Sioux Falls, SD (KICD)– We know winter weather can be problematic when it comes to travel in this part of the country, and it is not exactly an easy task for those deciding whether or not highways need to be closed for safety purposes.

Chase Fester with the Minnesota Department of Transportation tells KICD News the process on closing a major roadway like Interstate 90 actually starts several days before a winter storm moves in.

Even if the decision to close is made, Fester says it is not exactly an instantaneous process, but the hope is to have traffic flowing as soon as roads are safe to be on.

The State of Minnesota will be testing out a new system along several highways including Interstate 90 in Jackson and Nobles Counties that will automatically alert travelers of a road closure that is expected to last more than four hours as soon as they enter a specified area.