Enormous Minnesota Road Construction Project Hits Epic Milestone

For motorists in the area, it seems that the Twin Ports Interchange Project has been going on forever in Duluth.

The $435 million project began in 2020 with the reconstruction of the 27th Avenue West bridge over I-35, and since then, there have been countless closed roads, closed ramps, detours, and related traffic congestion.

However, all those things are getting closer to being a memory as the project hits the home stretch, as the Minnesota Department of Transportation recently announced that a significant milestone had been reached.

Twin Ports Interchange Project Hits Significant Milestone

The Minnesota Department of Transportation excitedly announced that the final bridge deck pour for the Twin Ports Interchange project took place on the evening of Thursday, July 17.

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The newly poured deck completed 145,260 cubic yards of concrete alongside 4,672 tons of reinforced steel, and it's a significant milestone as it officially marks the transition into the final phase of construction.

Once the new deck has cured, crews will shift focus to completing the deck wear course, pouring the median and deck barrier, bridge painting, signing, roadway and under-bridge lighting, under-bridge paving, and pavement markings.

MnDOT says that the project's new and more conventional design enhances safety by eliminating blind merges, replacing aging infrastructure, and better accommodating freight movements through the Twin Ports.

The I-35 and Highway 53 connection is on track to open the first week of November this year.

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The Twin Ports Interchange Project is expected to be fully completed around the summer of 2026, when landscaping and clean-up are expected to begin.