Lakewalk & Coastal Improvements
Project Overview:
The Lakewalk is a critical transportation route connecting neighborhoods, downtown Duluth, the Canal Park business district and the Lake Superior waterfront. The Lakewalk has experienced damage from past storm events and will experience future damage unless the City acts to ensure its long-term resiliency by mitigating the impacts of future storm events.
The Lakewalk & Coastal Improvements project (state project #118-090-029) spans Endion Station at the corner of the Lake to roughly 27th Avenue East and will include shoreline restoration and enhancements, trail relocation and reconstruction, ADA accessibility improvements, including a bypass trail adjacent to Leif Erikson Park, improved wayfinding and connections between downtown and the Lakewalk, and implementation of pause area updates and interpretive elements.
The heavy use of this portion of the Lakewalk will certainly make this project and associated detours more complex with disruptions to multimodal commuters, visitors, and residents that use and enjoy this stretch of the Lakewalk. The short-term disruption will result in a much-improved Lakewalk. Thank you for your patience during construction.
Please direct project inquiries to Allison Brooks, Project Coordinator, at abrooks@duluthmn.gov or use the comment form at the bottom of this page.
Project Update:
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Detour Notice: The Lakewalk is closed northeast of Leif Erikson Park to Water Street. Leif Erikson is open to use. A detour is posted. The detour route eastward is via the Rose Garden to London Road to S 21st Ave E to 23rd Ave E. Large equipment is hauling material. Pavement condition has been affected, and trail passage is unsafe. Thank you for your patience and for following the posted detours.
Detour map (click image to view larger in new window):
Additional Closure Starts September 28: West of Leif Erikson Park closure with detour to Superior Street using the connector from the railroad crossing at Veterans Memorial. The Lakewalk between Veterans Memorial and the closure will remain open for out-and-back travel. Leif Erikson Park will remain open with access via both bridges.
Detour map (click image to view larger in new window):
Both closures will be in place until construction wraps up by early November. The bypass trail will be useable over the winter with temporary surfacing of either gravel or the base layer or asphalt depending on how weather cooperates. There will also be sections of gravel where pavement has been damaged between Leif Erikson Park and Water Street.
Funding Source:
The City of Duluth was awarded an $8.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) and a matching grant of $2.05 million from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Technical Assistance Program for this project. Additional project support includes $2 million from city resources.
Grant Details: MnDOT Agreement No. 1059903, USDOT RAISE Grant and MnDOT IIJA Match Program Grant for the Lakewalk and Coastal Improvements Project
Agency Leadership: Cari Pedersen, Director of Public Works and Utilities, cpedersen@duluthmn.gov
Grant Manager: Duncan Schwensohn, Provisional Chief Engineer of Transportation, dschwensohn@duluthmn.gov
Contractor: Rachel Contracting, LLC
Timeline:
July 2026: Bidding and contractor selection
August 12, 2026: Staff provided a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission. A copy of the presentation is provided in the Important Documents section below.
August 18, 2026: Work began on the new bypass trail at Leif Erikson Park. Lakewalk closure between Leif Erikson Park and Water Street through October.
September 3, 2026: Community informational presentation about the project was held. The presentation was recorded and will be posted. The slides are available in the Important Documents section below.
September 28, 2026: New closure starts - west of Leif Erikson Park as work continues on the new bypass trail and contractors begin building retaining walls. Detour to start between Fitger's and Leif Erikson. The Leif Erikson Park will remain open, but no access east or west for Lakewalk.
November 2026: Construction pauses over winter and Lakewalk open for use. Trail from Leif Erikson Park to Water Street will have gravel patches where the pavement has been damaged.
April 2027: Construction starts for 2027 season.
December 2027: Substantial completion of project.
Project Partners:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Minnesota Department of Transportation
LHB, Inc.
Rachel Contracting, LLC
