Progress Parkway Planning Project

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Overview

St. Louis County is leading a project to construct the new Progress Parkway located in Eveleth, Minnesota. This project is being completed in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s improvements on US 53 also in Eveleth. Both the new Progress Parkway and US 53 improvements are critically 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. There is currently only one access to the Rock Ridge School campus which results in frequent, significant traffic backups on US 53. These traffic backups increase the risk of crashes because queued vehicles spill beyond the existing turn lanes on US 53.


The new Progress Parkway will be a 1.42-mile roadway connecting MNTH 37 to US 53 and provide a secondary access to the Rock Ridge School campus. Progress Parkway will provide relief for traffic accessing the new school campus by utilizing a lower speed, multi-modal facility that will provide a more direct route for traffic originating from areas east, south and west. The new Progress Parkway is the result of a planning and preliminary engineering process. The US 53 project will complete safety and operational improvements at the intersections of MNTH 37, Hat Trick Ave/Industrial Park Dr, Park Ave/Progress Parkway, and Old Hwy 53/Bourgin Rd. MnDOT believes that the construction of the new Progress Parkway is critical to realizing the full transportation benefits.

EIS Need Decision/Findings of Fact and Conclusion

St. Louis County has determined that the Progress Parkway Project will not result in significant environmental impacts, and that the project does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) per Minnesota Rules. The County Board EIS resolution is included with the Findings of Fact and Conclusion (FOFC). Appendix B of the FOFC provides responses to agency and public comments received during the EAW comment period.

FOFC Document

Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) - Public Comment Period

St. Louis County published the Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Progress Parkway Project to the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board for public comment from August 13-September 12, 2024. Comments made during this period have been added to the project administrative record and were considered by the County with the EIS need decision. The EAW can be viewed below.

Enviromental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)

Project Overview Map General Layout Southern Connection to MN TH 37 Connection to Laurentian Elementary Roundabout at Progress Parkway/Wolverine Way/Industrial Park Drive

Project History

  • The Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert school districts combined into a new school district named the Rock Ridge School District in July 2020.
  • The Laurentian Elementary School opened for the 2022/2023 school year.
  • The Rock Ridge High School opened for the 2023/2024 school year.
  • The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) led an Intersection Control Evaluation for three (3) intersections along US 53 in the cities of Eveleth and Virginia.
  • St. Louis County started a planning and preliminary engineering process in 2022 to develop the new Progress Parkway.
  • The Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the new Progress Parkway is currently being prepared and is expected to be approved by Fall 2024.
  • St. Louis County has started to acquire the necessary right-of-way to construct the new Progress Parkway.

Project Goals

  • The new Progress Parkway will serve as a secondary access to the Rock Ridge School campus that acts as a reliever route for US 53.
  • Provide multi-modal facilities along the new Progress Parkway to serve pedestrians and bicyclists, and ATV and snowmobiles.
  • Will provide the City of Eveleth with an economic development opportunity.

Progress Parkway Documentary Video

Overview

St. Louis County is leading a project to construct the new Progress Parkway located in Eveleth, Minnesota. This project is being completed in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s improvements on US 53 also in Eveleth. Both the new Progress Parkway and US 53 improvements are critically 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. There is currently only one access to the Rock Ridge School campus which results in frequent, significant traffic backups on US 53. These traffic backups increase the risk of crashes because queued vehicles spill beyond the existing turn lanes on US 53.


The new Progress Parkway will be a 1.42-mile roadway connecting MNTH 37 to US 53 and provide a secondary access to the Rock Ridge School campus. Progress Parkway will provide relief for traffic accessing the new school campus by utilizing a lower speed, multi-modal facility that will provide a more direct route for traffic originating from areas east, south and west. The new Progress Parkway is the result of a planning and preliminary engineering process. The US 53 project will complete safety and operational improvements at the intersections of MNTH 37, Hat Trick Ave/Industrial Park Dr, Park Ave/Progress Parkway, and Old Hwy 53/Bourgin Rd. MnDOT believes that the construction of the new Progress Parkway is critical to realizing the full transportation benefits.

EIS Need Decision/Findings of Fact and Conclusion

St. Louis County has determined that the Progress Parkway Project will not result in significant environmental impacts, and that the project does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) per Minnesota Rules. The County Board EIS resolution is included with the Findings of Fact and Conclusion (FOFC). Appendix B of the FOFC provides responses to agency and public comments received during the EAW comment period.

FOFC Document

Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) - Public Comment Period

St. Louis County published the Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Progress Parkway Project to the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board for public comment from August 13-September 12, 2024. Comments made during this period have been added to the project administrative record and were considered by the County with the EIS need decision. The EAW can be viewed below.

Enviromental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)

Project Overview Map General Layout Southern Connection to MN TH 37 Connection to Laurentian Elementary Roundabout at Progress Parkway/Wolverine Way/Industrial Park Drive

Project History

  • The Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert school districts combined into a new school district named the Rock Ridge School District in July 2020.
  • The Laurentian Elementary School opened for the 2022/2023 school year.
  • The Rock Ridge High School opened for the 2023/2024 school year.
  • The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) led an Intersection Control Evaluation for three (3) intersections along US 53 in the cities of Eveleth and Virginia.
  • St. Louis County started a planning and preliminary engineering process in 2022 to develop the new Progress Parkway.
  • The Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the new Progress Parkway is currently being prepared and is expected to be approved by Fall 2024.
  • St. Louis County has started to acquire the necessary right-of-way to construct the new Progress Parkway.

Project Goals

  • The new Progress Parkway will serve as a secondary access to the Rock Ridge School campus that acts as a reliever route for US 53.
  • Provide multi-modal facilities along the new Progress Parkway to serve pedestrians and bicyclists, and ATV and snowmobiles.
  • Will provide the City of Eveleth with an economic development opportunity.

Progress Parkway Documentary Video

  • Public Meeting #1

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    St. Louis County hosted a Public Open House on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Athletics Center at Rock Ridge High School.

  • Public Meeting #2

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    St. Louis County hosted a Public Open House on Tuesday, June 27th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Athletics Center at Rock Ridge High School. See below for the presentation that was given during the open house that includes more information about the project. Click here to open the presentation in a new tab.

  • Public Meeting #3

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    St. Louis County hosted a Public Meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd beginning at 5:00 PM at the Eveleth Auditorium. We listened to your concerns and vision, and shared what was heard through public engagement, and discussed the next steps we are planning for this project. To view a recording of this meeting, click on the link below.

    Public Meeting #3 Recording


Page last updated: 18 Nov 2024, 02:01 PM