3/9/2010 by Wayne Nelson

At the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) District 1 office, they call it the “megaproject,” the largest highway and bridge project in Northeastern Minnesota since the Interstate 35 extension from downtown Duluth to 26th Avenue East that opened in 1992.

“This is the biggest road and bridge project by far since the extension to 26th Avenue East,” said MnDOT project manager Roberta Dwyer, adding the cost of that project over several years included underground tunnels and exceeded $200 million. That newer section, now 20-years old, also is due for repairs and is part of the 2010-11 project.

With an overall price tag estimated at $81 million, the reconstruction of the nearly 50-year old stretch of I-35 between Boundary and Garfield Avenues on the west side will bring mega-headaches for travelers — particularly truckers — over the next two summers beginning in April.

The highlights:

2010 construction

• Replace northbound pavement from 46th Avenue West to 21st Avenue West “Can of Worms” interchange, repair/painting of interchange bridges.

• Replace northbound bridges at NewPage paper mill and ore docks (36th Avenue West).

• Pavement replacement near Boundary Ave. (U.S. 2), repairs on bridges from Cody Street to Central Avenue.

• Remove unused railroad bridges near 27th and 37th Avenues West.

• I-35 pavement repairs from 5th Avenue West to 26th Avenue East.

2010 traffic impacts (April to November, unless otherwise noted)

• I-35 northbound lanes will close between Central and Garfield Avenues with traffic diverted to southbound lanes.

• I-35 northbound lanes will close from Boundary to Central Avenues with traffic diverted to southbound lanes.

• Trucks will be detoured from Thompson Hill on I-35 to Midway Road and U.S. 53.

• On-off ramps will close between Boundary and Garfield avenues.

• I-35 traffic will be restricted to one lane both northbound and southbound between 5th Avenue West and 26th Avenue East (July-August, after Grandma’s Marathon).

Winter 2010 and 2011 (all roads and ramps open)

2011 construction

• Replace southbound bridges at paper mill and ore docks.

• Replace southbound pavement from 46th Avenue West to Can of Worms interchange, repair/painting of interchange bridges.

2011 traffic impacts (April to November unless otherwise noted)

• Southbound I-35 closure and traffic diversion to northbound lanes between Central and Garfield Avenues.

• Ramp closures between Central and Garfield avenues.

The project will spill over into 2012 with the closure of 40th Avenue West ramps for reconstruction.

Project bids for 2010 work will be opened in late March and major construction will be underway in May.

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