EAW released for Progress Parkway project

As planning work continues on the proposed Progress Parkway project in Eveleth, the public is invited to weigh in on potential impacts of the project.

St. Louis County has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on the proposed project, which is now available for public review and comment.

An EAW is required for this project under Minnesota statute because it involves construction of a road longer than a mile that will function as a collector roadway.

The new Progress Parkway will be a 1.42-mile roadway connecting Trunk Highway 37 to U.S. Highway 53 and will provide a secondary access to the Rock Ridge School campus. St. Louis County Public Works is leading the project in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s improvements on Highway 53. Both projects are interconnected under the umbrella project identified as the Rock Ridge Schools Transportation Improvement Project which is designed to improve access and traffic safety to the new Rock Ridge School campus.

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet outlines the purpose of the project and the anticipated impacts of the proposed action. St. Louis County Public Works Department is the project proposer. St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Department is the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU). Features of the project include:

• New roadway beginning approximately 0.15 miles east of the intersection of Highway • • • • 53/Progress Parkway and extending south to Highway 37.

• Stormwater and drainage improvements.

• A paved pedestrian/bicycle trail.

• A gravel off-road vehicle trail along the new roadway.

• A secondary access to the Rock Ridge Public Schools campus will be connected to the new roadway.

• The Mesabi Mountain Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trailhead parking lot will be relocated to the east side of the new roadway.

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet document is available on the project website at engage.stlouiscountymn.gov. The EAW is also available for public review and copying during business hours at the Eveleth Public Library, St. Louis County Government Services Center in Virginia, St. Louis County Public Works facility in Virginia, and Eveleth City Hall.

The deadline to submit comments on the EAW is Thursday, September 12, 2024. Comments may be mailed to Ryan Logan, Director, Planning and Zoning, St. Louis County Government Services Center, 201 South 3rd Avenue West, Virginia, MN 55792 or sent by email to loganr@stlouiscountymn.gov.