The Mesabi Trail

The news last week that the Mesabi Trail may have to bypass the city of Tower came as a potentially devastating blow to the community. That’s particularly so given that Tower has made its status as a hub for a wide range of recreational trails an important element of its economic and community development.
The city has been planning on the eventual arrival of the Mesabi Trail, a paved bike trail, literally for decades. It was home to one of the very first segments of the trail, which for years connected Tower and Soudan. That portion has since been incorporated into the Mesabi Trail segment that runs from Tower to Ely, which includes access to the Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park. But we’re still waiting for completion of the five-mile segment that will finally connect Tower and points north with the rest of the Mesabi Trail.
The community, which emphasized trails and trail connectivity in the most recent comprehensive plan, has worked hard to be ready for the Mesabi Trail’s eventual arrival. For the past several years, the city of Tower and local volunteers have invested considerable time and money to improve facilities around the city’s civic center and train depot in the expectation of a hefty increase in bicycle traffic into the community. That includes investments in street improvements and upgrades to the city’s adjacent mini-park, and the construction of a new bathroom facility that should be completed well in time for next year’s bike season. Volunteers and city staff have already designed and built kiosks to highlight all the trail opportunities in Tower. “Trails to Adventure” has been an unofficial motto for the effort, which highlights some of the unique hiking and cross-country ski trails in Tower, as well as its location as a hub for two major state snowmobile trails and its connection to the Prospectors Loop ATV trail. The arrival of the Mesabi Trail was going to be the final key connection and anticipation of its arrival was already sparking investment interest at the city’s adjacent harbor and riverfront.
It’s difficult for people, and particularly local businesses, to not feel like the rug is potentially being pulled out at the last minute.
We certainly recognize the challenges that the final couple miles of the trail pose. Tower is situated in some truly dramatic terrain, surrounded by rugged hills and extensive wetlands. It’s part of what makes the area so beautiful, but it does pose challenges for trail construction.
That said, we know there is a solution, and its one that Mesabi Trail officials themselves have proposed— and that is to bring the trail right alongside Hwy. 135 for the last couple miles. It wouldn’t be the first time a state trail has been built along the shoulder of a highway, including highways far busier than Hwy. 135, but officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation have been highly resistant to the idea to date, citing potential safety concerns. Unless MnDOT relents and allows trail construction along an expanded highway shoulder, the trail may well end up diverting to the east of Tower, connecting with the rest of the Mesabi Trail near Soudan.
That would be an unacceptable outcome and it’s one that city officials and our local lawmakers should do everything possible to prevent. We understand that safety is always an issue but we’re talking about a short stretch of relatively lightly traveled highway. An extended shoulder, possibly with a guard rail to separate the bike lane, could allow for bikers and drivers to operate without hindering the other.
Rather than finding reasons it can’t work, let’s figure out how it can and get the work funded and underway. Tower has waited decades for the arrival of this trail and has made the investments needed to provide trail users a great experience once they arrive. It’s time for the Mesabi Trail to finally make this connection.