Pine County Road Work On Highway 70 Starts May 18

Drivers near Rock Creek that might take the HIghway 70 shortcut to Wisconsin will need to find an alternative route for a while.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced a resurfacing project for that stretch of highway that's scheduled to start on Monday, May 18.

Nine miles will see new surface in the process.  In addition, road crews will perform the following updates:

• Subgrade corrections to improve road strength
• Culvert extensions and other drainage improvements
• Improved sight distances
• New turn-lanes at: County Road 4/106 – right-turn/bypass-lane, County Road 3 – right-turn-lane, Country View Lane – right-turn-lane
• County Road 110 intersection – Improvements to traffic operations will include modifications to intersection signing, and pavement markings.

Beginning May 26, Highway 70 traffic will be detoured between Highway 61 and County Road 3. Signs will mark the detour route. The detour will be in place until August 1.

The project will be divided into three work areas. Work in work area 2, from County Road 3 (Maple Avenue) to 2.1 miles east of County Road 3 will begin July 6. All work on the project is scheduled to be finished in mid-October 2015.

The completed project will provide motorists with a smoother, safer road surface, improved drainage and safety improvements.