Detours on Highway 56 coming in a few weeks could serve as a preview for more extensive work planned for next year.

A detour will start on Highway 56 in Mower County when culvert replacement work begins Sept. 14, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

There will be two detours during the work, which will occur in two stages with the first starting Sept. 14.

Eastbound motorists east of Taopi will take Mower County Road 8 north to Mower County Road 11 east to Mower County Road 14 south where it connects with Highway 56 in LeRoy. The westbound detour is the same route, just in reverse.

Once that culvert work is completed, that detour will end and additional culvert work will start to the west. The detour for eastbound motorists is Mower County Road 5 south to Mower County Road 7 south to Mower County Road 6 east where it connects with Highway 56 just west of LeRoy.

The westbound detour is the same route in reverse.

The culvert replacement work is expected to be complete by mid-October.

Drivers will likely see longer detours on Highway 56 next summer for planned bridge replacements in Adams. Construction is expected to begin in mid-June 2016 and be completed in September 2016.

MnDOT will replace the bridge over Little Cedar River two miles west of Adams and a bridge over an unnamed stream west of Fifth Street in Adams. Both were constructed in 1948. As the transportation system ages, it needs more work and funds to keep it in good condition.

The work includes grading, paving and replacement of the bridges, as well as guardrail installation. The two bridges will have two 12-foot lanes and 8-foot shoulders. The bridge in Adams will also have a 6-foot sidewalk on the north side of the bridge.

For more, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/getconnected.