This Week’s Update And Changes For Three Downtown Duluth Street Closures

Three different street closures continue to affect traffic in downtown Duluth this month. According to the City of Duluth while some projects are nearing completion there will be some additional changes you should be aware of. Hopefully a heads up now will help you plan your route and get you to where you need to be on time. Here's what you need to know.

Superior Street (between 4th and 5th Ave West)

I watched the huge crane that has been involved with the maurices Headquarters successfully be removed over the past weekend. Although please note that it's not quite done yet, additional electrical connections needed for the maurices Headquarters will require closure of Superior Street (between 4th and 5th Ave West)on Tuesday, October 20,starting at 10:00 AM. The work should be completed by evening and the road will reopen to traffic for the Wednesday morning commute. Yay!

West Michigan Street (between 5th and 6th Ave West) 

There is electrical work planned for between the Duluth Depot and the Duluth Public Library along Michigan Street.  They expect to be done by October 26. Michigan Street between 5th and 6th and Ave West remains closed though. On Thursday, October 22 at 10:00 AM, the project will cross then over onto 5th Ave West for underground electrical connections. Motorists exiting I-35 into downtown will NOT be able to head north on 5th Ave West due to the extension of this project. The closure of 5th Ave West, between Michigan Street and Superior Street, will last until October 26 too.

Motorists headed north on I35 into downtown are recommended to exit at Superior Street or Mesaba Avenue. Those exiting at 5th Ave 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 Ave 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 22nd to the 26th.

The goal is to have 5th Ave 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 I35 can access downtown via Lake Avenue or by following the frontage road to 1st Ave West. In addition, the intersection at 3rd Ave West and the frontage road right below Michigan Street will be opened for those needing access to the 4th Ave West parking ramp from using the service road below Harbor City High School. As a reminder, Michigan Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave 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 of the month.

1st Ave West

The gas line project along 1st Ave West is on schedule allowing for motorists to now travel from 1st Ave West from Michigan Street up to West 1st Street. Motorists traveling along 2nd Street headed east will encounter reduced lanes at 1st Ave West. The gas line project is still underway between 2nd and 4th Streets and should be completed by the end of October.

Info via: City of Duluth Press Release