Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Hwy 169—Milaca to Princeton

Includes Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 in Pease

Roadwork through mid-October


MnDOT will resurface both directions of Hwy 169 between Milaca and Princeton, replace pipes and reconstruct the access at Hwy 169 and Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 in Pease.

Current impacts

Motorists to encounter lane closures and off-road work during the full duration of this project.

J-turn at Co. Rd. 8 and Hwy 169 in Pease.
Hwy 169 roadwork Milaca to Princeton. Select map to enlarge

Hwy 169

Lane closures

Aug. 19 to mid-October
  • Both directions: segments of single-lane traffic to resurface Hwy 169 from south of Co. Rd. 36 in Milaca to one mile north of Co. Rd. 29 in Princeton
    • NB Hwy 169 open on Fridays
    • SB Hwy 169 open on Sundays

Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8

Detour

July 8 to late September
  • Main St. (Co. Rd. 8) closed west of Hwy 169
  • 105th St. (Co. Rd. 8) closed east Hwy 169

About this project

MnDOT will resurface both directions of Hwy 169 between Milaca and Princeton, replace pipes and reconstruct the access at Hwy 169 and Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 in Pease.

Summary of work

Pease

July 8 to late September

  • Reconstruct into a J-turn access at Hwy 169 and Mille Lacs Co. Rd. 8 (west of Hwy 169 is Main St.; east of Hwy 169 is 105th St.)
  • Replace stormwater pipes beneath road
  • Install overhead intersection lighting
  • Update pedestrian approaches and install a crossing in the median

Milaca to Princeton

July 29 to mid-October

  • Resurface both directions of Hwy 169 (mill and overlay asphalt) between half-mile south of Co. Rd. 36 in Milaca and one mile north of Co. Rd. 29/N Rum River Rd. in Princeton, includes shoulders and turn lanes
  • Replace or repair pipes beneath southbound Hwy 169:
    • Between 122nd St. and 120th St.
    • South of Co. Rd. 8
    • Between Co. Rd. 146 and Co. Rd. 12
    • Between Co. Rd. 12 and Co. Rd. 135

About J-turns

J-turn at Co. Rd. 8 and Hwy 169 in Pease.
J-turn access at Hwy 169 and Co. Rd. 8 in Pease. Select image to enlarge

Improve access and safety

J-turn intersections decrease fatalities and injuries caused by broadside crashes on four-lane divided highways, like Hwy 169. Drivers always make a right turn, followed by a J-turn. This eliminates the wait for a gap to cross both directions, which reduces potential conflicts.

J-turns were installed at these Hwy 169 intersections in 2020:

  • Co. Rd. 11 north of Milaca
  • Co. Rd. 12 south of Pease
  • Co. Rd. 13 in Long Siding

How to use J-turns

1 Stop and yield to vehicles in both lanes to your left 2 Crossover into the lane in the median 3 Yield to vehicles in both lanes to your right 4 Make a U-turn and head towards your destination 5 Either continue through the intersection or turn right

How to use J-turns

  1. Stop and yield to vehicles in both lanes to your left
  2. Crossover into the lane in the median
  3. Yield to vehicles in both lanes to your right
  4. Make a U-turn and head towards your destination
  5. Either continue through the intersection or turn right

Learn more about J-turns on state highways