Temporary Closing Of Oliver Bridge To Impact Travel Between Minnesota + Wisconsin

It's been a busy September for projects that impact travel throughout the Northland. Currently, the City of Duluth has utility operations crews performing in-ground utility repair on a water main under a section of Grand Avenue. This project, which is causing a temporary closure of the I-35 Northbound on-ramp, as well as a closure of a section of one eastbound lane of Grand Avenue, is expected to be completed this week.

The City of Duluth also scheduled a new project to begin this week involving utility operations crews performing in-ground repair on a water main near the intersection of East Superior Street and 60th Avenue E.

The repair is causing a temporary closure on East Superior Street and on the parallel section of the Lakewalk. Signs are posted and a detour route has been established. This is expected to last a week, but the heavy rains and local flash flooding may impact the timeline.

A third project is also happening this week, and this will impact everyone who travels over the Oliver Bridge, located over the St. Louis River at the junction of Minnesota Hwy 39 and Wisconsin Hwy 105.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Oliver Bridge will be closed on Thursday, September 14, and Friday, September 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for a scheduled inspection.

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MnDOT says the bridge will close at 8:30 a.m. each day, and all equipment will be removed from the bridge and be re-opened to traffic by 4:30 p.m. each day. There are already changeable message signs in place to let bridge users know about the daytime closures and the signs will remain in place until the inspection work is completed.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution and slow down in work zones where workers are present. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule-permitting and subject to change.