The Beltrami County Highway Department will spend the summer constructing a new roundabout on the on-off ramps of Highway 71 and Irvine Ave.

The construction is scheduled to start in the first part of June when school ends. Officials say the area is a high traffic intersection and the roundabout will help with flow of the heavy traffic. The plan is to have the roundabout completed before Labor Day. In the meantime, drivers can expect some detours and delays.

Bruce Hasbargen, the Beltrami County Engineer, says, “The part that is closed is from Lakewood north up through the roundabout and across the bridge will be closed through traffic so there will be the detour in place. If you go north on Irvine you will use Lakewood, and to get back north you would use Town Hall Road to get back to Irvine and Southbound, and coming from 71 or 15 you’ll use Lakewood also.”

The Highway Department also has plans to repave a portion of Irvine Ave. that goes from Anne St. to Town Hall Rd.

By — Shirelle Moore