Photo by Deb Gau Paving work on driveway entrances was going on just past the “Road Closed” signs on Minnesota Highway 68 in Minneota Friday.

MARSHALL — Construction on Minnesota Highway 68 may have gotten off to a later start than originally planned, but it is making progress, a Minnesota Department of Transportation engineer said this week.

“It’s moving along pretty quickly,” said engineer Shanna Kent.

Work crews have been widening the shoulders of Highway 68 between Marshall and Minneota, as well as replacing culverts on that stretch of the highway and near the city of Porter. Kent said work on culvert crossings between Marshall and Minneota has been completed, and crews are now starting to pave portions of the road where culverts have been replaced.

Kent said work will continue on the final grading and topsoil placement along Highway 68 between Ghent and Minneota.

Construction is also nearing completion on a culvert replacement near Porter. This week, MnDOT announced that the detours near Porter will change starting Tuesday. The detour currently in place northwest of Porter will be removed, and a new detour southeast of Porter will take affect.

Traffic will be detoured from Porter to Taunton on County Road 7 and County Road 19. MnDOT said the detour near Porter is planned to be in place for two to three weeks. Homes and businesses along Highway 68 will remain accessible during construction, MnDOT said.

Meanwhile, the main detour on Highway 68 between Marshall and Minneota will remain in place, MnDOT said. Traffic should follow Minnesota Highway 19. Access to Ghent will be on Lyon County Road 5, and access to Minneota will be on Lyon County Road 3.

MnDOT said the project will help improve safety along Highway 68. The highway between Marshall and Minneota will go from having four-foot paved shoulders to having an additional four feet of gravel shoulder on each side of the roadway. Culvert replacements in the construction zone will also improve drainage.

The completion date of the project is still to be determined. Kent said construction was originally planned to start in May, but was delayed due to issues relocating utility lines along the highway. Work on the section of highway between Marshall and Minneota started in July.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience,” Kent said.

Despite the delayed start, construction has been making progress.

“The weather has been kind for construction,” Kent said. The project may not be completed by the end of September, she said. “However, we’re working with the contractors to see if we can get most of the work done this year.”

Kent reminded motorists to stay off the closed segments of highway if possible. “It makes it safer for the construction crew and the public,” she said.