About the Project
- 2025: Resurface Highway 23 Willmar bypass from Kandiyohi County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Hwy 71
- 2026: Resurface southbound lanes of the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass from southwest junction of Business Highway 71 to the northeast junction of Business Highway 71
- 2025-26: Replace existing asphalt with concrete pavement
- 2025-26: Update guardrails and median high tension cables
- 2025-26: Replace culverts
Traffic Impacts
Project Update: July 27, 2026
- Crews are concrete paving and preparing Stage 2 for opening to traffic.
2025: Stage 1
- The Hwy 23 Willmar bypass is closed from County Road 5 to the southwest junction of Highway 71 and Business Highway 71
- All four ramps at the Highway 23 Willmar bypass and County Road 5 are closed
- All ramps at the Willmar bypass and Willmar Ave/CR 23 are closed August through October 2025
- Vehicle traffic routed to Highway 71 and County Road 3
- Semi-truck traffic routed to Highway 71 and Highway 7
- The detour will be in place August through November 2025
- Click here to view a project map
- Stage 1 detours and closures removed November 2025
2026: Stage 2 - CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PHASE
- The south/westbound lane of the Highway 71/23 Willmar bypass will be closed.
- Traffic will be head to head on the north/eastbound lane.
- Click here to view a project map
2026: Stage 3
- The south/westbound lane of the Hyw 71/23 Willmar bypass will be closed.
- Traffic will be head to head on the north/eastbound lane.
- The Lakeland Dr. ramps/loops will be closed.
- Click here to view a project map