Traffic Plans for Intersection at Kenwood & Arrowhead

City Presents Plans, Community Weighs In on Controlling Busy Intersection

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It was a full house at the Kenwood Lutheran Church Thursday night, with nearly 65 people showing up to discuss these plans.

Not only is this intersection one of the busiest in Duluth for traffic, it is also surrounded by three businesses – Wells Fargo, Holiday, and Walgreens – which city officials say also creates a lot of pedestrian use.

The plan includes filling two short–term needs, improving pedestrian access and traffic flow.

To do that, they will add zebra striping and a timed signal at the crosswalks for ensured safety.

The long–term plan involves minimizing the impact of the traffic on the surrounding businesses.

“Getting in and out with that free right turn coming off Arrowhead Road, traffic during those peak times is just going and going and going – there’s no chance to get out,” explained Keith Hamre, the Director of Planning with the City of Duluth.

Some who live in the Kenwood area are concerned how new traffic patterns would affect their privacy.

“As they change the traffic patterns, it’s going to back up to Triggs Avenue and traffic will then take Triggs to Toledo Street, bypassing the intersection by creating extra traffic on a residential street,” said Patrick Alexander.

The short–term fixes could happen within the next year or two.

The long–term plans could take anywhere from five to seven years to complete.