Phase 2 NW Skywalk Passage Update With New Traffic Closures For I-35

Construction in the Twin Ports continues with work being done on the Bong Bridge, many roadways in the area, the new Whole Foods Co-op in West Duluth, the maurices Corporation building and DTA's downtown transportation center (to name a few).  The latter has caused a 3 to 4 month closure of a popular skywalk for many foot pedestrians.  The roadwork being done has been completed and new closures are starting on I-35.

The Railroad Street detour will end this Sunday, July 26th at about 6pm and an I-35 closures will begin that nght.

Also, the frontage road alongside northbound I-35 between 5th Avenue West and Lake Avenue will reopen on July 30th at 6:00 p.m. That will conclude the Phase I detour around the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC).  YAY!

However, the northbound side of I-35 will be closed at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday July 26th and reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27th. That shouldn't affect to many morning commuters.  The nighttime only closure of northbound I-35 will continue on July 27th through Friday morning (at 6 a.m.), July 31st. It will also occur from Sunday, August 2nd through Friday morning (at 6 a.m.), August 7th. This process will last approximately 10 nights.   During this nighttime closure, the detour will be via 5th Avenue West, Railroad Street, and Lake Avenue and then back onto the freeway.

In the near future, there will also be some partial lane closures during the day.  They will affect Northbound I -35 will beginning on Friday, August 7th and continue until Saturday, August 22nd. During the first week, August 7th to August 14th, the right lane and on-ramp from 5th Avenue West will be closed. But you'll be able to use the left lane as that will remain open for through traffic. During the second week, August 15th to August 22nd, it will be the opposite, the left lane will be closed, but the right lane and on-ramp from 5th Avenue West will then be open.

Also, in the coming weeks, the southbound lane of I-35 will be closed at night from Sunday, August 2nd to Friday, August 7th at 6:00 a.m., and then again from Sunday, August 9th to Wednesday, August 12th. This nighttime closure will occur from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The detour will be for southbound traffic to exit at Lake Avenue and continue on the frontage road to 5th Avenue West and then back onto southbound I-35 via the on-ramp. Daytime lane restrictions will start on Monday, August 17th for I-35 southbound traffic. More information will follow regarding this.

This coming Monday, July 27, the DTA Shuttle Buses will use Railroad Street with the main stop located just below the Northwest Passage. Please note the Shuttle Bus will no longer enter the DECC parking lot to pick-up passengers.

Thank you to Heath Hickok, the DTA Director of Marketing for sharing this information with us, so we can keep you in the know.  Check back often, we will share any information the DTA passes along.