Major I-35 reconstruction in Duluth

[TheHighwayMan3561]

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/duluthmegaproject/

This started in early May right as it was time for me to head home for the summer.

Eventually, all of I-35 in Duluth will have no less than major construction done - which means an old I-35 South shield located between Lake Ave and I-535 is in danger. 

The project started last year with reconstruction of the western interchange with US 2 on the southwest edge of the city. I also wish that they would rebuild and make the I-535 interchange less of a mess, but there's probably no funding for it.

[mgk920]

And too bad that there aren't any current plans to extend I-35 to feed into the MN 61 four lanes at the northeast end of town.





Mike

[TheHighwayMan3561]

And too bad that there aren't any current plans to extend I-35 to feed into the MN 61 four lanes at the northeast end of town.





Mike

I think such a plan would be too environmentally costly. Personally I wouldn't be too happy with such a plan.

I'd rather they restore the US 61 designation than anything.

[triplemultiplex]

Rolled through Duluth on Memorial Day returning from Canada and they already had the SB I-35 ramp to SB I-535/US 53 closed.  Rather than take the posted detour which makes you get off the freeway and whip a U-ey on surface streets, I just used the Bong Bridge. It's a shame they're not going to do any upgrades to that 535 interchange.  Most of those ramps are too tight and on the left.

I'd love for MinnDOT to punch I-35 the rest of the way through Duluth.  Just keep it butted up against the northwest side of the railroad tracks, but at a lower grade to allow for tunnel sections, particularly under Superior St.  Alas, that is not going to happen anytime soon. Or ever.

MinnDOT did study the London Road corridor and I thought they had some options for different alignments, but in the end they're just doing some spot improvements; some turn lanes, a few right in-out junctions & a roundabout.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/londonroad/index.html

I love that drive up the North Shore; except for the 4 miles of residential street in Duluth.  That and Two Harbors, which could use a bypass.

[froggie]

There's not enough room to put even a 2-lane bypass along the rail tracks without serious impacts to residential areas.

[texaskdog]

I thought there was supposed to be a two harbors bypass, in which they even moved bettys pies. Did that just die off?

[froggie]

There were rudimentary proposals for a Two Harbors bypass 40 years ago, but they never got to the environmental study phase, let alone moving buildings for the right-of-way.

No, Betty's Pies got moved because MnDOT was improving existing Hwy 61, not building a bypass.

[texaskdog]

Oh, I heard it called a bypass, after what they had done past Gooseberry & with the tunnels