As it turns out, the Highway 75 Dam is just upstream of this location. The main outflow channel of the dam bypasses this section of the river channel. There is a very small valve in the dam that allows a small amount of water to follow the historic main channel of the Minnesota River. The river flows under a bridge on US-71, makes a loop to the east, then turns south to cross Township Road #159, and then joins with the outflow channel about a mile and a half downstream.
The bridge at this location is little more than a concrete tube about two feet in diameter. While the road is only about a lane and a half wide, the culvert extends about 12 feet past the edge of the road on both sides of the road. The photo below shows the distance between the edge of the graded road and the edge of the bridge structure, which is in line with the two marker signs.