(Spencer)– Lane restrictions are now in place for BOTH northbound AND southbound traffic on Highway 71 near the north junction with Highway 18 on the north edge of Spencer, or the North Y.
Traffic in both directions has been shifted to the right lane to facilitate the closure of the left lane from Clay County Road M-44 to Clay County Road B-17. According to the Iowa D.O.T’s District 3 office, the change in traffic patterns in that area will remain in place until Thursday, October 22nd.
Regional D.O.T officials say crews need to finish the median crossovers before winter halts construction. They add the next phase of the project will include paving a detour route of 4th Avenue West in Spencer. Officials say that route was selected to reduce impacts of construction traffic in Spencer and to prevent a long detour route.
The work is being done in advance of the construction of a roundabout at the north Y, scheduled to get underway in the spring of 2027. The project is scheduled to be completed roughly a year or so from now.
