Well it's officially the 'other' season in Minnesota, construction season. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) put out a news release stating that northbound I-35 south of Owatonna will close at noon on March 15th in preparation for a nearby overnight bridge demolition that will detour traffic through 8am, March 16th. 

The Steele County Road 18 bridge will be demolished over two nights beginning March 14th I-35 southbound traffic will be detoured from 8pm-8am. The rest area will only be closed during the northbound closure which begins at noon March 15th. They will ensure that all traffic in the rest area has left before beginning any work however.

The detour drivers will be taking are as follows. The southbound detour is Highway 14 east to Steele County 45 south to Highway 30 west to I-35. The northbound detour route is in reverse. I-35 Exit 26 to Highway 30 east to Steele County 45 north to Highway 14 west back to I-35 where it joins in Owatonna.

The Steele County Road 18 bridge will be closed beginning March 12th in anticipation of the construction.

This project is apart of a larger project in which 10 bridges are being replaced over two years on I-35 (six bridges) and Highway 14 (four bridges).

Motorist interested in more information about the project can head to the MnDOT project website.

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