Highway 10/71/29 Projects

Major road construction projects will impact Hwy 71, Hwy 29, and Hwy 10 in Wadena from 2025-2027. These projects are managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Below, you’ll find helpful links to MnDOT’s official project pages to stay informed about timelines, detours, and updates.

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Hospital Access Routes

Hwy 10 eastbound: Proceed on Hwy 10 as normal
Hwy 10 westbound: Use 2nd St NW to Greenwood Ave to Co Rd 92
Hwy 71 southbound: Use Juniper Ave to 2nd St NW to Greenwood Ave to Co Rd 92
Hwy 71 northbound: Use Hwy 10 to 2nd St NW to Greenwood Ave to Co Rd 92
Hwy 29 Traffic: Use Co Rd 75 to Hwy 10

Hospital Access Routes - Wadena Road Project

Work Overview and Timeline

The link below provides maps, construction schedules, traffic impacts, detours, and planned improvements for Highways 10, 71, and 29. as well as a tentative schedule for where work will be completed and when.

The Utility Extension Project on Hwy 10/9th St between the county fairgrounds and Astera Health will begin on April 28th, 2025. This project will be relocating and extending sanitary sewer lines and the water distribution system. There are no detours or road closures associated with this project. Work is estimated to be completed by June 20th, 2025. To view Hwy 10 Utility Expansion Newsletter, click the link below.

🔗Highway 10 West Expansion Utility Replacement - Project Newsletter

Business Maps

To support our local businesses during the highway construction project, we are sharing updated business directory maps. These maps show how to access businesses within the construction zones and will be updated as project phases change.

HWY 10 Business Map

HWY 71 East Business Map

HWY 71 West Business Map

Hwy 71/29

This project focuses on improvements along Hwy 71/Jefferson St. and Hwy 29/Colfax Ave. S in Wadena. MnDOT is managing the project details, including construction timelines, detour routes, and traffic impact information. The link to the official MnDOT project page with all the details is below.

7-3 UPDATE: Detour will start on Monday, July 7th 2025. Crews will first prepare work areas and set up the detour route, then close Hwy 71 between Hwy 10 and Juniper Ave. to work on underground utilities, reconstruct the road, remove the pedestrian tunnel at the old hospital and update sidewalks.

7-11 UPDATE: As part of the detour, the Juniper Ave and 2nd St NW intersection is an all-way stop. There are rumble strips alerting drivers to the new stop signs. Please use caution when approaching this area.

Detour Route - Highway 71

🔗MnDOT 71/29 Project Page

Layout Maps:

71 North of Hwy 10

71 South of Hwy 10

Hwy 29 in Wadena

Hwy 10

Highway 10 will also undergo significant improvements, they will expand Hwy 10 to four lanes, two in each direction, from west of Wadena at 620th Ave., Otter Tail County, to east of Wadena at Oink Joint Rd./140th St., Wadena County in 2025-2027. This will affect traffic flow through Wadena. Stay updated on detailed project schedules and detour information through MnDOT’s official page, linked below.

7-3 UPDATE: Detour will start on Highway 10 on Tuesday, July 8th 2025. Hwy 10 will close to through traffic between Hwy 71 and Otter Tail Co. Rd. 75 to excavate and replace poor soils, install drainage pipes, construct the roadway and pave final concrete pavement.

7-11 UPDATE: Crews continue work on Hwy 10. Hwy 10 westbound is open to local traffic only. Through traffic will need to follow the detour. Hwy 10 eastbound through traffic will also need to follow the detour.

Detour Route - Highway 10

🔗MnDOT Highway 10 Project Page

Layout Maps and Visuals:

Visual Flyover Video Eastbound Hwy 10 (MnDOT)

Visual Flyover Video Westbound Hwy 10 (MnDOT)

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Highway 71/29 Map

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Highway 10 Map

Stay Updated

You can stay updated on all the project information in a few ways with the links below: