Traffic Impacts

Through Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

• Highway 51 is closed at the railroad tracks south of Bongards Creameries.
  • Local residents and Bongards customers, carriers, and employees should use Highway 212 to access Highway 51 north of the railroad tracks.
  • Motorists traveling southbound on Highway 51, south of Bongards, should follow the posted detour.
    • Detour: Highway 212, Highway 153, Highway 152, and Highway 51.

• Salem Ave. is closed between Highway 212 and 122nd St.
  • Posted detour: Highway 212, Highway 51, 122nd St., and Salem Ave.
    • From Norwood Young America: Highway 212, Highway 25/5, and Salem Ave.

Project Vision 

US Highway 212 serves as the backbone for commerce between Southwest Minnesota, South Dakota and the Twin Cities. The facility provides highway freight mobility and connectivity for 22,000 square miles of southwestern Minnesota and South Dakota that is currently not served by the Interstate System or freeways. Highway 212 is a significant and critical arterial road for the local community and a regional connector, linking southwest Minnesota to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. This project completes the final segment of four-lane expansion between the City of Glencoe and the Twin Cities and provides safety and capacity enhancements.

Carver County, in partnership with Benton Township, the Cities of Norwood Young America and Cologne, and MnDOT, are working together to identify and implement transportation system improvements to Highway 212. The overall objective of the project includes approximately five miles of safety and capacity improvements along Highway 212 between Highway 34 on the east side of the City of Norwood Young America to Highway 36 on the west side of the City of Cologne. The project includes reconstruction and expansion of the highway from a two-lane undivided to a four-lane divided highway. On both ends, the highway will connect to the existing four-lane divided highway segments, completing the last remaining ‘gap’ in the highway corridor from the City of Glencoe to the Twin Cities.

Hwy 212 Project Overview Video

Hwy 51 Interchange Flyover Video

Hwy 212 Flyover Video

Project Overview Video

Project Testimonial Video

Handout

FAQ’s

Project Goals

The project recommends a grade separated interchange at the intersection of Hwy 212 and Hwy 51. The design is a grade separated quadrant interchange with Hwy 51 on a new alignment to the east of the existing highway. Hwy 51 would be constructed on a bridge over Hwy 212. The north and south quadrant roadways would connect with Hwy 212 at the existing Hwy 51 intersection and use existing Hwy 51. The grade separated quadrant interchange was identified as the alternative because of vehicle safety benefits, Hwy 51 mobility, and because this design minimizes impacts to the surrounding environment compared to other grade separated alternatives.

Maps & Detour Routes

Highway 212 Project Layout

Detour Routes

Staging Plan Layout (Subject to Change)

Anticipated Project Schedule

Reports & Documents

Environmental Assessment (2009)

Project Overview Report (2010)

Project Layout - July 2009)

Hwy 212 Benton Township Project Environmental Assessment Worksheet

Hwy 212 Benton Township Project Findings of Fact and Conclusion