Hwy 371 Corridor Study - Baxter to Nisswa

View full-size mapIn 2025, MnDOT completed a study of Hwy 371 between Baxter and Nisswa in Crow Wing County. This roadway is critical for both the local community and the greater region. The study gained an understanding of the needs, identified potential future improvements, and determined how these improvements should be implemented. The study included an analysis of traffic, safety, land use, demographics and development. Read the Executive Summary.

The study goals were to

• Understand Hwy 371 needs
• Identify future improvements
• Develop recommendations for Hwy 371
• Inform upcoming pavement and safety improvements

Your input helped us

• Define the issues
• Establish project goals
• Develop alternative design concepts
• Determine a vision for Hwy 371

Safety was identified as a top concern in the first phase of the study. Several roads that cross or have access onto Hwy 371 have a higher-than-average crash rate. As we take safety and continued growth of the area into consideration, we also want to maintain traffic flow for both local traffic and traffic traveling though the area. As a result, traffic engineers and transportation planners have developed potential improvements at intersections with the highest and most severe crashes.