MnDOT Hosting Community Open House for Reconstruction Project of Highways 59 and 108 in Pelican Rapids

PELICAN RAPIDS (KDLM) – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be hosting an open house to help prepare residents in Pelican Rapids and the surrounding area for the reconstruction project of Highways 59 and 108.

The project which will begin in 2024 and could take up to two years to complete will address pavement concerns, pedestrian accessibility (ADA) requirements and storm sewer needs. As part of this project, the City of Pelican Rapids will be replacing up to 25 blocks of city utilities.

The virtual open house will be held on Thursday, April 8 at 5:30pm. Interested attendees can visit PelicanRapids.com to participate.

Patrick Hollister with PartnerSHIP 4 Health says the reconstruction will also help make the area more bike and pedestrian friendly, “bike trails will be added on one or both sides of 59 and 108 pretty much for the entire extent of those highways through the city. It’s going to be a safter place to bike and walk and aesthetically it will be greatly improved and a much more enjoyable place to be in downtown Pelican Rapids.”

In 2019, the City of Pelican Rapids worked with MnDOT and PartnerSHIP 4 Health to conduct a planning study ahead of MnDOT’s design phase. The planning study helped aid the City of Pelican Rapids in applying for Transportation Alternative grants in 2020.