Road work might start earlier than planned on Highway 61

Because of the warmer than usual early spring weather, the second year of the Highway 61 road project through Grand Marais may start earlier than planned. Then again, it may not.

According to Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) Project Engineer Edward Welch, “There is potential for the contractor to start early. Unfortunately, at this time I do not have a definitive answer, because it depends on a handful of variables like the weather continuing to stay warm, and whether that leads to Spring Load Restrictions in this area of the state being lifted early as a result. The prime contractor has expressed interest in starting early if they are able to, so if the load restrictions lift early, there is a possibility of them starting up to two weeks earlier, on May 3, as opposed to the currently planned May 17.”

MnDOT will perform pavement preservation, pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, drainage improvements, plus sidewalk and trail construction as the roadwork progresses through Grand Marais. Highway 61 will undergo reconstruction .01 miles south of County Road 14.

Also, the second phase of the Highway 61 roadwork located between the Reservation Bay Road and the US/Canadian Border, a distance of 17 miles, will also be finished by the fall of 2021.