Traffic should not be affected and Interstate 90 will remain open during the burn.  The area is a six-mile stretch approximately from the Olmsted County Road 19 overpass to the Olmsted County Road 32 overpass.  The burning will be on the north side of the Hwy on Thursday.  Last month a burn was conducted along the same stretch on the south side of I-90. 

Prescribed burns are scheduled during optimal weather conditions to ensure safety and effectiveness. 

Native prairie vegetation is planted along Hwy right of way to reduce the amount of mowing needed, which saves taxpayer money.  Burning serves as a safety measure.  Prescribed fire is used to control brush and small trees near the roadway, which would otherwise become safety hazards.  Fire promotes tall native grasses and forbs that trap blowing snow and prevent it from drifting across the road. 

Several prescribed burns remain on MnDOT’s schedule in southeastern Minnesota and will be done as weather conditions and road construction schedules allow.  Others are:

Hwy 218 between Austin and Owatonna

Hwy 56 from Rose Creek to Le Roy

Hwy 52 in the Harmony and Canton area

MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.