MnDOT to host June 13 open house in Dassel for 2024-25 Highway 12 Litchfield to Cokato project

WILLMAR, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to attend an in-person construction open house on Thursday, June 13, to learn about the upcoming two-year Highway 12 Litchfield to Cokato resurfacing and concrete repair project. The open house will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Dassel City Hall, 460 3rd St.

There are no formal presentations and people are invited to stop by at their convenience during open house hours. MnDOT staff and the contractor will be available to answer questions about the two-year construction phase of the project, including the timeline and detours.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodation to be present at the open house, call Janet Miller at 800-657-3774 or email janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us. Please request at least one week in advance.

2024 project summary: Litchfield to Dassel

Highway 12 will be resurfaced from Holcombe Avenue in Litchfield to east of Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin.
Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps will be upgraded to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards in Litchfield and Darwin.
New sidewalk will be created from Davis Avenue to Hubbard Avenue in Litchfield.
A culvert will be replaced at the county ditch 1.5 miles east of the Highway 12 and Meeker County Road 34 intersection in Litchfield.
A pedestrian push button station will be installed at Davis Street in Litchfield.
The concrete will be repaired, and asphalt shoulders will be replaced on Highway 12 from east of Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin through the Highway 15 intersection in Dassel.
The Darwin Rest Stop will be resurfaced, and ADA improvements made to sidewalks.

2025 project summary: Dassel to Cokato

The concrete will be repaired, and asphalt shoulders will be replaced from east of Highway 15 in Dassel to the end of the concrete section in Cokato.
Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps in Dassel will be upgraded to meet ADA standards.
Ramps along the trail from Dassel to Cokato will be upgraded to meet ADA standards.

Traffic impacts

Three detours will be required during separate phases of the project (see attached map).

July 8, 2024, Highway 12 will be closed from Litchfield to Dassel and a brief detour will be in place for culvert replacement work east of Litchfield, and concrete repair of the Highway 12 and Highway 15 intersection. Traffic will be routed on County Roads 34, 11, and 4. Work is expected to take two weeks.
July 22, 2024, Highway 12 will be closed from Darwin to Dassel. Traffic will be detoured to Highway 15 and County Rods 14 and 21 until October 4, 2024.
Highway 12 will be closed from Dassel to Cokato during construction in 2025. Traffic will be routed to Highway 15 and County Roads 21 and 3.
Construction dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseeable circumstances.

Project benefits and cost

Benefits of the project include a smoother road surface, improved drainage, and enhanced safety for people who walk and bike. Duininck, Inc., is the contractor, and the project cost is approximately $11.3 million.

Stay connected

Learn more about the Highway 12 project at mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy12litchtocokato.
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