Photo by Deb Gau Signs along U.S. Highway 59 north of Garvin warned motorists that the road will be closed, while concrete replacement work is done between U.S. Highway 14 and Highway 30 in Murray County. MnDOT had originally planned to replace the highway in two segments — one near Garvin and Currie and one in Marshall — this year. However, the project is being scaled back, with the road sections in Marshall postponed.

WILLMAR — The U.S. Highway 59 concrete repair project in Lyon and Murray counties is being scaled back as crews encountered more repairs than were originally estimated, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

“The roadway had deteriorated from the bottom up in many places and the full extent of repair work wasn’t known until crews began removing the old concrete pavement,” the release from Public Affairs Coordinator Sandra Schlagel said.

The original project included removing and replacing deteriorated concrete along Highway 59 from US 14 to Highway 30, and from Highway 23 to Lyon County Road 6. Because of the funding issues, two road sections will be postponed. One of those sections is Highway 23 in Marshall to Lyon County Road 6. Highway 59 from 241st Street to 201st Street is the other delayed portion.

Three other sections will be fully or partially completed:

• Highway 59 from Highway 14 to Lyon County Road 14 through Garvin

• Highway 59 from Lyon County Road 14 to 241st Street

• Highway 59 from Highway 30 to 201st Street.

Highway 59 remains closed from Highway 14 to just north of Highway 30 and a detour remains in place while crews continue to complete repairs. The detour route uses Murray County roads 12, 29, Lyon County Road 5,and Highway 14.

Homes and businesses along Highway 59 will remain accessible during the project. People can access Lake Shetek using Murray County Road 48 from County Road 29 on the detour route. 

Work is expected to wrap up in October.