Was up the Echo Trail this past weekend and saw a significant amount of trees along the shoulder have been cut down. I know they are doing some other road construction this summer, but anyone know what is going on with the shoulders?

-Road safety?
-Snow clearance?
-Something more???

They've been clearing ditches of many roads in northern St Louis county. I believe increasing visibility is the rationale? It looks crummy now but, think it will make the roads safer in the long run.

...of course, there's always (at least) 2 perspectives to every story.

I’m in favor of the road clearing. Might give me two or three more seconds to stomp on my brake pedal when an animal decides to cross the road.

Savage Voyageur: "I’m in favor of the road clearing. Might give me two or three more seconds to stomp on my brake pedal when an animal decides to cross the road. "

Or an SUV coming around some of those sharp turns!

CabinAfter: "

Savage Voyageur: "I’m in favor of the road clearing. Might give me two or three more seconds to stomp on my brake pedal when an animal decides to cross the road. "

Or an SUV coming around some of those sharp turns!"

I agree

I think they clear the shoulders and it turns into a nice grassy area for the dear to come eat. Look at Highway 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors, Nice big grassy median, nice big grassy shoulders and hills - there's deer every where. Deer grazing on the grass, dead bloody dear laying on the side of the road. It's ridiculous. You can drive a back road (not cleared) and hardly see a deer.

Speckled: "I think they clear the shoulders and it turns into a nice grassy area for the dear to come eat. Look at Highway 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors, Nice big grassy median, nice big grassy shoulders and hills - there's deer every where. Deer grazing on the grass, dead bloody dear laying on the side of the road. It's ridiculous. You can drive a back road (not cleared) and hardly see a deer."

My kid and I counted 30 some deer on the way into Ely a few weeks ago. They are everywhere, all along the side of the road spread out for a few miles heading into town

Speckled: "I think they clear the shoulders and it turns into a nice grassy area for the dear to come eat. Look at Highway 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors, Nice big grassy median, nice big grassy shoulders and hills - there's deer every where. Deer grazing on the grass, dead bloody dear laying on the side of the road. It's ridiculous. You can drive a back road (not cleared) and hardly see a deer."

I agree.
The Echo trail is fine....just slow down. Enabling people to speed up, will bring on more accidents with animals and cars.
I hit a deer going 70 (the speed limit) a few years ago in Wisconsin and totaled our car....thank God wife & dogs & I were ok.
That wouldn't happen that badly, going 40 on the Echo Trail.