Two of three ramps connecting Minnesota Highway 23 to Kandiyohi County Road 5 have been completed as of Sept. 13, 2023. Construction has begun on final ramp.
Original article published September 13, 2023 by West Central Tribune staff.
WILLMAR — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced the opening of two of the three new ramps built along state Highway 23 and Kandiyohi County Road 5 as part of the access project in Willmar.
Of the three ramps involved in the project, the southwest and northeast ramps opened Sept. 13. Construction has begun on the final ramp on the northwest. A ramp is already in place at the southeast corner of the intersection.
Drivers are now able to access the Highway 23 and Kandiyohi County Road 5 intersection from the two newly opened ramps. Drivers are no longer able to access 19th Avenue Southwest from westbound or eastbound Highway 23, and must instead use the exit ramps.
According to MnDOT, the project, once completed, will eliminate the westbound Highway 23 right turn from 19th Avenue Southwest, but the westbound access remains open for now.
Once the new ramps are completed, Highway 23 will be resurfaced from the west end of the project to the east end. The $2.5 million project by Duininck Inc. is expected to be finished by Oct. 6.