Duluth Street Repairs Continue in Time for Winter
Monday, September 17, 2012 - 10:09pm
By:
Dana Thayer
Photojournalist:
Kaela Rannikar
FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT
DULUTH - While most travelers in Duluth have come across at least one of the city's flood–damaged roads, it was never been more apparent to those right next door.
"That's what I see outside my living room window every day," Karen Bailey who lives off of 7th Avenue East said. "And everybody that comes by takes pictures of it."
Tenants along 7th Avenue East, a block with massive damage and the scars fresh to prove it, said their street has become somewhat of a spectacle.
"It's not like it's bad but I just wish they'd hurry up and fix it because winters coming," Tyrone Permenter said.
With the cold months creeping in, Duluth Mayor Don Ness said crews have been working in high gear.
"We've been in emergency status for the last two, three months and we will continue for the rest of the construction season," Ness said.
Ness said normally at this point in the year crews would be doing routine winter preps, like patch work and crack sealing, however, most of the time has been spent addressing flood damage.
The question on many roads now is just how to fix them and if a quick fix really makes sense.
"We also have to be thinking how can we avoid further damage for the next either spring thaw or the next heavy rain," Ness said. "And that water's going to flow and if it's flowing into our road bed it's going to create a lot of problems."
Neighbors along 7th Avenue East said Brewery Creek was to blame for the big collapse, and that if a better plan for the future is causing a delay for construction, it is not a bad idea.
However, they still hope crews make their way over quickly.
"It's just a menace," Bailey said. "It's just dangerous to my everyday life."
"I just think take your time, do what you got to do and make things happen the right way," Permenter said.
7th Avenue East is set to be under construction within the next few weeks.
Mayor Ness said it could take until mid-2014 before some of the most heavily–damaged roads in need of a complete re-design would be fixed.