Now That Grandma’s Is Over, Duluth’s London Road Has Changed Again

If you drive Duluth's London Road with any regularity, the next few months are going to test your patience.

A major reconstruction of Highway 61 along London Road is back underway, and it comes with detours, hard closures, and a new traffic pattern that takes effect right now.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation project is a big one — a $24.5 million overhaul stretching from 26th Avenue East all the way out to the Lester River, just beyond 60th Avenue East.

Plans call for new roundabouts at 26th and 40th Avenues East, improved pedestrian crossings, better drainage, new roadway lighting, and a full replacement of sidewalks and driveway aprons to meet accessibility standards.

The long-term investment will make the corridor safer and smoother in the future, but the short-term reality means working around cones and closures for a while.

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A Pause For A Big Anniversary

MnDOT crews recently paused the latest phase so the work wouldn't collide with what was widely considered Duluth's biggest weekend, the 50th anniversary of Grandma's Marathon.

And what a weekend it was. The milestone race, run June 20 from Two Harbors to Canal Park, drew a record 9,594 marathon finishers, the largest field in the event's history.

On the men's side, Eritrea's Amanuel Mesel claimed his first Grandma's title in 2:11:21, pulling away from six-time champion Elisha Barno in the final miles.

The women's race had a local flavor, as Hopkins, Minnesota's Dakotah Popehn won her third Grandma's crown in 2:28:51, becoming just the third woman in the race's 50 years to win three titles.

Now That The Party's Over, The Work Resumes

With the runners home and the finish-line banners down, it's back to business on London Road. Starting today, June 22, the new traffic setup is officially in place, and drivers will want to know what they're heading into.

North of 40th Avenue East, London Road is open to northbound traffic only. Southbound drivers are being detoured onto Superior Street to 40th Avenue East, while the southbound truck detour continues along Superior Street to 21st Avenue East.

There's also a hard closure of London Road just past the business accesses before 26th Avenue East when heading north and east, plus a hard closure of 26th Avenue East just up the hill from London Road.

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All north and east I-35 traffic will be routed onto a bypass to continue on London Road, and there will be no access to 26th Avenue East from either I-35 or London Road.

MnDOT has posted detour maps and updates on the project page for anyone wanting to plan a route ahead of time.

What To Expect Going Forward

This traffic configuration is expected to stay in place through the fall, with work running until November 2026 before picking back up again in 2027. In other words, this is the new normal for London Road commuters for a good chunk of the year.

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MnDOT is reminding drivers to slow down in the work zone, where the fine for speeding jumps to $300, and to stay off their phones, avoid unnecessary lane changes, and give road crews room to work.