A large number of folks turned out to get a look at the architectural drawings depicting Highway 61 improvements through Grand Marais that will take place during the summer of 2019. The drawings were provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN DOT). MN DOT provided cards for suggestions and those comments were left for the engineers to consider as they make their final draft for the project.
It won’t be too long before the rubber meets the road, so to speak, for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN DOT) to finish gathering information and setting its final plans for the revamping and reconstruction of Highway 61 through Grand Marais.
“Our engineers will start working on the final plans in April,” said MN DOT Project Manager Roberta Dwyer at a final public meeting held Thursday, Feb. 2 at Grand Marais City Hall.
Dozens of citizens came to look at architecturally drawn maps spread across tables that detailed the 11.23-mile project, with most concerned about the half-mile stretch of work that will take place through town. Dwyer set out forms for people to write comments about the proposed job, and asked that comments include specific locations in the response. At meeting’s end, she gathered the responses and took them back to be studied to see if any ideas could be included in the final plan.
Total estimated cost of the work is $11.1 million, said Dwyer, adding the funds had been promised to MN DOT.
Highlights of the proposal include repaving 61 from 1.8 miles north of Cutface Creek to .1 mile south of County State Aid Highway 14 (CSAH). The drainage system will be repaired or replaced, and two box culverts will be replaced.
In Grand Marais, Highway 61 will be narrowed from 8th Avenue West to 4th Avenue East to include two 11-foot-wide driving lanes, an eight-foot parking lane plus two-foot gutters.
The center left turn lane will be removed between 8th Avenue West and 5th Avenue West. A new trail will be constructed along the south side of Highway 61 from 3rd Avenue West to Broadway, connecting the existing trail to the new sidewalk.
Sidewalk will be added or replaced on the north side of Highway 61 from 8th Avenue to Broadway and on the south side of 61 from 8th Avenue West to 6th Avenue West and from Broadway to just east of 4th Avenue East.
Included in this work will be upgrading curb ramps at intersections and new pedestrian push buttons at the Broadway Avenue intersection.
Construction is scheduled for the summer of 2019, and the roadway will be open to traffic during construction.
Leave a Reply