(Okoboji)– The Highway 71 causeway/bridge between Arnolds Park and Okoboji will officially close to all through traffic effective at 5:00 am Monday (Sept. 18th). Those with destinations on either side of the causeway/bridge will need to use alternate routes. Highway 86 is the designated detour route. Dickinson County Road M-56 along the east side of East Lake Okoboji can also be used as an alternate route between Spirit Lake and Milford.

Only emergency traffic (fire trucks and ambulances) will be allowed to cross the causeway. As we reported previously Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth says they will have adequate personnel and equipment staged on both sides of the causeway.

The Iowa Department of Transportation says the closure will remain in effect four weeks. It’s part of the reconstruction of Highway 71 through lakes corridor.