Washington St.—Brainerd

Know before you go: check 511mn.org

Current work zone

Construct east mall segment

Hwy 210 - Pine Shores Dr. to Fifth Ave. NE

Motorists

• One lane in each direction around the closed work area via 10th Ave. NE and Hwy 25 (PNG)
  • Temporary signal at 10th Ave. NE/Hwy 25
• Local access open to the northeast neighborhood and mall area via Fourth Ave. NE and E St. NE
  • Streets have tight turning for semi-trucks, trailers, RVs, campers.
  • Truck detour: Co. Rd. 3 (Mill Ave.) closed to/from Hwy 210. Follow signs (PNG)
  • Regional detour options: Follow signs (PNG)

Pedestrians

• Sidewalk closures, follow detour signs

Residents and businesses

• Project info line: 320-204-1763
  

Oak St.

• July 31-fall: mini-roundabouts at Oak St./13th St. SE and Oak St./Eighth St. S.; will be open over the Crow Wing County Fair Aug. 3-8
  • Yield into roundabouts and go slow; larger vehicles can drive over the raised center island

Upcoming impacts

Overnight traffic switch Aug. 9-10

Crews will reconfigure the work zone and install the updated in‑town detour overnight Sunday, Aug. 9 to Mon, Aug. 10. Expect sudden stops, flaggers and changing traffic control.

Hwy 210 work zone Mon, Aug. 10

The contractor has updated plans: the new C St./Hwy 25 roundabout will open to local access, but Hwy 210/Mill Ave./Co. Rd. 3 will remain closed through early September.

Hwy 210 east, mall and railyard segments

One lane each way between east Brainerd and S Sixth St. (Business Hwy 371). Expect changes, lane shifts and reduced speeds:

Hwy 210 detour

Road closed between 10th Ave. NE and Kingwood St.

• Eastbound Hwy 210: S Sixth St. (Business Hwy 371), Oak St., Hwy 25 and 10th Ave. NE
• Westbound Hwy 210: 10th Ave. NE, Hwy 25, Oak St. and S Eighth St.
  • Signal at 10th Ave. NE/Hwy 25
  • Mini-roundabouts at Oak St./13th St. SE and Oak St./Eighth St. S
    • Yield into roundabouts and go slow; larger vehicles can drive over the raised center island

Regional and truck routes: Avoid delays and go around the work zone; includes Co. Rd. 3 to/from Hwy 25 for truck detour.

Local access

Remains open to those who live, work or visit areas along the work zone 

• Follow signs; expect gravel, grooved surfaces and side-entrance/sidewalk detours
• Use C St./Hwy 25 for north access
• Mill Ave./Co. Rd. 3 remains closed; use E St., 4th Ave. NE, C St. and Hwy 25. Trucks use Co. Rd. 3 detour route 
• Use C/B St. to access north of Hwy 210 between Gillis Ave. and Fifth St.
• Tight turns on city streets—large vehicles/semi-trucks use caution or take regional detour, includes truck routes.
• Businesses/funeral home/school remain open from 10th Ave. NE.
• Use Oak St./13th St. SE to access south of Hwy 210.
• Check with your destination on right route to use. 
• For the local beat—follow Babe's blog on Drive 210.com

Resident and business info line: 320-204-1763 (contractor monitors)

Building a better Brainerd

MnDOT will reconstruct and improve the Washington St. (Hwy 210) through Brainerd from Baxter Dr. to Pine Shores Rd. in 2026 and 2027.

Summary of work

Hwy 210

• Reconstruct (mall, railyard, downtown, bridge segments) or resurface (east and west segments) the road
• Reconstruct curbs, gutters, raised medians and storm sewers
• Update signal systems
• Remove signal systems at Mill Ave. and 4th Ave. NE
• Realign and improve access at the Hwy 210 and Hwy 25/Mill Ave., includes two roundabouts
• Upgrade city utilities beneath the road
• Upgrade pedestrian sidewalks and approaches and reconstruct/connect the Cuyuna Lakes Trail
• Update the Mississippi River bridge

Hwy 210 segments

2026 work

• East— 10th Ave. NE to Pine Shores Rd.
• Mall—5th Ave. E to 10th Ave. NE
• Railyard —Kingwood St. to 5th Ave.

2027 work

• Downtown — E River Rd./N 1st St. to Kingwood St.
• Bridge— 4th St. NW to east of the Mississippi River at E River Rd./N 1st St.
• West — Baxter Dr. to 4th St. NW

Work segments subject to change once more is known. More details to become available closer to construction.