Drivers planning to navigate through Duluth along Interstate I-35 might want to brace themselves for some upcoming delays. The City of Duluth is rolling up its sleeves to begin concrete repairs on the Northwest Passage skywalk, specifically targeting two bridge piers in need of attention. Starting March 31, construction crews will converge on MnDOT Bridge No. 69509, situated between Fifth Avenue W and Lake Avenue, with hopes to wrap up the project by May 1, according to a city statement.

The construction work is going to lead to traffic on I-35 being pinched down to just a single lane. If you're accustomed to breezing down the interstate, prepare for a slight shake-up in your commute; detours will become your new companion where ramps are closed off. The initial couple of weeks will see both northbound and southbound traffic on I-35 throttled through the construction site. As a heads up, this includes shutting down the Lake Avenue to I-35 southbound on-ramp – consider yourself forewarned.

Once the project inches past the two-week mark, the traffic control strategy will adjust, giving a bit of breathing room with two lanes open. However, the Fifth Avenue W to I-35 northbound on-ramp will get the axe, reducing traffic to a single-file march on the northbound frontage road ramp passing through the construction zone.