New Road Reopening, New Partial Road Closure Set For Duluth

The $435 million Twin Ports Interchange Project has required year-round work as crews reconstruct the I-35/I-535/Hwy 53 interchange. While road closures and delays continue, noticeable progress is being made.

This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced both the reopening of a section of a road in Duluth and a partial road closing.

The good news is that both are signs of progress on the massive Twin Ports Interchange Project in Duluth.

The Twin Ports Interchange Project Moves Forward

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported this week that it is set to reopen Lower Michigan Street from Superior Street to 24th Avenue West, beginning Monday, September 30.

At the same time, work will begin on curb and gutter construction at the intersection of West Superior Street and West Michigan Street, near the M&H gas station.

Additionally, Superior Street will close between 21st Avenue West and 22nd Avenue West, for the installation of storm sewer crossings. The work in these areas is expected to take about three weeks.

The Mission Of The Twin Ports Interchange Project

The Twin Ports Interchange Project looks to improve safety by:

• Providing a new conventional design
• Relocating all exits and entrances to the right side of the roadway
• Improving merging sight distance and eliminating merge conflicts
• Eliminating weaving problems near the interchange
• Providing lane continuity for through I-35 traffic

Construction is expected to be completed around the summer of 2026 when landscaping and clean-up are expected to begin.

SEE NOW: Duluth Home Featuring Spectacular ‘Megadeck’ Has Now Been Sold

The video below shows what the freeway will look like when completed from a motorist’s view heading north on I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange area, then heading to southbound I-35 from I-535, or the Blatnik Bridge, through the Twin Ports Interchange area.