A well-traveled block in downtown Duluth will be closed as long as seven months starting the week of Feb. 23 as the skywalk is extended over Lake Avenue between Superior and First streets.
The new skywalk segment will stretch between the Lake Superior Place Building and the Technology Village.
"This will provide a link to a major downtown destination," said Tom Cotruvo, Duluth Economic Development Authority executive director. "Right now the skywalk ends at the Lake Superior Place Building."
"I think it's a very, very good idea and it's about time," said Linda Kratt of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. "I think our downtown area as well as our community needs to embrace this and be patient."
People have asked Kratt why the street closure could last up to seven months -- through Sept. 20. She tells them that the project consists of far more than building a skywalk across one street. It makes sense to close Lake Avenue entirely during the project, she said, to allow for getting equipment and material into the alley behind the Superior Street buildings and to work on the steep slope of Lake Avenue itself.
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"It's not as easy as hauling in a crane and putting it away for the night," she said. "I think we just need to look at this as a wonderful opportunity for the city."
During the closure:
-- Traffic will be detoured to First Avenue East.
-- Local vehicular access will be allowed from Superior Street to the first alley east of Lake Avenue to allow for contract parkers at the Technology Village ramp.
-- Pedestrian traffic will be allowed on the west side of Lake Avenue and below the alley on the east side of Lake Avenue. Covered scaffolding will be placed over the sidewalks.
-- No public vehicular access will be allowed in the alley west of Lake Avenue.
DEDA approved the skywalk last year. In December, DEDA awarded a contract for the project to RJS Construction Group LLC, the lowest of six bidders for the job. The construction bid came in at $2.63 million -- nearly $900,000 less than the architect's estimate. The total amount budgeted for the project (including a 10 percent contingency fund) is just under $4 million.
