Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Minnesota Department of Transportation encourages all motorists traveling during the 2023 Memorial Day holiday weekend to focus on safety when driving through work zones by slowing down and being attentive.

The three-day weekend is the unofficial kickoff for summer travel, and it’s expected that more drivers will be on the roads than previous weekends, which can cause traffic slowdowns or backups, especially near work zones.

Drivers traveling too fast and not paying attention are the main causes of work zone crashes. Each motorist can do their part to make the roads safer by following these safe driving tips:

•       Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
•       Drive undistracted. Avoid using phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating – while in work zones.
•       Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
•       Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at 511mn.org or download the free 511mn app at Google Play or the App Store.
•       Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
•       Do the zipper merge.
•       Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
•       Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
•       Expect work zones to constantly change. Day to day you could experience lane shifts, closures, narrower lanes, moving workers and vehicles.

In southeast Minnesota, MnDOT work zones include:

Southeast Minnesota construction projects

• Highway 52 from Zumbrota to Cannon Falls – Single lane in each direction in the northbound lanes, access closures and southbound ramp closures at Goodhue County Road 9, expect lane shifts and slow speeds during heavy traffic periods. No left turns in work zones.
• Highway 14 from Rochester to Byron – Lane closures in each direction, County Road 3 closed and detoured, reduced speeds, short delays possible
• Highway 30 in Chatfield – Detour in place for bridge replacements.
• Highway 57 in Kasson – Detour in place. Road closures between 2nd Street SW and 1st Street NE and at Highway 57 and 16th Street intersection
• Highway 61 at Withers Harbor Bridge in Red Wing – Single lane in each direction in southbound lanes, expect delays during heavy traffic periods, no left turns in work zone, detours for local roads, Hay Creek Trail closed and detoured
• Highway 218 from Blooming Prairie to Owatonna – Slow traffic through work zones. Where paving is occurring, motorists will encounter flaggers directing traffic and a pilot car leading traffic.