Downtown Duluth Street Project Updates; Crews Sail Into The End Of October With Last-Minute Details To Wrap Up The Season

2015 will go down as a very busy road construction season in Duluth.  It marked the beginning of a two-year project on Grand Avenue, the second-year of the Bong Bridge rebuild, and it also saw major work done in the downtown area.  While MNDOT crews work on the outlying roadways, city crews are hard at work to put the finishing touches on the street work in the heart of the city.

Not too long ago, roadwork in the Northland was more focused on the months of June, July, and August.  Usually road crews didn't tempt the weather conditions and start earlier or later.  However with the advent of improved equipment, earlier starts and later finishes have become more commonplace.

Here's an update courtesy of the City of Duluth:

• Superior Street (between 4th and 5th Avenue West):  The Maurices Headquarters crane was successfully removed over the weekend. Though, additional electrical connections needed for the Maurices Headquarters will require closure of Superior Street (between 4th and 5th Avenue West) on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 starting at 10:00 AM. The work should be completed by evening and the road will reopen to traffic for the Wednesday morning commute.
• West Michigan Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue West:  The electrical work conducted by Minnesota Power between the Duluth Depot and the Duluth Public Library along Michigan Street is on schedule and expected to be done by October 26. Michigan Street between 5th and 6th and Ave West remains closed.  Motorists should also be aware that starting Thursday, October 22, at 10:00 AM, this Minnesota Power project will cross over onto 5th Ave West for underground electrical connections. Motorists exiting I35 into downtown will not be able to head north on 5th Ave West due to the extension of this project. The closure of 5th Avenue West, between Michigan Street and Superior Street, will last until October 26. Motorists headed north on I-35 into downtown are recommended to exit at Superior Street or Mesaba Avenue. Those exiting at 5th Avenue West from I-35 will need to turn right and take Railroad Street then connect to Lake Ave and turn north to access downtown.  Michigan Street will be temporarily converted to two way traffic between 4th and 5th Avenue West for the duration of this project in order to provide local access to parking facilities and deliveries. Street parking on Michigan Street will not be allowed from October 22 to 26. The goal is to have 5th Avenue West open for commuters during the morning rush hour on October 27, then temporarily close the road after rush hour in order to pave the road. Paving will take several hours and completion is dependent of fair weather conditions. Commuters entering downtown from south bound I-35 can access downtown via Lake Avenue or by following the frontage road to 1st Avenue West. In addition, the intersection at 3rd Avenue West and the frontage road right below Michigan Street will be opened for those needing access to the 4th Avenue West parking ramp from using the service road below Harbor City High School. As a reminder, Michigan Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue West is still closed to traffic for traffic signal work related to the DTA Multimodal Transportation Center. That particular project is expected to be completed by the end of October.
• 1st Avenue West:  The gas line project along 1st Ave West has progressed on schedule allowing for motorists to now travel from 1st Avenue West from Michigan Street up to West 1st Street. Motorists traveling along 2nd Street headed east will encounter reduced lanes at 1st Avenue West. The gas line project is still underway between 2nd and 4th Streets and should be completed by the end of October.

At this time, it appears that most of the work that the city is finishing up is expected to be complete on time.