On Friday, October 11, 2024 the Highway 23 South Gap project was celebrated by U.S. and state legislators, local elected officials, consultants, contractors and community partners. Although this project was under construction for three years, the work to start the project began much earlier. With over six years of working on the project since it received funding through Corridors of Commerce program in May of 2018, this was a big celebration for all those involved!
Highway 23 Gap Projects Update
North Gap
In an effort to make a four-lane Highway 23 from Willmar to St. Cloud, the nine-mile North Gap Project was completed from Paynesville to Richmond, Minnesota. This project was officially completed on November 2, 2023 with final drainage repair being completed in May of 2024.
South Gap
The South Gap Project construction began from New London to Paynesville in 2023 and was recently completed in October of 2024. Both northbound and southbound two-lane sections were opened on October 14, 2024. Once crossovers are completed in October 2024, Highway 23 from New London to Richmond will be a four-lane section, eliminating head-to-head traffic.
4-Lanes for You
Completion of the South Gap project added an additional seven miles of four-lanes to the Highway 23 Corridor. This project also brought safety improvements to intersections along the seven-mile stretch and a safer pedestrian underpass in Hawick.
As MnDOT shared in their October 14, 2024 press release, "The South Gap project is part of the three-year Highway 23 Gaps expansion project which received funding through the Corridors of Commerce program in May 2018. In addition to the South Gap, the North Gap expansion of Highway 23 to four lanes from Paynesville to Richmond was completed in 2023. With the completion of the North Gap and South Gap projects, Highway 23 travelers are able to experience continuous four-lane travel from Willmar to St. Cloud and beyond."
Benefits to the Gap Projects Completion
Highway 23 Coalition believes in 4-lanes for you. Accomplishing a four-lane Highway 23 from Duluth, Minnesota to Sioux Falls, South Dakota has many benefits to those who travel and live on the corridor. Benefits we will see from the completion of the gap projects include improved traffic flow and freight movement, safety enhancements, better corridor performance and capacity. These projects were funded by the Corridors of Commerce program and were both completed by Mathiowetz Construction. The South Gap project's overall cost was $34.5 million and then North Gap project was $41.75 million.
To learn more about the Highway 23 Gap projects, visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation website's project page.