An overview of the North Shore Resiliency Study was featured during the City Council’s first July meeting, giving a look at present concerns about Highway 61 and how to best prepare for future problems. The presentation of the study, also known as the Highway 61 Alternative Routes Study, was given by Erika Shepard, Transportation Planner with MnDOT District 1 in Duluth and MnDOT’s Principal Planner for the study. MnDOT has partnered with ARDC (Arrowhead Regional Development Commission) for the project, though unfortunately the ARDC representative was unable to attend this Council meeting as planned.
The study’s focus, according to Shepard, is simply: “What happens if and when Highway 61 has to close?” The road is the major vein connecting the North Shore, but as recent events have shown, we cannot always depend on it to be accessible. Current detours are often painstakingly long and out of the way, leading far inland before meandering back towards the Lake. There are currently no official alternate routes, so the goal of the study is to find, and possibly create, alternatives to serve during emergencies and any other reasons that might crop up.
The area being studied consists of a 125-mile stretch starting from Two Harbors all the way to the Canadian Border, across Lake and Cook Counties, state and federal forests and parks, and last but not least through the Grand Portage Reservation. Because of the sheer size and range of the area, its study has been divided into ten sections, each with its own share of risks and vulnerabilities to consider.
The study is still in the early stage of assessing current conditions and collecting data from roadways in the region and checking for climate, environmental, and infrastructure vulnerabilities on Hwy 61. Although MnDOT led, all public roads are being considered for the purpose of this study, whether owned by county, township, federal, or city. Following that, the schedule for this fall is to do detour analysis and consider which routes make the best possible alternatives, based on factors such as length and time to travel, viability throughout the seasons, and use for different vehicles and traffic volume. Closure risks such as dams, culverts, bridges, coastal erosion, landslide risk, wildfire risk, and crash risk will also be taken into account.
By winter, the study is aiming to be in the concept development stage, plotting out where to make infrastructure improvements not only on Highway 61 but also on local roadways and other related features like culverts. Ideally, in spring of next year, the study will be wrapping up and presenting partners, stakeholders, and the public with the fruits of their labor: plans for recommended detours and infrastructure improvements, prioritized for emergency management and climate resilience.
To get this study done right, MnDOT and ARDC have been coordinating with Lake and Cook Counties, the U.S. Forest Service, the DNR, and the Grand Portage Band. Focus group meetings in April covered a wide variety of topics and communities to ensure all aspects were accounted for, and the team’s monthly project management meeting includes several members of MnDOT, engineers from Cook and Lake County, and a representative from the Forest Service. They are currently meeting with members of Lake County during July to inform residents about the study, with plans to similarly contact Cook County in August. After the study ends, the hope is that local, federal, and tribal partners will be able to use the results of the study to apply for grant funding to make suggested improvements.
To emphasize the importance of the study, the presentation highlighted a few recent events that have closed Highway 61: the planned closures in Hovland last year and this year for culvert replacements, the blizzard during mid-February this past winter, and the Stewart Trail Fire in May. The Stewart Trail Fire provided good data for the team on how current detours are working in the stretch between Two Harbors and Silver Bay, with Shepard noting the need for improvements to make sure recommended detours are helpful and usable by the public and stating that “hopefully this study will be able to make sure that we’re better prepared” for the inevitable next emergency.
Data collection is currently underway with the team using software called RoadAI to help map out all the roadways of the North Shore. The technology scans roadway width, material, landmarks, and traffic signs from a car dashboard as it passes through. After this, team members manually go through video footage to ensure data was identified correctly and fix mistakes made by the software. Culverts are covered in a more traditional way, by visiting on foot and taking notes on condition, road settlement, erosion, and whether it is plugged or obstructed.
The study has already identified three large gaps between detours along Highway 61: County Road 2 and County Road 3, leading to a detour delaying you 8-13 minutes; Castle Danger Road to County Road 4, a delay of 12-15 minutes; and County Road 6 to Sugarloaf Road, where the shortest recognizable detour takes an extra 30-35 minutes.
The study team plans to get back in touch with the Two Harbors City Council after the data analysis phase to give an update and ensure nothing has been missed by the team. Shepard wrapped up by emphasizing that input from locals is highly encouraged, providing several prompts: what risk factors the team might be missing in their study, what risk factors matter most to locals, if any certain roads work better as detours, and how having Highway 61 closed through Two Harbors will affect residents on a daily basis.
Committee reports for the meeting included Personnel continuing work on updates to the current contract for airport manager and the Planning & Zoning Commission holding a public hearing for an auto repair business regarding off-street parking. THEDA discussed and had the Golden Shovel marketing strategy proposal approved at this meeting. Public Arts selected a mural artist for the bandshell cover, though the condition of the bandshell itself continues to be a concern; artists for the 2026 mural and electrical box projects were approved during this meeting, and a special meeting will be held at a later date for discussion on what to do about the bandshell. The North Shore Management Board met at the new Trailhead Center in Silver Bay, which Councilor Redmann complimented, and renewed their contract with ARDC. The Rec Board reviewed the park’s master plan and requested approval of the plan be tabled until the next meeting, with City Planner Sarah Swedburg explaining the importance of ensuring all different aspects of the park are covered and that there is a good balance between what the public wants and what the city has the budget for.
In other updates, City Administrator Patty Nordean is in talks with County Administrator Matt Huddleston to work out an optimal location for a new dog park, with one potential underutilized parcel being seriously considered.
Consent agenda items of note included: approving Richard Kempfert as Public Works Assistant Director; the purchase of concrete and rebar for a concrete service apron at the Public Works building; payment to Utility Systems of America, Inc for the 4th Street Watermain Replacement Project and the 15th Street & Alley Watermain Replacement Project; payment to Lake County for the 2024 & 2025 Street Improvement Project; payment to Lakehead Constructors for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project; the purchase and installation of epoxy flooring in the Burlington Bay Campground Bathhouse to alleviate drainage issues in the showers; execution of the Joint Powers Agreement with the NorthShore Management Board; recommendation of Trees & Trails to approve Duluth Dirt for 2026/2027 tree planting; one year contract with Adobe Acrobat Sign Solutions; and added during the meeting at Councilor Glaser’s request (in absentia)referring a review of the cemetery ordinance to the Public Works committee.
Engineer Andy Brotzler covered a few major business items, confirming that plans to resurface Lake County Highway 27/15th Streetwere being coordinated with theCity’s current work to ensure the two do not conflict and cause extra expense. On the expense of a geotechnical service for the Lighthouse Point Road Project by Braun Intertec, he explained it involves contaminated soil in the area and is necessary environmental management of those contaminated materials. Brotzler also gave details on a relatively small change order for the 2024-2025 Street Improvement Project, as due to needing to handle an unexpected storm sewer line not in the city’s records. Finally, ano-parking zone will be designated along 15th Street from 7th Avenue to Marie Avenue.
The City Council and Mayor had some discussion concerning the NOAA Coastal Resiliency Grant, which has been awarded to Two Harbors, as potential plans for the area may involve needing to reduce the area involved and thus the scope of the grant, possibly to zero. Money from the grant would be put towards planning and engineering design but not be used for industrial or business purposes. The Council approved a motion to table and refer the matter to Public Affairs for further discussion.
A special council meeting will be held to schedule the League of Minnesota Cities’ City Council and Staff Roles and Responsibilities Workshop, with Mayor Lew Conner adding that “I think this is a good time for us to sit down and get us all on the same page.”
Last approved was a joint powers agreement between Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of Two Harbors for the Two Harbors Waterfront Project, which Nordean explained was for the purpose of grant administration.Before the meeting concluded, Nordean gave appreciation to the city employees and the Heritage Days Committee for making the Heritage Days event a success, noting that “residents and visitors had a wonderful time.”
