Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Hwy 1 Culvert repairs

St. Louis County and Lake Counties

Traffic Impacts

Work is expected to begin in mid-August. This project will require single lane, signal controlled bypasses or detours during construction. No two work locations will occur at the same time. Contractor will finish one work location prior to starting the next.

About this project

This project will replace three culverts on Hwy 1 damaged during previous flooding.

On Hwy 1, located 4.1 miles east of the intersection with Hwy 53 in Angora. Traffic will use a portable stoplight during culvert construction. Work will take place mid-August to early October 2026 for an estimated three weeks of traffic impacts.

On Hwy 1, located 7.6 miles southeast of Hwy 1 in Ely or 0.7 miles northwest of the Birch River Dam. Traffic will be detoured using New Tomahawk Road to Scott Road/Ely-Babbitt Road to County Rd 21 N. This detour is about 30 miles long. Work will take place mid-September to end early October 2026 for an estimated three weeks of traffic impacts.

On Hwy 1, located over Weiss Creek located 7.2 miles southeast of County Rd 2/Stony River Wayside or 0.5 miles northwest of the Knotted Pine Inn and Tavern. Traffic will be detoured using Lax Lake Road to County Hwy 11 to County Rd 2. This detour is about 44 mile long. Work will take place between mid-May 2027 and the end of June 2027 with an estimated 1 month of traffic impacts.

 

A rendering of the Hwy 1 detour route southeast of Ely

Detour route map. Click to enlarge.

A map of the Hwy 1 detour route for the culvert located near Cty Rd 2.

Detour route map. Click to enlarge.