Although restoration and repair work have closed Inspiration Point, an historic wayside rest area near Lanesboro on Highway 16, the public can safely monitor the work from the new Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Historic Roadside Properties website.

Crews from Environmental Associates, the prime contractor, are restoring the stone walls and other structures, as well as improving the grounds through measures such as clearing buckthorn. Many of the stone structures were built in 1934 by a Civilian Conservation Corps work crew. The $1.18 million restoration and improvement project is expected to be completed by Oct. 16.

The MnDOT website features projects with gallery pages including updated photos and descriptions of the ongoing and future projects.

“The new website for historic roadside properties highlights our projects and offers an overview of our inventory of historic properties on MnDOT right of way,” said Kathryn McFadden, landscape architect and MnDOT program manager for history roadside properties. “Inspiration Point is a rehabilitation that reflects the work done in the New Deal era and is a place of local pride for residents in Lanesboro.”

Preston Historic Overlook Restoration, which is also featured on the website, concluded in 2012. A future project in southeastern Minnesota is the 2016 Mantorville Walls Rehabilitation.

To check on the latest construction updates of roadside properties of historic status, visit the historic properties website at www.dot.state.mn.us/roadsides/historic/index.html.

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.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

To learn more about Minnesota’s investment in and maintenance of the state’s transportation system, go to MnDOT’s Get Connected site at www.dot.state.mn.us/getconnected/.