DULUTH, Minn. — A massive freeway project to untangle Duluth’s “Can of Worms” interchange is nearing completion.
Gov. Tim Walz and other local, state and federal officials gathered Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $435 million reconstruction of the junction of Interstate 35, Interstate 535 and U.S. 53.
The work began in 2020 and required an intricate rerouting of the busy interchange, which connects Superior, Wis., via the Blatnik Bridge.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the interchange sees an average daily traffic of 5,320 heavy commercial vehicles.
“Today does mark a major milestone for Duluth and for our region,” Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert said. “After years of construction, we are finally able to reconnect the backbone transportation system of northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. This completion today is not just about a safer, more efficient travel system, but again, a better-connected Twin Ports.”
Safety improvements include the elimination of left exits and blind merges, improved merging sight distance and increased lane continuity.
Funding was provided by MnDOT and federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
The interchange is scheduled to open to traffic on Oct. 24.
Duluth-Superior will have only a brief reprieve from disruptive road construction.
The deteriorating Blatnik Bridge, which spans the St. Louis River, is due for replacement itself starting next year.
The $1.8 billion project, which is expected to wrap up in 2031, is funded by MnDOT, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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