Highway 61

City plans safety fix for downtown sidewalks

Oct 11, 2023

Changes are coming to the downtown sidewalks on South Lakeshore Drive. At the city council meeting on Oct. 9, City Public Works Director Scott Jensen asked for and received city council consensus to modify planters partially surrounded by raised curbs that business owners say have caused falls and...

Highway 61 reopens between Lake City and Red Wing

Oct 4, 2023

The Highway 61 detour between Lake City and Red Wing has been removed and the road is open to traffic, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Motorists should be alert for construction work that will continue in the work zone over the next several weeks, including final paving...

Hwy. 61 reopens to Hansen’s Harbor

Aug 16, 2023

Motorists on Highway 61 north of Lake City can directly reach Hansen’s Harbor on the highway, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The road remains closed at the Wells Creek bridge, which is expected to be completed in late August. Motorists traveling to Frontenac or Red Wing...

Current Hwy. 61 construction comes a century after camps created to build it

Aug 9, 2023

The Florence Township History Center has information about a project that created State Route 3 (later incorporated into U.S. Hwy. 61) a century ago. But it’s a little harder to access these days because of another construction project on the road. “This farmland, 160 acres, was awarded to Harvey...

Hwy. 61 closure at Ski Road begins July 20

Jul 19, 2023

Hwy. 61 will be closed at the Ski Road intersection starting Thursday, July 20 near Frontenac as crews construct passing lanes, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The closure means people traveling from Red Wing to Frontenac on Highway 61 will need to use the detour – Highway...

Hwy. 61 work begins July 5

Jun 28, 2023

Highway 61 motorists should prepare for detours north of Lake City and south of Red Wing to begin on July 5, when crews are scheduled to resurface the highway, add passing lanes and realign some intersections, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Approximately 10 miles of...

Detours coming to Highway 61 next summer

Jul 20, 2022

Detours will go into effect on Highway 61 between Lake City and Red Wing next summer as the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) completes a resurfacing and related road work project. “When crews are working on the bridge over Wells Creek and near Hansen’s Harbor, detour A will be used....

Open house on Hwy. 61 projects is July 12

Jul 6, 2022

The public is invited to attend an in-person open house on July 12 in Red Wing to learn more about five Minnesota Department of Transportation projects planned for the Red Wing area. The open-house style meeting will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12 at the Red Wing Public Library, 225...

Corrected: Passing lanes part of $8.7 million resurfacing project

Jun 1, 2022

One of the frequently-cited concerns of the four-to-three lane conversion of Highway 61 in Lake City was the elimination of a place to pass slower traffic between Red Wing and Wabasha. At the time, there were suggestions that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was considering...

Morning crash takes out light pole, sign

Jan 5, 2022

A single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Highway 61 and Central Point Road caused damage to a light pole and traffic sign. Lake City Police said a male was driving southbound when he lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway. There were no injuries. Bright morning sunlight could have...