Local News

MnDOT seeks feedback on completed Highway 169 project near Aitkin

KAXE

Published January 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM CST

Highway 169 between Hassman and the Mississippi River Bridge in Aitkin County now has a stronger concrete overlay material, wider asphalt shoulders, safety rumble strips, permanent striping and guardrail after reconstruction during the summer of 2023.

The state's department of transportation says public feedback from its survey will help it plan future projects.

AITKIN — The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on its completed Highway 169 project.

The 11-mile project between Aitkin to north of Hassman included road surface reconstruction, wider shoulders, longer turn lanes and a bridge replacement.

The two-year project, which wrapped up last year and included substantial detours, cost $36.2 million.

In a release, MnDOT stated survey feedback how the project went will help the agency plan future projects.

Wale Agboola

/

Red House Records

Chastity Brown brings music, meaning and community to Bemidji

Kari Hedlund

Chastity Brown returns to Northern Minnesota for Get Downtown with KBXE on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
John Bauer

/

KAXE

After 2+ weeks in a coma and near-fatal injuries, this young woman is a survivor

Patty Rohde was riding her bicycle near Crosslake on Sept. 12, 2023, when she was struck head-on by a vehicle. She and her dad Frank shared their story on the "KAXE Morning Show."
Lorie Shaull

/

KAXE

Heintzeman earns 60%, but margin narrows compared to recent elections

Megan Buffington

The Republican won all but 11 of 80 precincts in Senate District 6 in her April 29, 2025, special election victory. Seven precincts that voted red in 2022 flipped.
Contributed

/

lil artsy via Pexels

What's for Breakfast: Mushroom coffee with a side of Riverfest

Every Friday morning, we get to know one of our members on "What's for Breakfast." This week, we talked with KAXE volunteer Alyssa Ellyn from Grand Rapids.