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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

MnDOT faces few good options in Hwy. 53 reroute

Open House on the project set for April 22

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 4/11/13

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation will be hosting an open house on Monday, April 22, to discuss one of the most potentially disruptive highway projects in the region in …

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HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

MnDOT faces few good options in Hwy. 53 reroute

Open House on the project set for April 22

Posted

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation will be hosting an open house on Monday, April 22, to discuss one of the most potentially disruptive highway projects in the region in decades. The open house is scheduled for Monday, April 22, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center, located just off Hwy. 169.

The planned reroute of Hwy. 53 in the Virginia-Eveleth area, to make room for the expansion of Cliffs/United Taconite’s Auburn ore pit has left MnDOT with a difficult decision. The agency is currently exploring three alternatives, an easterly route that would require an expensive bridge across Virginia’s Rouchleau pit, a westerly route that would bypass most of Virginia’s and Eveleth’s business district, and a third, middle option that would run the new highway through partially backfilled portions of the Auburn pit.

MnDOT has reopened the environmental scoping on the project following Cliffs/UTAC’s decision in February to oppose the middle alternative, known as M-1, out of concern for mine security, safety, and compliance with air quality regulations.

As part of the scoping, MnDOT has put the westerly reroute back into consideration, despite strong objection from local business owners, schools, and affected cities.

At the same time, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has voiced concern about the proposed easterly realignment, which would encumber substantial iron ore reserves owned by the state’s school trust. That alternative also presents significant engineering challenges and a significant construction cost, with the Rouchleau pit bridge alone estimated at $60 million.

Project Manager Roberta Dwyer acknowledged that the project presents some unique challenges. “This is not your normal highway project,” she said. “I think I know why [former project manager] Brian Larson took another job,” she quipped.

Dwyer said, at this point, all options remain on the table, and MnDOT will even be taking another look at the possibility that the state could choose to leave the road where it is and buy out the mineral reserves.

A previous estimate had put the value of those minerals at $400-$600 million, said Dwyer, but she said that figure is almost certain to get another look. “It was a very complicated formula. I don’t know if $400-600 million is the right number,” she said. “As we’ve moved through the process we’re learning new things all the time.”

The easterly realignment poses similar concerns. In a letter to MnDOT last year, Craig Engwall, Northeast Regional Director for the state Department of Natural Resources, noted that encumbering the iron ore resources along that route could cost the school trust $150 million in mining royalties. Other state royalty payments could also be impacted by the easterly route.

Dwyer said MnDOT would have to reach some accommodation with the school trust if the easterly alternative is ultimately selected as the preferred option. Dwyer said MnDOT wants assurance that whichever alternative is selected, the road won’t eventually have to be moved again. “We’re making a major investment in the roadway. We want a guarantee that it will be in place for the life of the investment,” said Dwyer.

The westerly realignment would not encumber known ore reserves, but that alternative would likely have the most significant social and economic impacts. Dwyer said those effects will be major considerations as MnDOT moves through its new environmental review process.

MnDOT’s decision to reopen scoping on the environmental review is unusual and will add extra time to a project that is already under a very tight timeline. But Dwyer said it’s important that MnDOT takes a thorough look at all the options. “We’re really forging new ground here.”

More information on the project can be found at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53relocation