A new check point has appeared at the beginning of construction on State Highway 210. A State Patrol officer was on-hand Tuesday afternoon to stop motorists heading east past the road closed signs. They will be there over the next three weeks questioning motorists going past the closure. The purpose of the increased restriction is to reduce the amount of traffic going past the airport to points that should be accessed by use of the detour routes or CW County Road 25. 

However… The Airport is still accessible! When you get to the barricade on your way to the airport or to Longhorn Saloon you will be asked where you are heading. If you are not going to a destination west of the airport you will be diverted back to the detour and sent around. The trooper said that there have been too many motorists ignoring the closed road sign and continuing past the airport to their destination. 

In a Facebook post by the Brainerd Airport on Monday they suggested some possible reasons that you would need to come to the airport and continue past the check point.

Also restaurants like the Longbranch Saloon and Wings Airport Cafe are also still open during the construction. These establishments are certainly feeling the effects of the construction. At the Airport cafe a number of people waiting for a flight out of Brainerd were enjoying a preflight meal on Tuesday when I was there.

Just be sure to plan some extra time and take it easy getting to the airport over the next few weeks. They may occasionally have flag cars out assisting with traffic at times and that will definitely add a few more minutes to the journey. Even with the road construction it is still more convenient to fly out of Brainerd then deal with the TSA situation at MSP. But THAT is a story for another time.