Most of us know that Minnesota has four seasons. Fall, Winter, Spring and Road Construction. Like most areas of the state there are several road construction projects currently underway in Stearns County. Some of those projects have necessitated that the road be closed to traffic. Unfortunately, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has received complaints about vehicular traffic disregarding those signs. Driving through a closed construction area is unsafe for workers, unsafe for drivers, potentially damages the project, and in some cases damages adjacent private property. Minnesota State Statute 160.2715 reads in part:
Except for the actions of the road authorities, their agents, employees, contractors, and utilities in carrying out their duties imposed by law or contract, and except as herein provided, it shall be unlawful to:
(14) drive over, through, or around any barricade, fence, or obstruction erected for the purpose of preventing traffic from passing over a portion of a highway closed to public travel or to remove, deface, or damage any such barricade, fence, or obstruction.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that road closed signs mean just that, the road is closed. Extra patrols will be ongoing in these areas to prevent this activity. We advise all motorists to use the provided detour routes.
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