Why let I35 have all the fun?  As summer in the Northland approaches, the road repairs and construction are right there waiting.  I just received word that projects to build a new bridge over Highway 53 at Highway 33 and repair the northbound Highway 53 bridge over the Cloquet River in Independence begin May 8.

From the press release,  the following lane restrictions are scheduled:

May 8May 10
Motorists will encounter daytime single-lane closures while bypasses are constructed.

May 14May 15
The Highway 33 bridge will close and motorists will encounter a short detour. Motorists on southbound Highway 53 will be detoured onto southbound Highway 33 then County Road 7 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

May 16
The northbound lanes of Highway 53 will close. Traffic will be restricted to single-lane in each direction on the southbound lanes.

The projects are scheduled for completion in August 2012.  Make sure to allow extra time and follow the posted speed limits as fines double in construction zones.

For updated travel information on all Minnesota roads, call 511 or click on www.511mn.org.

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