Main Route Through Eastern Duluth To The North Shore To See Closures During Lengthy Construction Project

Whether you live in the Duluth area and use this road regularly or you're a visitor who travels this route to head to the North Shore, a road construction project is about to significantly impact a busy traffic artery through a part of Duluth for a big chunk of this year.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be starting a lengthy project that will shut down portions of London Road starting on April 27 and lasting through most of the rest of 2026, with the rest of the project being completed next year.

Here's what to know about this project and the detour routes for traffic.

What is MNDOT doing during this London Road construction project?

At the heart of this project is the installation of two roundabouts along London Road in Duluth.

The first of the two roundabouts along London Road will be at 26th Avenue East, right where Interstate 35 ends and Highway 61 begins in Duluth. This intersection is now (mostly) controlled by a stoplight, though traffic off I-35 can currently merge onto London Road to head northbound, bypassing the stoplight.

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The second will be at the intersection of London Road and 40th Avenue East, right near where Ecumen Lakeshore is. This intersection is currently controlled by a stoplight.

Besides the two roundabouts, the whole stretch of London Road from the area of 26th Avenue East to just past 60th Avenue East will be resurfaced, pedestrian safety will be enhanced, and road drainage will be improved, among other things.

How long will this London Road construction project last?

The project will begin on Monday, April 27, 2026 and MNDOT says they expect it to last through the entire summer season and into fall.

MNDOT expects to wrap up this year's work by sometime in November of this year, and the remaining work will be completed in 2027.

What are the detours for this project?

The detours and traffic impacts will change as the project progresses.

The first phase of the project will see southbound traffic detoured along Superior Street from near Brighton Beach all the way to 21st Avenue East, while northbound traffic will be possible from 40th Avenue East northward, as you can see in the map below. This is expected to be the case from the start of the project until mid-June.

From mid-June until this fall, two-way traffic will be possible along London Road from 26th Avenue East to 40th Avenue East, with London Road only open to northbound traffic beyond that during construction.

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Southbound traffic will need to follow Superior Street to 21st Avenue East, as seen in the map below.

MNDOT says they will be providing regular updates on Wednesdays at 11 am starting on May 6. These online meetings will be on Microsoft Teams and are accessible here.