Highway 56 motorists will encounter a new detour in Mower County beginning July 11 as crews replace culverts near Rose Creek and Adams, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

This detour, expected to last three to four weeks, is in addition to a detour on Highway 56 that began earlier this month for two bridge replacements in and near Adams.

The detour for the culvert replacement project routes northbound Highway 56 motorists who are east of Taopi onto Mower County Road 8 north to Mower County Road 3 west until it intersects with Highway 56 north of Rose Creek.

The route for southbound motorists is the reverse. Access to the communities of Rose Creek, Adams and Taopi will be marked on the detour route. Culverts are being replaced north and south of Rose Creek and south of Adams between the community and Taopi.

Meanwhile in a separate project, the two bridges on Highway 56 — one west of Adams over Little Cedar Creek and an unnamed creek in Adams — are being replaced by ICON Constructors of Mabel, Minnesota, the prime contractor in the $1.42 million project. A detour is in effect during construction. The bridge replacement project is scheduled to be completed in September.

For this project in Adams, the westbound detour on Highway 56 will follow Mower County Road 18 south to County Road 6 west to County Road 7 north where it connects with Mower County Road 5 north back to Highway 56 west of Adams. The eastbound route follows in reverse. From Adams there is no Highway 56 access to Rose Creek or Taopi because culverts are being replaced.

For additional details on the project, go to MnDOT’s project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/d6/projects/hwy56-bridge/index.html.