Photo courtesy of MnDOT Construction crews worked to remove the old approach panels and joints from two bridges on Minnesota Highway 23 near Green Valley last week. MnDOT plans to resurface the bridges, as well as replacing the bridge railings and approaches.

MARSHALL — Bridge resurfacing work on Minnesota Highway 23 near Green Valley has been making progress, Minnesota Department of Transportation staff said this week. Parts of the affected bridges, like the old bridge approach panels and joints, have been removed and construction crews are working on new replacements, said MnDOT project manager Al Setrum.

At the same time, Setrum said MnDOT has also placed additional traffic signage along a detour for the project on Lyon County Road 9, in response to calls from the public about safety concerns.

Construction began on two bridges near Green Valley on May 12. MnDOT plans to put a new surface on the bridge decks, and replace the approach panels and guard rails. MnDOT said the resurfacing project would help extend the life of the bridges.

Last week, crews removed the approach panels leading up to the two bridges, as well as the joints where they attach to the bridges, Setrum said. They also removed the old concrete from the bridge decks.

This week, crews were working on repairing the bridge decks, as well as forming new joints, bridge railings and sills, Setrum said. The goal will be to pour concrete for new approach panels next week, MnDOT said.

A detour is still in place on Highway 23 between Marshall and Cottonwood, while construction is going on. Traffic is being diverted onto Minnesota Highway 19 and Lyon County Road 9.

During the first week or so the detour was in place, MnDOT got calls from the public regarding traffic safety concerns, Setrum said. Some of the concerns were about the intersection of Lyon County Roads 9 and 22, which is a two-way stop.

Setrum said MnDOT has placed some additional signage along the detour, including speed limit signs, more visible stop signs, and warnings that cross traffic does not stop at the County Road 9 and 22 intersection.

“It does help when people call and let us know what they’re seeing,” Setrum said. So far, the additional signage seemed to be helping, he said.