BEMIDJI — 2025’s construction season is winding down, but Bemidjians can brace for more construction in the 2026 and 2027 seasons as the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to begin its side of the Highway 197 project.
Partnering with the city of Bemidji, MnDOT secured a federal transportation grant to help cover some of the project, but those funds were frozen early this year. They have since been released, but the earlier uncertainty around the funding caused the city and MnDOT to delay construction.
With the new roundabout almost complete near Bemidji Middle School, the city plans to construct two more roundabouts at the Westgate Shopping Center entrances on Hannah Avenue and Middle School Drive next summer, while MnDOT works on realigning Gillette Drive near L&M Fleet and rebuilding the Highway 71 intersection.
At a Thursday, Oct. 23, open house at MnDOT's district headquarters in Bemidji, project coordinator Matt Upgren said the 2026 detours will be short-term, with longer detours expected for 2027.
"Two- to three-week durations. There's going to be two of them when we're building that Highway 71 intersection," Upgren said.
"That's a pretty minor detour by our standards at MnDOT, here. The following year, in Year Two, that is going to be the more impactful detour when we're constructing the ... roundabout in front of Walmart and the roadway on either side."
MnDOT’s contractors will have a 24/7 business liaison to inform businesses and others using Bemidji’s regional airport or hospital about changing detours.
MnDOT public engagement officer for the district, TJ Melcher, said the project took four years of planning before getting to the design phase, with more meetings coming.
"As we get more into spring, we're going to start more of our outreach," Melcher said. "We'll have another open house. We'll have a lot more details just on what the staging plan is."
Between the city and MnDOT, the completed project will include six new roundabouts on the western segment of Highway 197 and its access roads.
More information on the project is available online.
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