Any delays worth mentioning? Thanks.

There is road/bridge work on I35 between Rush and Pine Cities. It is only worth mentioning if you are headed north through there on Friday or Saturday. I’m not sure if they are still working on the 40th Ave bridge in Duluth, but that would also only be a problem on I35 during the weekend. The road work on MN61 from Two Harbors to Silver Creek is hardly worth the time I spent typing about it.

I haven't been south of the Cities or on 35W in MPLS for a while, so I don't have any first hand knowledge there.

I'd take a look at this site... lots of good info: Minnesota Road Work

I'm planning on stopping at the get together tomorrow afternoon and needing to get to Ely sometime before midnight. Any suggestions on when I should leave MSP?

I’d leave no later than 7:00pm. No telling how much traffic will be heading north tomorrow.

I'm going to mention the stretch of Hwy 61 North from Two Harbors, MN to Silver Bay, MN. I used Hwy 61 to travel northbound to Sawbill. The road construction added about 40 mins of stop and crawl traffic.
On my return, I detoured around the road construction. In Silver Bay I took a right on Forest 11 and followed for 23.5 miles eastward, then a left on Co.2/Forest 15 for 25 miles southbound to Two Harbors.
The detour added 23.5 miles to the odometer. Time of traveling was
the same.

mjmkjun: "I'm going to mention the stretch of Hwy 61 North from Two Harbors, MN to Silver Bay, MN. ..."

Almost all of that has been completed. Upon returning to Two Harbors from Grand Marais last Wednesday afternoon both lanes of travel were open, and I didn’t even have to slow down.
Oh, and you traveled right past my place on your detour.

looks like another beautiful drive up thru wisconsin for me next week, thanks all.
i have 2 options, north to rochester and the cites, or over to la crosse and north to duluth.
really about the same time, just less hassle without the twin city traffic.

I've been through there 6 times in the last 6 weeks. You can skirt the 35 const. by exiting at Harris and taking 61 to Pine City, then back on 35. Little time lost if the traffic is heavy. Same on the way back.

inspector13: "

mjmkjun: "I'm going to mention the stretch of Hwy 61 North from Two Harbors, MN to Silver Bay, MN. ..."

Almost all of that has been completed. Upon returning to Two Harbors from Grand Marais last Wednesday afternoon both lanes of travel were open, and I didn’t even have to slow down.
Oh, and you traveled right past my place on your detour.

"

...and I didn't even toot the horn! :-) Nice area. Very nice.