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       Pack a lunch for your trip through the Can of Worms
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 01:43PM
Pack a lunch for your trip through the Can of Worms

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
gravelroad 03/29/2021 06:27PM
I drove through the construction zone both southbound and northbound today. There is now a sign with lights that will flash when traffic is backed up. The sign is south of Thompson Hill.


The construction zone currently has a couple of nifty collision opportunities that will create the mother of all backups if they come to “fruition.” I’m thinking of buying a couple of these and positioning them atop the Hill and the parking area at the Lester River for charters:


Skycrane
inspector13 03/29/2021 11:57AM

For some reason I didn’t think of heading north on Waldo but saw the zigzag way by using August Otvedt Blvd. Thanks for the Clover Valley option. I just might need it if I go on a holiday weekend.


Speckled 03/29/2021 08:04AM
inspector13: "
Once last summer the expressway was so backed up people were taking Shoreview Rd trying to avoid Two Harbors. They must not have realized they were just taking the long way to Culvers. Too bad Fox Farm Rd doesn’t cross the Knife River north of the airport, since my place is quite a way up Hwy 2.



"



If you're headed up Hwy 2, shoreview to cardinal, to 20th to waldo to airport to Hwy 2.


Another option is Homestead road to West Knife River, Culbertson, valley rd, to Hwy 12 to Hwy 2. Wave as you drive by! It adds less than 5 minutes. A little bit of a heavy foot going down the homestead and you'll make that 5 minutes up pretty easily.
Speckled 03/29/2021 08:02AM
inspector13: "
Seeing this is a multi year project sort of makes me worried a bit. Back when they reworked I35 in the Denfeld/Lincoln Park area I took Midway to Martin to Jean Duluth following through Pequaywan to Hugo’s and Wales to get to my place. It took an extra 45 minutes but was a change in scenery. When I went through the construction area it only added an extra 10 minutes. But if things go like last summer with huge backups on 61, especially through Two Harbors, I just might have to revisit that detour.


"



Two Harbors traffic really backs up in the summer and last year was the worst I've seen it. Traffic would back up all the way past sonju's the one direction and into the tunnels at Silver Creek the other direction.
Jaywalker 03/26/2021 09:04PM
Are they still running the Superior-Two Harbors ferry?
inspector13 03/26/2021 07:06AM

Once last summer the expressway was so backed up people were taking Shoreview Rd trying to avoid Two Harbors. They must not have realized they were just taking the long way to Culvers. Too bad Fox Farm Rd doesn’t cross the Knife River north of the airport, since my place is quite a way up Hwy 2.


gravelroad 03/26/2021 06:00AM
inspector13: "
Seeing this is a multi year project sort of makes me worried a bit. Back when they reworked I35 in the Denfeld/Lincoln Park area I took Midway to Martin to Jean Duluth following through Pequaywan to Hugo’s and Wales to get to my place. It took an extra 45 minutes but was a change in scenery. When I went through the construction area it only added an extra 10 minutes. But if things go like last summer with huge backups on 61, especially through Two Harbors, I just might have to revisit that detour.


"



There’s always the Fox Farm Road alternative. Takes even longer but there’s a better chance of hitting a moose along the way. :-)
boonie 03/25/2021 06:12PM
I suppose there's a higher chance of trouble on the return trip, but I probably won't have the Canada option this year.
inspector13 03/25/2021 02:02PM

Seeing this is a multi year project sort of makes me worried a bit. Back when they reworked I35 in the Denfeld/Lincoln Park area I took Midway to Martin to Jean Duluth following through Pequaywan to Hugo’s and Wales to get to my place. It took an extra 45 minutes but was a change in scenery. When I went through the construction area it only added an extra 10 minutes. But if things go like last summer with huge backups on 61, especially through Two Harbors, I just might have to revisit that detour.

boonie 03/25/2021 12:28PM
inspector13: "boonie: "cowdoc: "I read this and looked at the maps and still not sure I'm seeing it all. If coming from Wi on 53 over the big bridge and headed north on 61, do I run into any of this ??"
I was also trying to figure it out cowdoc since I'm usually coming W through WI onto 53 then 535 to 35 to 61 N. It looks like it could be detoured onto 2 thru Superior and across the Bong bridge to 35. Not sure though - it was always confusing enough without construction detours . . . ;) "

I don't think you'll have to worry about it this year unless MNDOT has a weird definition of late fall. It looks like the ramps from northbound 535 to either northbound 53 or 35 close late fall 2021. I'm thinking late fall is mid October.



Traffic impacts.



"



I was waiting for you to chime in, Steve. I figure they are more likely to get behind schedule than ahead . . . :) so I'm not too worried about it at the moment.
inspector13 03/25/2021 08:11AM
PineKnot: "I usually come up 53 in Wisconsin. After the 535 bridge, I stay on 53 and head up the hill to the Miller Hill mall and hang a left towards Virginia/Ely.
Will coming over the 535 bridge require a detour to get on 53, or will I be able to avoid any detours to get on 53 up the hill?"

When it happens late fall here will be your detour.

inspector13 03/25/2021 07:59AM
boonie: "cowdoc: "I read this and looked at the maps and still not sure I'm seeing it all. If coming from Wi on 53 over the big bridge and headed north on 61, do I run into any of this ??"
I was also trying to figure it out cowdoc since I'm usually coming W through WI onto 53 then 535 to 35 to 61 N. It looks like it could be detoured onto 2 thru Superior and across the Bong bridge to 35. Not sure though - it was always confusing enough without construction detours . . . ;) "

I don't think you'll have to worry about it this year unless MNDOT has a weird definition of late fall. It looks like the ramps from northbound 535 to either northbound 53 or 35 close late fall 2021. I'm thinking late fall is mid October.


Traffic impacts.


HighnDry 03/24/2021 12:03PM
LindenTree: "History behind the Can of Worms and the current location of I-35. Duluth News Tribune.
This is a long read and it may be behind a pay wall for some, sorry.



I-35 brought controversy-opportunity "



Good read. Thanks! I pasted the link into Chrome to avoid the paywall or having to register. FYI.
PineKnot 03/24/2021 11:20AM
I usually come up 53 in Wisconsin. After the 535 bridge, I stay on 53 and head up the hill to the Miller Hill mall and hang a left towards Virginia/Ely.


Will coming over the 535 bridge require a detour to get on 53, or will I be able to avoid any detours to get on 53 up the hill?
LindenTree 03/24/2021 09:08AM
History behind the Can of Worms and the current location of I-35. Duluth News Tribune.
This is a long read and it may be behind a pay wall for some, sorry.


I-35 brought controversy-opportunity
LindenTree 03/24/2021 08:42AM
lundojam: "Take Midway Road and stop at the Northland's RV headquarters, Bullyan RV. Ask for Jim and I'll show you some fish pictures and get you a free cup of office coffee. "


Your on, I only live a few miles from there anyway and go into Bullyan a couple times a year.
lundojam 03/24/2021 06:10AM
Take Midway Road and stop at the Northland's RV headquarters, Bullyan RV. Ask for Jim and I'll show you some fish pictures and get you a free cup of office coffee.
Unas10 03/24/2021 04:24AM
When did the section of U.S. Route 53 that is basically the Blatnik Bridge, get the I-535 designation? I am only through Duluth 2 or 3 times a year and this discussion is the first I have ever been aware of I-535.


If I am reading this correctly, those of us coming from Wisconsin on 53 and heading up the north shore will skirt the major congestion. Coming back might get into it a bit on the approach to the Blatnik Bridge.
gravelroad 03/23/2021 09:19PM
bretthexum: "Yikes... we take the Cloquet way to the Ely side anyway, but may have to get creative for North Shore entry especially with weekend traffic.



Maybe exit Midway Rd and head across somewhere? There's no good way really but I'd definitely get off the interstate."



I hate to cut my own throat, but here’s a suggestion if things are truly, truly bad:


Midway > Arrowhead > Woodland > 26th Ave. E. > London Road.


Think that’s nuts? Think about the stoplights you will otherwise hit while following the MNDOT detours and the resulting backups all the way to London Road from West Duluth.
Speckled 03/23/2021 09:15PM
Northwoodsman: "Duluth was the first "big city" that I ever lived in. Moving there from a small town in west central MN, I thought the traffic was terrible. Where I came from traffic congestion was more than one other car at a 4 way stop or getting behind a tractor towing machinery on a country road. From Duluth I moved to Dallas. I'll take the worst day of traffic that Duluth has to offer any day!"


I had the opposite experiance. I moved from MSP in 95 to Duluth, and my perception of Duluth traffic was it was non-existent.
HighnDry 03/23/2021 09:01PM
I've always wanted to see Hermantown...maybe this is the year! (as a detour)
Northwoodsman 03/23/2021 06:24PM
Duluth was the first "big city" that I ever lived in. Moving there from a small town in west central MN, I thought the traffic was terrible. Where I came from traffic congestion was more than one other car at a 4 way stop or getting behind a tractor towing machinery on a country road. From Duluth I moved to Dallas. I'll take the worst day of traffic that Duluth has to offer any day!
boonie 03/23/2021 06:08PM
I don't know, but sometimes it's better not to try to get too creative, especially us "foreigners". I've got to head into Duluth Pack Store to pick up my permit anyway.
cowdoc 03/23/2021 04:59PM
I've taken the Bong Bridge before. If that's all it takes, I can handle that. Just wasn't sure if there were issues on 35 from there up.
boonie 03/23/2021 03:51PM
cowdoc: "I read this and looked at the maps and still not sure I'm seeing it all. If coming from Wi on 53 over the big bridge and headed north on 61, do I run into any of this ??"


I was also trying to figure it out cowdoc since I'm usually coming W through WI onto 53 then 535 to 35 to 61 N. It looks like it could be detoured onto 2 thru Superior and across the Bong bridge to 35. Not sure though - it was always confusing enough without construction detours . . . ;)
AlmostCanadian 03/23/2021 03:20PM
This is the Can of Worms section Taking WI 53 will likely clip the edge of this construction. I wouldn't expect the work to directly this route until this fall. It may mean merging into one lane traffic for a quarter mile but I wouldn't expect much a delay until they reconstruct the ramp. Keep an eye out for updates closer to when you are traveling, they seem to be planning to take this slow which means it will take even longer.
Speckled 03/23/2021 03:03PM
cowdoc: "I read this and looked at the maps and still not sure I'm seeing it all. If coming from Wi on 53 over the big bridge and headed north on 61, do I run into any of this ??"


I think you could come across 535, take the garfield exit to railroad to lake ave back on to 35. If that's a viable route...you and every other driver will be doing the same thing.


If I were going to go through town, I would exit on Grand Ave way in advance of all this, get on Grand/3rd, then 5th to 4th to 3rd across piedmont. 3rd to mesaba, mesaba to 4th then stay on 4th to Hawthorne and down to superior st, superior st to 61.


At third option and more scenic option would be to take Skyline Parkway all the way through Duluth. It's a nice drive with great views for sure.
https://duluthmn.gov/media/7719/skyline_map.pdf


cowdoc 03/23/2021 02:26PM
I read this and looked at the maps and still not sure I'm seeing it all. If coming from Wi on 53 over the big bridge and headed north on 61, do I run into any of this ??
bretthexum 03/23/2021 02:06PM
Yikes... we take the Cloquet way to the Ely side anyway, but may have to get creative for North Shore entry especially with weekend traffic.


Maybe exit Midway Rd and head across somewhere? There's no good way really but I'd definitely get off the interstate.
gravelroad 03/21/2021 07:49PM
Unfamiliar with this Duluth highlight? You’re about to get an up close and personal tour:

“ Current to early-spring 2021
Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 19, southbound I-35 will close near 27th Avenue West in Duluth. During the closure, traffic will be routed up and back down the 27th Avenue West ramps. Closures are anticipated to last through Saturday, March 20 and into the evening. This work is needed for crews to set precast bridge girders over the southbound lanes of I-35 and begin building the deck for the new 27th Avenue West Bridge.

“Work to re-construct the 27th Avenue West Bridge is ongoing. Ramps remain open, but the bridge is closed to cross traffic.
In the coming weeks look for short-term, single-lane closures on northbound and southbound I-35 near the 27th Avenue West Bridge.

“Late spring, summer and early-fall 2021
I-35 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction between 27th Avenue West and Garfield Avenue.
The 27th Avenue West Bridge will reopen after completion. Short term ramp closures will be required for reconstruction of the ramps.
19th Avenue West, between Michigan and Lower Michigan will be closed for utility construction.

“Lower Michigan Street will be closed for utility and roadway construction
The ramp from northbound I-535 to southbound I-35 will close for demolition
Streets to be closed for utility and roadway construction
(not all closed at the same time)

“22nd Avenue West, between Michigan Street and 1st Street
Superior Street and Michigan Street, 100 feet each way of 22nd Avenue West
Note: Check back periodically for more detailed information on specific street closures and durations from May 2021 until late fall 2021.

“Late-fall 2021
Traffic will remain in this configuration until fall 2022
Southbound I-35 traffic will be moved to Lower Michigan Street in two lanes between Garfield Avenue and 22nd Avenue West and northbound I-35 will be diverted to the existing southbound lanes of I-35.
Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained.”


I-35, I-535, Hwy 53 Twin Ports Interchange - Traffic Impacts