DETROIT -- A construction project to improve the lakeshore near the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, Minnesota will start the first week of May 2025.
The project will construct a shoreline protection system comprised of a concrete tee-wall armored by a stone revetment to decrease the adverse effects of weather and wave damage. The improvements provide needed upgrades 200 feet of the pedestrian walkway and ultimately connect the City of Duluth's Lake Walk structure to the Duluth Ship Canal North Pier.
The Corps of Engineers awarded the $3.15 million contract to Northern Interstate Construction (NIC) of South Range, Wisconsin. The work is anticipated to take place on site from May 2025 through November 2025 with a winter intermission and final landscaping and grading to carry over into the Spring of 2026. Work will be confined to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday during the construction with standard construction noise levels. The project is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“We are excited to begin this important project for the resilience of our federal structures in Canal Park and the opportunity to improve the access experience for the millions of visitors coming to the property each year,” said Monica Anderson, Corps of Engineers, Duluth Area Office Project Engineer. “While there may be a temporary inconvenience during the construction period, these improvements will keep the area accessible and safe for years to come.”
Visitors to Canal Park should be aware of construction traffic and signage while navigating the area. The Duluth Ship Canal North Pier will remain accessible to the public, but the remainder of the grounds adjacent to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center will be prohibited during construction. The Visitor Center will remain open throughout construction with the pedestrian pathway being shifted temporarily for safety. Visitors are advised to use caution and obey all relevant traffic control measures.
More than 500,000 visitors stop at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center each year to see the museum and learn about the Corps of Engineers and rich shipping industry on the Great Lakes. Annually, an estimated 1.5 million pedestrians enjoy the Duluth Ship Canal North and South Pier and Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge where the largest freighters regularly pass through. The Corps of Engineers thanks the public for its patience and adherence to all safety signage, barriers, cones, and caution tape during the project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, maintains a navigation system of 81 harbors and channels joining lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie.
More about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District at https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/.