only.

County Road 24 traffic will have access to 23rd Street using a new U-turn located in the median of Business 71 near Civic Center Drive.

Signing will direct westbound 23rd Street traffic to Business 71 and County Road 24.

The median crossover has been eliminated.

The cost of the project was divided among MnDOT, Kandiyohi County and the City of Willmar.