Odin
Odin, MN · Traffic & Transit
Owatonna People's Press
Trail expansion, new parking restrictions coming to 18th Street
The city of Owatonna is one step closer to closing a gap in its trail system, though it will come at the cost of some parking space on the southeast side of town. In preparation for the upcoming 18th Street SE reconstruction project, the Owatonna City Council recently authorized parking restrictions on portions of the street between Austin and Bixby Road. The project aims to replace aging infrastructure, improve safety and provide better transportation options for pedestrians and cyclists. The resolution designates the north side of 18th Street SE from Austin to Bixby Road and the south side of 18th Street from Hayes Avenue to Bixby Road as no parking. “No parking” signs will be installed as part of the reconstruction project. Notably, parking is currently restricted on both sides between Hayes and Bixby. The width of the street will be reduced to make room for a trail extension without requiring the city to acquire permanent right of way from adjacent properties. According to Public Works Director Sean Murphy, that roadway reduction will not leave sufficient space to allow parking on both sides of the street. The new parking restrictions are required by Federal Highway Administration standards for federally funded
Southern Minnesota News
Mankato Revives ‘Lights On!’ Program to Help Drivers Fix Vehicle Issues
MANKATO, Minn. — The City of Mankato has approved a new participation agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to bring back the Lights On! MN program. Police officer Colin Johnson said the city originally began full-time participation in the program in 2024. The initiative allows officers to provide repair vouchers for minor vehicle issues—such as broken headlights, taillights, or brake lights—instead of issuing citations.
KEYC
Chaotic winter weather leads to more spring potholes
ST. PETER, Minn. (KEYC) - St. Peter Public Works and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) say that communities across south-central Minnesota are dealing with more than double the amount of potholes than usual going into the spring of 2026. Maintenance Superintendent for St. Peter Andrew Bach says that his...
bestattractions.org
Burnsville Center Mall in Burnsville, MN, Still Stands - But For How Long?
On August 3, 1977, traffic on Interstate 35W ground to a halt between County Road 42 and Highway 13 on the south side of the Twin Cities. There was no accident - just thousands of people heading for the same new building at the same time. By the end of...
radiomankato.com
Temporary closure of Riverfront Drive in Mankato begins March 25 for the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge project
A section of Riverfront Drive, between East Main and Plum Streets in Mankato, will close tentatively starting Wednesday, March 25, as crews begin removing the deck of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Traffic will be detoured to Plum Street, 2nd Street, and Main...
KEYC
Winter storm results in more than 700 off-road vehicles, State Patrol says
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - The weekend’s winter storm was the biggest of the season. In the Mankato area there were 66 vehicles off the road, three jack-knifed semis, six property damage crashes and two injury crashes over the entire weekend. Statewide there were more than 700 vehicle off the...
KEYC
Heads up: Riverfront Drive closure coming soon
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - An early heads up for drivers, a detour is coming to Riverfront Drive as part of the Veterans Memorial Bridge project. Scheduled to start on Wednesday, March 25, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says Riverfront Drive will close under the bridge so crews can begin removing the bridge deck.
KIMT
Snowplows struggle as MnDOT closes I-35 and warns travelers
ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) announced it will close Interstate 35 southbound at Albert Lea by 3 p.m. on Sunday. This closure aligns with Iowa's plan to close I-35 to the south at the same time. MnDOT will keep the highway closed until Iowa reopens...
arlingtonmnnews.com
Chamber will welcome locomotive, tourists in Oct. as historic train returns
The 1940s era 261 train will return to Arlington in fall of 2026, according to Tiffany Brockhoff of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, as she reported at the chamber meeting Monday. Details are still being arranged with schedules and other logistics, but the train that brought nearly 600 tourists to Arlington in October 2025 will make a return engagement during one of the first two weekends in October 2026.