About the Project
- 2025: Resurface Hwy 23 Willmar bypass from CR 5 to southwest junction of Hwy 71 and Business Hwy 71
- 2026: Resurface SB lanes of Hwy 71/23 Willmar bypass from southwest junction of Business Hwy 71 to northeast junction of Business Hwy 71.
- 2025-26: Replace existing asphalt with concrete pavement
- 2025-26: Update guardrails and median high tension cables
- 2025-26: Replace culverts
Traffic Impacts
This project includes construction staging, lane closures, head-to-head traffic, temporary ramp accesses and closures, and a detour.
2025: Stage 1
- The Hwy 23 Willmar bypass is closed from CR 5 to the SW junction of Hwy 71 and Business Hwy 71
- All four ramps at the Hwy 23 Willmar bypass and CR 5 are closed
- All ramps at the Willmar bypass and Willmar Ave/CR 23 are closed Aug. 11-Oct. 24, 2025
- Vehicle traffic routed to Hwy 71 and CR 3
- Semi-truck traffic routed to Hwy 71 and Hwy 7
- The detour will be in place Aug. 4 - Nov. 1, 2025
- Click here to view a project map
- Stage 1 detours and closures have been removed - Nov. 15, 2025
2026: Stage 2
- The south/westbound lane of the Hwy 71/23 Willmar bypass will be closed.
- Traffic will be head to head on the north/eastbound lane.
- Click here to view a project map
2026: Stage 3
- The south/westbound lane of the Hyw 71/23 Willmar bypass will be closed.
- Traffic will be head to head on the north/eastbound lane.
- The Lakeland Dr. ramps/loops will be closed.
- Click here to view a project map
Project Update: May 8, 2026
This week marks the start of major project activity, with crews beginning to remove the top layer of pavement. They also removed existing guardrail, installed temporary guardrail, and used cutting equipment to remove specific pavement sections in preparation for approach panel repairs.