Hwy 23 North Gap detour lifts today; project complete
WILLMAR, Minn. – The main detour for the Highway 23 North Gap project will be lifted by mid-day, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. When the detour is removed, four-lane traffic on Highway 23 will open from Paynesville to Richmond.
The two-year North Gap project to expand nine miles of Highway 23 to four lanes, from Paynesville to Richmond, has now been completed. In addition to lane expansion, several intersections along Highway 23 have been reconfigured to improve sightlines, reduce potential crash points, and enhance safety.
Highway 23 expansion projects
The North Gap project completes the first section of the three-year Highway 23 Gaps expansion project which received funding through the Corridors of Commerce program in May 2018. The remaining section, known as the South Gap, expands Highway 23 to four lanes from New London to Paynesville, and the project is wrapping up its first year of construction. When the South Gap section is completed in 2024, Highway 23 travelers will be able to experience continuous four-lane travel from Willmar to Foley.
Project benefits and cost
Benefits of the North Gap project include improved traffic flow and freight movement, as well as overall corridor performance, capacity, and safety. Mathiowetz Construction was the contractor for the North Gap project, which cost $41.75 million.
###