How The Reconstruction Of Mesaba Avenue Pedestrian Bridge In Duluth Will Impact Traffic Through Fall
A pedestrian bridge connecting two popular areas of Duluth over the freeway will be shut down, with detours being put in place and temporary vehicle traffic impacts on the freeway below as the bridge is being replaced.
The pedestrian bridge over I-35 that connects Duluth's Canal Park to the Lincoln Park Craft District and extends a biking and walking route from the Lakewalk westward along the Cross-City Trail will be torn down starting on Friday night, June 12.
The estimated $3.2 million project will see the removal of the current pedestrian bridge over the freeway near the I-35 and Mesaba Avenue split, replacing it with a new bridge that meets current standards over the freeway below, current ADA and trail width standards, and also offers "aesthetic improvements" over the current bridge.
Vehicle traffic impacts & detours
The removal process is expected to start at 10 pm on Friday, June 12, and is expected to last until 5 am on Monday, June 15. During this time, vehicular traffic will be detoured to I-535 to Garfield Avenue to Railroad Street to 5th Avenue West.
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MNDOT says they will not conduct any work during Grandma's Marathon Weekend, but there are some expected lane closures and shifts in traffic on I-35 when work resumes through the rest of the summer and into this fall.
The approximate timeframes and additional traffic impacts, according to MNDOT, are as follows:
Starting Monday, June 22, through mid-August 2026
When work resumes after Grandma's Marathon, westbound traffic on Mesaba Avenue (MN 194) will be closed.
There will be no direct access from I-35 to Mesaba Avenue or from West Superior Street to Mesaba Avenue during this time. A vehicle detour via Highway 53 will be in place.
Starting mid-August through late September 2026
The southbound I-35 on-ramp from Mesaba Avenue (MN 194) and from West Superior Street will be closed during this time. There will be a posted detour via Highway 53.
Starting mid-August through mid-October 2026
Also starting in mid-August, but lasting until further into fall, West Superior Street under Mesaba Avenue (MN 194) will be closed. A detour via West 1st Street to Mesaba Avenue will be in place.
Pedestrian and bicycle detours
Starting on Friday, when the bridge removal project gets underway, those looking to walk or bike from Canal Park to Lincoln Park or the Cross-City Trail will need to follow posted detours until the new bridge is opened.
The pedestrian and bike detour route will change through the summer, shifting pedestrian and bike traffic around the bridge project and other road projects in Lincoln Park.
The first detour, which starts on June 12 and extends through late-June, moves pedestrian and bike traffic along Railroad Street to Garfield Avenue, using the Garfield Avenue Bridge to cross I-35. You can see the route in the map below.
The second phase of detours is expected to start at the beginning of July, running through mid-August. This moves bicycle and pedestrian traffic under I-35 along Michigan Street to Superior Street at 6th Avenue West, and then along West Superior Street to Lincoln Park. You can see the route in the map below.
The final planned phase of detours uses the same trail passage under I-35 to Michigan Street, but uses West 1st Street to Mesaba Avenue instead of Superior Street for this phase to get to Lincoln Park and the Cross-City Trail. This timeframe is expected from mid-August through mid-October of 2026. You can see the route in the map below.
MNDOT says timelines for these detour phases are approximate and depend on the contractor and when they are able to complete phases of work. Possible project timelines may shift as work progresses.
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Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth
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