MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Steady rain on Saturday has forced MnDOT to close a 10-mile stretch Highway 169 south between St. Peter to Mankato until Sunday.

MnDOT worker Tony DeSantiago spent hours clearing mudslides that covered 169, as well as unclogging frozen culverts – work that will continue tomorrow.

“I’ve gone home and changed once today, I was totally soaked earlier,” DeSantiago said. “We’ve tried to get it through as many as we can but they just can’t take the water, the run-off.”

Traffic will have to take detours while the main artery that connects the two cities remains closed.

“I know we need the moisture but this is a little much all at once,” he said.

Highway 66 is also closed from 169 in Mankato to County Road 35, and a section of 169 north of St. Peter is down to one lane.

MnDOT will be monitoring these roads through Sunday.