The Willmar Wye: The train project that could BY SHELBY LINDRUD West Central Tribune
The new rail track, which will connect the BNSF Marshal and Morris subdivision tracks, will travel underneath the new overpass bridges constructed on U.S. Highway 12 (pictured) and State Highway 40. Minnesota Department of Transportation
WILLMAR — It has been a long time in coming, but the end is finally in sight for the Willmar Connector and Industrial Access Project, better known as the Willmar Wye. The road construction portion of the $48 million project was substantially completed in July and the rail portion of the project is set to begin this fall. By fall 2022, trains should be running on the new track, directing rail traffic between the BNSF Railway Morris and Marshall subdivisions, as vehicle traffic travels along the new U.S. Highway 12, over new bridges and around roundabouts. The Willmar Wye project has existed in some form or another since at least 2011.
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