Willmar Wye

Willmar Wye project wins regional transportation award

October 3, 2023

Willmar Wye project wins regional transportation award
WILLMAR — For almost a year the Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access Project, better known as the Willmar Wye , has been safely and efficiently moving train traffic around the city. Now that project is award-winning. It was announced Friday that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has selected the Willmar Wye to receive a regional America’s Transportation Award. The project was chosen from a pool of 23 projects from the Mid American Association

Purchase agreement signed for rail park

May 21, 2023

Purchase agreement signed for rail park
WILLMAR — Things are moving ahead quickly for developing a 145-acre intermodal distribution center in the Willmar Industrial Park. The Willmar City Council on Monday approved a public hearing to take place at its June 5 meeting for the sale of land to Midwest & Bluegrass Rail for the development of what has previously been called the Willmar Rail Park by Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission. Connected to the

Willmar Planning Commission approves $1.16M purchase agreement to develop rail park

May 5, 2023

WILLMAR — The City of Willmar is one step closer to a $1.16 million deal for a company to purchase 145 acres in the Willmar Industrial Park to develop a rail transportation hub connected to the Willmar Wye railroad bypass on the west side of the city. The Willmar Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a purchase agreement for Midwest and Bluegrass Rail , a Kansas City company that intends to develop what Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Executive Director

Ribbon-cutting celebrates completion of nearly $50 million Willmar Wye rail bypass project

October 25, 2022

Ribbon-cutting celebrates completion of nearly $50 million Willmar Wye rail bypass project
WILLMAR—It has taken more than a decade, but the wait is finally over. The Willmar Connector and Industrial Access Project—a nearly $50 million railroad bypass project—is completed and ready to receive train traffic. Dignitaries from various partners involved in the project, along with local, regional and state government officials, gathered in Willmar on Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting and train ride to celebrate the accomplishment that is the Willmar Wye. . . . “We are already seeing

Minnesota House bonding committee hears pitches for Willmar area projects

October 19, 2021

Minnesota House bonding committee hears pitches for Willmar area projects
WILLMAR— State representatives serving on the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee stopped briefly in Willmar on Tuesday to learn about three local projects requesting state funding from the upcoming capital budget, or bonding bill. Cliff Carmody, executive director of the cooperative, spoke on the expansion project for the Willmar center, which is located on the MinnWest campus. The center provides educational services for special education students. Currently, 31 students are enrolled

Willmar Wye road construction is done, next step is rail

July 21, 2021

Willmar Wye road construction is done, next step is rail
WILLMAR—Two years after the first shovels full of dirt were moved in July 2019, the road construction portion of the Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access Project has been completed, minus a few little things that still need to be wrapped up. “For a project of this size and complexity, it went really well,” said Paul Rasmussen, project manager from the Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8. Work began on the project, better known as the Willmar Wye, on July 9,

Snow slows downs U.S. Highway 12 completion in Willmar

October 27, 2020

Snow slows downs U.S. Highway 12 completion in Willmar
WILLMAR—The early arrival of winter, or at least a sneak peek of it, has caused a delay in the completion of the realignment of U.S. Highway 12 on the western edge of Willmar, a part of the Willmar Wye railroad bypass project. According to the weekly wye update released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8, the new Highway 12 probably won’t be open for traffic until mid-November. It had been hoped that portion of the project would be complete by the end of October. Read

Willmar Wye Highway 12 bridge work moving forward

August 28, 2020

Willmar Wye Highway 12 bridge work moving forward
WILLMAR—Thanks to perfect weather last week, the concrete pour for the deck of the new Highway 12 bridge in Willmar was completed last week, according to the weekly Willmar Wye construction update from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Progress also continues on the Minnesota Highway 40 bridge, with pier construction concluding. Next up will be construction of the Highway 40 bridge abutments. Read the full article at the West Central Tribune.

Willmar Wye road construction reaches milestone

July 22, 2020

Willmar Wye road construction reaches milestone
WILLMAR—In just over 365 days, the site of what will become the Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access Project, or the Willmar Wye, went from farm fields and open spaces to an active construction site where one can already find most of the realigned—but unpaved—U.S. Highway 12 and the beginnings of two new highway bridges on Highway 12 and Minnesota Highway 40. “It has been going fairly well,” said Paul Rasmussen, project manager from the Minnesota Department of Transportation

Willmar Wye making visible progress as bridges are constructed

June 1, 2020

Willmar Wye making visible progress as bridges are constructed
WILLMAR—Eleven months after construction began on the Willmar Wye project, progress continues to be made on several aspects of the project, according to the weekly update from the Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8, based in Willmar. The bridges that will one day span the new rail track are starting to rise, with construction on the pier caps ongoing for the U.S. Highway 12 bridge. Also, work was done last week on embankments on Kandiyohi County Road 55 north and south of state Highway
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