Access Road Work Beginning Next Week on Highway 53 Relocation Project

Starting Monday, construction crews will be working long hours hauling rock to build an access road as part of the Highway 53 relocation project. 

The road will be built in the Rocuhleau mine pit. 

The road is necessary for crews to start preparations to construct the bridge over the pit that will route Highway 53 into Virginia. 

Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, crews will be working 10-hour shifts to get the road ready. 

The haul route will be on the Mesabi Trail and Landfill Road on the east side of the mine pit.  The gravel used will be old mine rock, not taconite. 

Effective now, the Mesabi Trail adjacent to Rouchleau pit is closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  It will be open to snowmobiles throughout the winter. 

Kiewit Infrastructure Company is taking on the construction project.  The work includes relocating nearly 3 miles of Highway 53 in Virginia, construction of a 1,100 foot long bridge spanning the mine pit, realignment of the roadway and a new interchange at Highway 53 and Highway 135. 

The project costs around $156 million and will bring in more than 100 jobs. 

Construction is expected to take two and a half years.