The long Highway 61 construction season has ended in Grand Marais, the constant sounds of earthmoving equipment and trucks that ran from 6 a.m. until dark has quieted.
No more re-routes to drive to the post office, Grand Marais State Bank, or a favorite grocery store.
No more sideway entries into Subway, no more impediments that caused you to duck and dodge into Marathon gas station or slalom course that caused you to finagle your vehicle into the North Shore Credit Union. The Highway 61 construction through the east side of Grand Marais is done for the season, and the road has been put back together and runs in a straight line again. The truck detour on County Road 7 was removed October 3 and MnDOT decommissioned the stoplight at the intersection of County Road 7 and 5th Avenue West for the winter.
All of the commotion, disruption, and noise are gone; for now, anyway. MnDOT crews reconstructed and resurfaced Highway 61 from north of Cutface Creek to north of Highway 14. Workers also resurfaced East Highway 61 and finished a bridge project from Reservation Bay Road to the Canadian Border.
In Grand Marais, new box culverts, storm sewer work, grading, and sidewalks were installed, along with a bike lane. Work is still ongoing for the Gitchee Gami bike path. The bridge below the Fall River waterfall isn’t completed yet. When finished, the bike path will run from Grand Marais to Cut Face Creek, a distance of five miles.
Next May, weather permitting, construction crews will be back working on the west side of town. Once again, box culverts will be installed, drainage systems improved, new sidewalks and bike lanes built. They will also construct a new entry into the Grand Marais Rec Park near the North House Folk School.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will also close Highway 61 for a period of about one month to remove pollutants from an area near the Visitor’s Center. Until then, enjoy the relative peace and quiet.
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