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Motorists bound for Duluth, North Shore encouraged to 'come early and stay late' or use alternate routes

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead this summer to avoid the heaviest travel times on Interstate 35 or use an alternative route — especially during holiday or major event weekends. Multiple construction projects are underway on I-35 between White Bear Lake and Duluth.

June 10, 2011 at 9:11PM

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

MnDOT District 1 press release

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead this summer to avoid the heaviest travel times on Interstate 35 or use an alternative route -- especially during holiday or major event weekends.

Multiple construction projects are underway on I-35 between White Bear Lake and Duluth.

Grandma's Marathon, slated for June 18, is one of Duluth's biggest events attracting 50,000 people to 60,000 people, according to marathon officials.

"Peak traffic levels on I-35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth typically occur between noon and 8 p.m. on Fridays and between noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays," said Roberta Dwyer, MnDOT engineer/project manager. "Motorists can avoid congestion by traveling during off-peak times."

County Highway 61 and Highway 23 are good alternative routes to bypass work zones on I-35 north of Hinckley.

A map showing the alternative routes, I-35 project locations and other details is posted on the I-35 projects website.

"There is no reason motorists should avoid traveling to and enjoying Duluth and the North Shore this summer," said Dwyer. "Travelers can get here with minimal delays with a little planning and patience. The finished I-35 improvement projects will preserve I-35 infrastructure and provide a smoother and safer ride surface for motorists."

For real-time traveler information anywhere in Minnesota visit 511mn.org or dial 511.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Peregrine falcon chick banding scheduled for June 13

Representatives of the Raptor Resource Project assisted by Minnesota Power personnel will be
banding newly-hatched peregrine falcon chicks Monday, June 13 at company generating
stations in Cohasset and Duluth.

Minnesota Power has been hosting peregrine hatchlings at a nest box atop an unused 350-foot
Boswell Energy Center stack in Cohasset since 1992. The company recently added another
peregrine nest box at its Hibbard Renewable Energy Center on the St. Louis River in West
Duluth. Both nests can be viewed live via webcams at www.mnpower.com.

Bob Anderson and Amy Ries of the Raptor Resource Project (RRP) are scheduled to arrive at
Boswell at 8 a.m. June 13 to band peregrine chicks born this spring. Later that day they'll nr
heading to the Hibbard nest to band chicks there.

Peregrine chicks hatched at Boswell and Hibbard about six weeks ago. Before they leave their
nests for good, the RRP volunteers will place identification bands on the birds' legs for future
tracking purposes. Established in 1988, the non-profit RRP specializes in the preservation of
falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. The project directly manages more than 23 nest
sites, many hosted by electric utility companies.

Peregrine falcons, nature's fastest birds, were rendered nearly extinct by the use of the
pesticide DDT by the early 1970s. But the bird has made a comeback, thanks in large part to
organizations like RRP and companies like Minnesota Power willing to assist in the protection
of the birds.

Peregrine falcons feed primarily on other birds they take in the air, such as ducks, pheasants
and pigeons.

Source: Minnesota Power press release

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Hyper-local Duluth news & sports

. Duluth Police is searching for Isadoros Green (right), 37, on a St. Louis County warrant for 2nd Degree Burglary.

. A SUID Film Festival is being held in Duluth this weekend. Emily McNeill lists her recommendations here.

. Scott Collver, John Foschi and George Lewis are recipients of Grandma's Marathon 2011 Rudy Perpich Public Service Award. The annual award recognizes current or former public employees or elected officials who have exhibited dedication and service to the 35-year event.

. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is preparing to treat approximately 342 acres of land in the city of Duluth to slow the spread of a gypsy moth infestation identified last summer. Officials will conduct the treatments on Sunday, depending on weather conditions. Read more.

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