FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - After being in front of the City Council three times, plans for the Joshua Ave. connector project were officially struck down Monday.

The decision came after neighbors and councilors were vocal on both sides of the issue.

Kieffer Higgins has walked down one trail near his home for as long as he can remember.

During his 18 years growing up in the Duluth Heights neighborhood, he often goes down to the pond.

"I spent a lot of my time here when I was younger we used to when the pond freezes over, used to play on that," Higgins said.

Higgins was concerned that a proposed extension of Joshua Avenue nearby would hurt the natural area.

"I think there could be a lot more litter and stuff a lot more noise pollution too cause it's kind of secluded," Higgins said.

The city completed an alignment study to make Joshua Avenue a permanent road between Maple Grove and Arrowhead Roads.

The goal was to take stress off streets like Arlington Ave., where traffic congestion continues to grow.

Councilor Garry Krause, the sole supporter of the plan Monday night, expressed concern over the conditions of other nearby roads that are being used as a short–cut to the mall.

"Ideal Street, East Morgan Street, deteriorating roads, big frost boils of mud squeezing up through the tar in the spring because the road is doing this," Krause said.

While Higgins lives on a busy road himself, he was worried a road in that particular spot was not the best option.

"I think a connector may be important but it's not as important as all of this," Higgins said.