MNDOT Evaluating Cloquet Interchange

I-35, HWY 33 Interchange One of 10 Most Dangerous in State

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Minnesota Department of Transportation officials held a public meeting in Cloquet to discuss changes to one of Minnesota’s most dangerous sections of road.

MNDOT Project Manager Brian Larson, said before the meeting that the majority of the accidents are severe, due to high speeds, and the type of impact.

Larson said collisions are usually “t-bone” effect accidents, when a car crossing Hwy 33 to get to I-35 North or the frontage road on the south side of the highway is struck broadside.

Cloquet resident Susan Seabury said she believes driver error plays a major part in the high number accidents, but she would like to see the number of signs at the intersection reduced.

Seabury was not the only member of the public that expressed concern about the number of traffic signs at the intersection.

Seabury noted that her preferred plan for fixing the intersection would be an overpass linking the on/off ramp to I-35N with the frontage road to the south of Hwy 33.

MNDOT gave a presentation offering positives and negatives of several possible solutions, including an overpass, roundabout, reduced speed limits, additional traffic signals, and limiting access to and from the frontage road.

Maintaining access to that road was  a major concern for members of the public.

Larson stated that input from the public would be taken into account, but funding issues are always a concern. 

Working with the available budget may have a major impact on the final decision for the project.