I-35 Fencing Deter Homeless Encampments from Growing

DULUTH, Minn. — Over the past few years, homeless encampments between Railroad St. and I-35 have appeared causing numerous clean up projects in the tourists center of Duluth.

Just last year MNDOT started the initiative to put up fencing along the interstate to prevent people from seeking shelter underneath. 

In the past, homeless activity has caused scares for the overpass, like in 2021 when a homeless camp caught fire underneath. Although MNDOT admits that projects like these fail to help the issue of homelessness in our community, they say the fencing is a safe deterrent from tourist areas. 

“So we have two goals with putting up the fencing. Number one is we have to deter the encampments because of the cost to clean them up. And also the public safety risks. Then also some of the times there have been fires at some of the encampments. So then we have to go in and check to see if the bridges are structurally sound, which is time and money as well.”

MNDOT has a total of nine fencing projects in the works that are set to be finished by next spring. The projects have cost MNDOT an estimated $870,000.