Overview

 

Location

• In St. Louis County between Eveleth and Virginia. The proposed project is to abandon Hwy 53 in the area of the United Taconite mine expansion and reconstruct in a new location.

• The affected area is about one mile.

 

 

Traffic impacts

• Currently, there are no impacts to traffic.

 

Hwy 53 Scoping Document

MnDOT has prepared a Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document (SD/DSDD) as part of the federal and state environmental review processes for the Hwy 53 project.

MnDOT prepared the SD/DSDD to describe the alternatives to be studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the social, economic, and environmental issues to be addressed. Copies of the SD/DSDD will be available for review at the Virginia Public Library (Virginia, MN), Eveleth Public Library, Gilbert Public Library, Mt. Iron Public Library, Duluth Public Library, MnDOT Library (St. Paul), and the Environmental Conservation Library (Minneapolis).

 

Project benefits

• Maintain Hwy 53 connectivity between Virginia and Eveleth. Hwy 53 is a major transportation corridor in the region and serves as a critical link between the cities of Virginia and Eveleth.
• Provide access to the natural resources needed by United Taconite. Moving the highway to a new location will allow United Taconite access to large quantities of iron ore deposits that will help provide for the continued operation of the company which is critical not only to the economic vitality of the region, but to the entire State of Minnesota.

 

Project risks

• Unknown funding sources/lack of funding
• Community impacts and social acceptance of new route
• Impact of new route on mining operations
• Possibility that the highway will need to be relocated again in the future
• Short, aggressive time line for relocating the highway

• Volatility of mining industry

 

Project history

• Hwy 53 between Duluth and International Falls is a major transportation corridor serving northeastern Minnesota.
• Since 1960, portions of Hwy 53 in St. Louis County have been located on land owned by mining companies. The highway is located on these lands through easement rights.
• The current mining companies, United Taconite and RGGS Land and Minerals, now need access to the land the highway is located on to continue their mining operations.
• In accordance with the 1960 agreement provisions, United Taconite and RGGS Land and Minerals have given MnDOT notice that they will be terminating the easement rights for the portion of Hwy 53 that is located between approximately Hwy 135 and 2nd Avenue in Virginia.
• The 1960 agreement required the highway to be moved within three years of receiving the termination notice but United Taconite and RGGS Land and Minerals have stated they would allow up to seven years for the move to occur.
• MnDOT is required to relocate the highway outside of the planned mining area by spring 2017 so that United Taconite can begin mining under the current roadway.