Three 2024 highway department construction projects delayed to next year

The Cook County Highway Department is gearing up for the upcoming construction season.

However, this summer will be significantly different than initially expected due to recent project delays.

A significant Gunflint Trail project stretching from the old Gunflint Trail at Fifth Avenue to the “Four Corners” area at Devil Track Road was expected to begin in June. 

Now, that is no longer the case. 

In total, three 2024 Cook County construction projects have been delayed to 2025. 

They include the following:

· Gunflint Trail “Mill the Hill” and Little Devil Track River bridge replacement

· Tofte Park Road reconstruction

· Spruce Creek bridge replacement on Cascade Beach Road

The Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass said the three projects are delayed due to design changes, staffing, and community engagement. 

“It’s a bummer,” Hass said. “Some of these projects get delayed, and it means we have to shuffle around our schedule a little bit.”

Despite the three delayed projects, the Cook County Highway Department will still move forward with the following 2024 projects:

• Replace Alfred Creek culvert on County Road 28
• Construct a heated storage building on the main highway department property
• Re-align Upper Road over Grand Portage Creek and construct a new timber bridge

Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass stopped by WTIP to talk about the 2024 delayed construction projects. Audio below.

Kalli Hawkins April 6, 2024