Highway 14 motorists south of Owatonna will experience a two-day traffic detour during the daytime hours Wednesday and Thursday for construction crews to repair the slope beyond the road that stabilizes and supports the road embankment, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Crews will be using the eastbound Highway 14 lane through the current bridge replacement construction zone to assist with the repairs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Westbound Highway 14 traffic will not be detoured.

The detour affects eastbound Minnesota State Highway 14 between Interstate 35 and Steele County Road 45. The detour route for eastbound Highway 14 is to proceed northbound on Interstate 35 to exit 41 Bridge Street in Owatonna. Turn right on Bridge Street. Follow Bridge Street through town. The road turns into Main Street at the intersection of Oak Avenue. Continue on Main Street, which will turn into Bixby Road and take motorists to the interchange at Highway 14 and Highway 218 southeast of Owatonna.

Meanwhile, a detour continues for Minnesota State Highway 14 westbound motorists who want to travel north on I-35. Motorists need to detour through the interchange loops at I-35 by taking the southbound I-35 ramp to the eastbound Hwy 14 ramp to the northbound I-35 ramp.

This bridge replacement project is in its second of two years south of Owatonna, according to a press release.

Twelve bridges are being replaced on I-35 and Highway 14. Bridges on southbound I-35 and eastbound Highway 14 were replaced last year. Two bridges on I-35 that were damaged by a vehicle crash last year are included in the project. One was replaced last fall and the second is under construction this year.

Lunda Construction Company is the prime contractor for the $29.6 million project.

Motorists interested in more information about the project, may visit the MnDOT project website at www.dot.state.mn.us and sign up for email updates on the project.

MnDot said motorists should always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

For real-time traffic information in Minnesota, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.