Highway 169 by Chisholm will be out of commission all summer (story from the Duluth News Tribune). From April 1 until first snow, traffic will be routed through downtown Chisholm while repair work is done on the highway. The road travels over an “underworld” of underground mine shafts that have been collapsing and shifting for years.
This means a good summer for downtown Chisholm. Hibbing-to-Virginia commuters now have the option for a convenient post-work belt at Tom and Jerry’s or a impulse couch purchase at Rupp’s. At the same time I’m betting this is bad for Ironworld. I imagine they could route visitors through the fairgrounds, but that’s not clear in the story.
The Mesabi Daily News refers to Highway 169 as the “Cross Range Expressway.” I would point out that it does indeed cross the Range but it will never, never be an “expressway” until the Pengilly to Taconite stretch is complete. I have inherited this cause from my grandfather, a 1960s Keewatin councilman, and shall carry it to my golden years if necessary.
This is supposed to be some of the magic money from Obama. But wouldn’t they have fixed this anyway?
I’m using the term magic money just because I can’t remember the official name. The money that people say is coming from the tax papers, but isn’t it really coming from the Chinese or from our grandchildren? Of course, if somebody falls down into a hole in the road that is an old mine shaft, that person might not have any grandchildren.
At least someone might benefit from this. Let’s hope the best for anyone who sees an extra dollar in their pocket.