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City of Duluth, U.S. EPA update on Cross City Trail detour as cleanup continues

[Duluth, MN] At the end of June 2021, a portion of the Cross City Trail and adjacent city-owned land were closed to accommodate cleanup and restoration work in the ponds behind Erie Pier. This area is part of the St. Louis Area of Concern and contains contaminated sediment in the ponds and Shoppers Creek. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have been conducting a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative sediment remediation project to clean-up the area. The project has required a long-term closure and detour to a portion of the Cross City Trail. Work on this project, and the closure and detour associated, are expected to continue until July 1, 2023. The City of Duluth and EPA ask the public to continue to avoid the closed section of the Cross City Trail until the project is completed.

The portion of the trail that will remain closed during the project is located off Ramsey Street below I-35 and stretches to South 40th Avenue West. The detour directs trail users at Ramsey Street and Recycle Way to Mike Colalillo Drive. Users will follow Mike Colalillo Drive to Grand Avenue, where they turn northeast on Grand Avenue until they reach North 34th Avenue West. Once they reach this location, users can turn south on North 34th Avenue and connect to West Superior Street, with the option of reconnecting to the existing Trail through Lincoln Park or passing over I-35. Users should be advised that the trail is again closed at 37th Avenue West and will need to turn around.

During the remediation, the closed portion of the Cross City Trail will be used to address approximately 45,000 cubic yards of material contaminated with heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PCBs), and dioxins. Removing the contaminated sediment will improve the health of the St. Louis River and Lake Superior. After the in-water work is complete and the contaminated sediment is transported off-site, the Trail and other impacted areas will undergo restoration and revegetation.

The City of Duluth and U.S. EPA thank Duluth residents and trail users for their ongoing patience during this important step in the restoration of the waterfront in West Duluth.

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