Hwy 23 Gaps project ribbon cutting celebrates completion of the 3-year project

WILLMAR, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation, along with U.S. and state legislators, local elected officials, consultants, contractors, and community partners, celebrated the three-year Highway 23 Gaps project with a ribbon cutting celebration today.

South Gap update
The northbound and southbound two-lane sections of the South Gap (New London to Paynesville) will both be open on Monday, Oct. 14, eliminating head-to-head traffic. However, northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in two areas while crews finish closing the crossovers.

Access to County Road 2 from Highway 23 reopens today. All four lanes from New London to Paynesville are expected to be open by the end of next week, weather permitting.

Highway 23 expansion projects
The South Gap project expands seven miles of Highway 23 to four lanes, from New London to Paynesville. The project includes safety enhancements at intersections along the corridor and a pedestrian underpass near Hawick.

The South Gap project is part of the three-year Highway 23 Gaps expansion project which received funding through the Corridors of Commerce program in May 2018. In addition to the South Gap, the North Gap expansion of Highway 23 to four lanes from Paynesville to Richmond was completed in 2023. With the completion of the North Gap and South Gap projects, Highway 23 travelers are able to experience continuous four-lane travel from Willmar to St. Cloud and beyond.

Project benefits and cost
Benefits of the South Gap project include improved traffic flow and freight movement, as well as overall corridor performance, capacity, and safety. Mathiowetz Construction is the contractor for the South Gap project, and the cost is approximately $34.5 million.

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