Watch for workers on Hwy 4 north of Sleepy Eye and Hwy 62 west of Windom

Tree removal to begin March 13 in preparation for erosion control projects

MANKATO, Minn. — Event... was announced by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Motorists are advised to use caution on Hwy 4 near Fort Ridgley Creek between Sleepy Eye and Fairfax and Hwy 62 near the Lake Heron outlet west of Windom starting Monday, March 13, weather permitting, as workers begin removing trees in preparation for rip rap (rock) installation later this summer, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

There will be intermittent shoulder closures, and a passing lane closure is anticipated at the Hwy 4 site. The work is expected to last approximately two weeks. Motorists should remove distractions and be aware of workers in the area.

The tree removal is preliminary work for the installation of rip rap later this summer to prevent erosion in these areas and is being performed in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources. By law, the trees need to be removed before protected bats make their homes.

MnDOT will send another announcement prior to the actual start of the installation of the rip rap.

Subsurface, Inc. is the primary contractor for this project.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store. Follow us on Twitter @mndotscentral.

Work zone reminders

Drive the speed limit. It helps create a consistent, more predictable traffic flow for everyone.
Don’t drive distracted. Drivers need to be alert especially in work zones, which constantly change due to lane shifts, closures and moving workers and vehicles.
Move over to give workers room to safely complete their work.
Avoid unnecessary lane changes.
Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

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