A major detour will start Tuesday due to repairs to a bridge over the Stony River between Babbitt and Hwy. 1. The detour will use Hwy. 21 toward Ely, Hwy. 120 (Blueberry Road) over to Hwy. 1 by the Ely Airport.
On June 9 the Lake County board approved the bid from Redstone Construction, LLC in the amount of $940,230.
The project will also cause the ATV trail to be rerouted. The detour will allow ATV use on Hwy. 1 for 3/4 of a mile from the intersection of Kelly Loop and Hwy. 1 traveling north to the Sawdust Trail.
Both detours are expected to be in place into September.
The Lake County Highway Department will be closing New Tomahawk Road (County Road 34) to through traffic between Hwy. 1 and Babbitt.
Signs were put up this past week letting the public know the closure starts at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The expected re-opening is listed as Sept. 19.
The bridge over Stony River will be rehabilitated, including a new bridge deck and railing and repairs to substructure units.
The bridge will be out, no traffic can cross for the duration of the project. A detour will be posted on Hwy 1 and St. Louis County Roads 21 and 121. The road will be open to residents and local traffic on either side of the bridge.
