Members of the community were invited to the Highway 23 South Gap Open House on Monday, July 25, 2022 at Peace Lutheran Church from 5:00 to 7:00PM in New London. A short presentation was held at 5:15PM by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. There were 70 people that attended the event to learn more about the Highway 23 South Gap project.
Detour Information
Construction is slated to start during the Spring of 2023. The Highway 23 South Gap project is the segment of Hwy 23 between Willmar and Interstate 94 is a distance of approximately 53 miles. Of these 53 miles, all but 16 miles have been constructed as a four lane roadway. This gap project will also focus on safety improvements needed along this section of the corridor. As the project begins, there will be detours occurring throughout the route.
Work Zone Reminders
No one appreciates a detour, especially when it adds time into your travel. We all look forward to the future 4-lane section added to Highway 23! However, in order for the road crews to get the project done as fast and safely as possible, please remember to keep the following points top of mind with any construction. The men and women working on the road want to go home safely to their friends and families as well.
- Slow down when approaching every work zone
- Never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones
- Stay alert; watch for workers and slow-moving equipment
- Obey posted speed limits; fine for a work zone violation is $300
- Minimize distractions behind the wheel
- Be patient and expect delays, especially during peak travel times
Additional Information on the South Gap Project
The environmental review for this project began in August of 2014. By late summer/early fall of 2014, all surveys, field reviews, location studies and data was gathered. In May of 2018, $94.5 million from the Corridors of Commerce funding was received for the North and South Gap projects. This project has taken a lot of work and funding to make this happen. Please join us in thanking all of those involved in making this project possible.
For additional information about the Highway 23 South Gap-New London to Paynesville project, check out the Minnesota Department of Transportation's website.