The mission of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce is to be the representative voice of county for-profit and non-profit businesses in working to improve the county economy and to address pressing county socioeconomic issues.
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The Chamber and Visit Cook County have joined with Boreal Community Media to provide the best, most up-to-date information in one place. Click on the image above to be taken there. This effort is underwritten by a number of Cook County businesses. You will find their logos and information at the bottom of the Boreal Highway 61 Construction Update & Guide.

APRIL 30 MNDOT UPDATE:

Construction is expected to resume on Hwy 61 in Grand Marais on May 6.  Initial work will be occurring from 3rd Avenue West to Broadway and 8th Avenue West to 3rd Avenue West on the lake/south side.

Starting May 6, the truck detour will begin with through truck traffic being routed on Cty Rd 7. A temporary signal is now active at 5th Ave W and Cty Rd 7. Southbound vehicular traffic will be detoured on CSAH 7 to 8th Ave W. Northbound traffic will have a detour on Wisconsin St and Broadway Ave.

Important reminders for motorists regarding work zone safety:

Slow down when approaching every work zone, then navigate through with care and caution.

Stay alert; work zones constantly change.

Watch for workers and slow moving equipment.

Obey posted speed limits. Fine for a violation in a work zone is $300.

Minimize distractions behind the wheel.

Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

For more information on projects in northeast Minnesota, follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/groups/MnDOTnortheast and Twitter at @mndotnortheast. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.

More about this project

Visit: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy-61-grand-marais/index.html

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Latest Updates

From mid-May until early August, Highway 61 will be closed completely from Third Avenue West (the intersection where you find Java Moose and Voyageur Brewing) to Broadway Avenue (Holiday Station Store). In the map above, that is the portion of Highway 61 colored light blue. While the road is closed, it will be completely reconstructed. In addition, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will take the opportunity to remove and replace petroleum-contaminated soil beneath the roadway in the area just east of Voyageur Brewing and Java Moose.

In addition, during this mid-May to early-August period, Highway 61 between Eighth Avenue West and Third Avenue West -- the area colored in red above -- will be constricted to one lane of traffic eastbound toward Grand Marais while the north side of the highway is reconstructed. 

Eastbound traffic into Grand Marais will divert onto Wisconsin Street at Java Moose, follow the orange detour along Wisconsin to Broadway and up Broadway to Highway 61.

Westbound traffic will either detour completely around Grand Marais following the Gunflint Trail and County Road 7, or will detour north on city streets around the Highway 61 blockage after completing their business in Grand Marais.