Motorists traveling along Hwy. 55 in Wright County began driving on a new, smoother road surface, as the final segment of Hwy. 55 opens between Maple Lake and Buffalo Thursday.

Hwy. 55 has been detoured in segments between Annandale and Buffalo since April 29. In the next week, crews will remove detour signs and barricades.

The $11.8 million Highway 55 improvement project:

• Reconstructed 12 miles of road surface with a long-life full depth reclamation process between Annandale Boulevard in Annandale and Highway 25 in Buffalo

• Installed a new center left-turn lane near County Road 8/Oak Avenue to 53rd Street NW in Maple Lake

• Repaired or replaced underground pipes and removed obsolete cattle passes

• Improved pedestrian access and the signal at Wright County Road 8/Oak Avenue

The project provides a smoother ride with long-life pavement, enhanced traffic flow in Maple Lake, improved safety, mobility and drainage along the corridor. MnDOT thanks local communities for their continued patience during this project.

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit www.511mn.org.