Bridge Work To West Of Virginia To Impact Highway 53 & 169 Drivers

Drivers who travel Highways 53 and 169 on the Iron Range will want to know about a road construction project that will impact traffic for the next few months.

; most significant will be single lane closures during the scope of the work.  There will also be a bypass in place.

MNDOT says that the work being performed is multi-fold; Work crews will be removing temporary barriers along Highway 169 at the temporary bypass just west of the CN Railroad bridge. The contractor will also be working on Highway 53 beneath the Highway 169 bridge removing the existing guardrail and placing temporary concrete barriers, along with other staging activities.

Additionally, signal systems at the top of the ramps will be deactivated and physical stop signs will be in place.  An additional stop sign will also be placed at Hoover Road for westbound traffic on Highway 169.  A truck detour will also be in effect for truck drivers to use Hoover Road.

Starting on April 20, Highway 53 traffic will be re-routed during the daytime hours, utilizing the on and off ramps.  Motorists will encounter flaggers on the top of the ramps.  Additional lane closures will also occur along Highway 53.