Highway 23 living snow fence prep work begins this week
WILLMAR, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will install more than 3.3 miles of living snow fence on the north side of Highway 23, with approximately half of the fence situated on each side of the Kandiyohi and Stearns County line, which is located between Hawick and Paynesville. The Highway 23 living snow fence project is made possible through special funding from the Minnesota Legislature. Plant materials will be native to Minnesota.
Crews will work in the right of way and traffic will not be impacted; however, drivers should watch for workers and slow-moving equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Prep work begins this week and continues through October, including the removal of volunteer vegetation, preliminary staking, and planting bed preparation. Next spring, crews will plant and mulch the beds.
A living snow fence can include trees, shrubs, native grasses and/or wildflowers to trap snow as it blows across fields, piling it up before it reaches a bridge or roadway.
Living snow fences bring multiple benefits to a roadside, including the capacity to:
- Prevent big snow drifts and icy roads
- Improve driver visibility
- Control soil erosion and reduce spring flooding
- Lessen environmental impact with less salt use, fewer truck trips and less fuel consumption
The Highway 23 living snow fence project cost is approximately $1.3 million, and Hoffman & McNamara Company is the contractor.
Stay connected
- Learn about studies and projects in southwest Minnesota at mndot.gov/d8/projects.
- For information on how MnDOT controls blowing and drifting snow using snow fencing, visit mndot.gov/environment/livingsnowfence
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