A $3.5 million road construction project to install road weather information systems (RWIS) at eight different locations in southwest Minnesota starts Sept. 28, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Motorists can expect short-term lane closures at the eight locations in Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine counties:

• U.S. Highway 12 near Atwater at Milepost (MP) 85.4

• U.S. Highway 212 near Hector at MP 84.4

• U.S. Highway 212 near Dawson at MP 24.1

• U.S. Highway 75 near Canby at MP 84.0

• Highway 68 near Taunton at MP 22.9

• Highway 68 near Milroy at MP 59.0

• U.S. Highway 14 near Florence at MP 21.2

• U.S. Highway 75 near Trosky at MP 30.3

A MnDOT press release said no detours are required for this project. Work will be completed under traffic with flagging operations when lane closures are required for everyone’s safety.

RWIS is an environmental sensor station in the field that is used to collect weather data such as atmospheric parameters, pavement conditions, and visibility. MnDOT uses the information gathered as well as the camera images for maintenance decision support. The information is also sent to the National Weather Service as well as Minnesota’s 511 system. There are currently 108 RWIS systems throughout Minnesota, with an additional 53 systems to be added throughout the state over the next two years.

The installations in southwest Minnesota are scheduled to be complete by Dec. 24. The contractor is Design Electric.