Duluth's annual celebration of speed on wheels, the North Shore Inline Skate Marathon, is rolling through town this Saturday, and locals know what that means: road closures aplenty. According to an advisory posted on the official City of Duluth website, Harbor Drive will start the closures at 3 p.m. on Friday, shutting down between the Irvin slip and the Aquarium to make way for the Kids' Inline Sprint Races. The Great Lakes Aquarium will manage to keep its parking lot open amidst the closures and hustle.
The inline skating festivities will prompt several area roads to hit the brakes starting early Saturday morning. Most avenues leading to London Road will get the red light at 5 a.m., followed by Scenic Highway 61 clamping down half an hour later. Meanwhile, you can expect the Hwy 61 Expressway to reroute at 6:15 a.m., deflecting southbound traffic to Superior Street and northbound I-35 voyagers to Mesaba Avenue to skirt around the event. Adding to the mix, at the same time, Harbor Drive will also close, as well as Interstate 35 from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East, leaving 5th Avenue West pinched to a single lane for a stretch.
Commuters should take note that the closures extend to the Interstate. Northbound Interstate 35 will close from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East, and its southbound counterpart will follow suit from 26th Avenue East to Lake Avenue, starting at 6:15 a.m. and expected to last until around 1:30 p.m. Entrance ramps will be joining the closure party, with both northbound and southbound ramps secured at several points along I-35.
Detours have been set up to guide traffic around the rollerblade race, with local streets and I-35 being directed toward 2nd Street and 19th Avenue East for eastbound travelers; and Superior Street, 24th Avenue East, and 3rd Street ferrying westbound traffic. Businesses and local landmarks are finding ways to work around Skater Central. Ecumen Lakeshore and Chateau Apartments will be lending out exits, with policing escorts at the ready, while Glensheen will be taking a timeout until 1 p.m. on race day. Furthermore, the DECC will remain accessible from Railroad Street, sporting a not-so-typical entrance and exit strategy.
Despite the flurry of closures and detours, Downtown Duluth and Canal Park are maintaining an open-door policy for traffic. Vehicles aiming for Canal Park, Park Point, the Great Lakes Aquarium, or the DECC have a clear shot by taking Lake Avenue to Railroad Street or making their way southbound on 5th Avenue West. Integrity to routes and routines may find themselves on a brief hiatus, but the end is in sight, as all routes are projected to reopen post-race by 2 p.m., depending on how swiftly the racers kiss the finish line.
