Progress Parkway Project Public Meeting

Public Meeting

St. Louis County will host 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.
Please join us to hear what next steps we are planning for this project.

Eveleth Auditorium
421 Jackson Street
Eveleth, MN 55734

Overview

The St. Louis County Progress Parkway Planning Project will help provide relief to the US Highway 53 (US-53) primary access to the two new schools.

The proposed new road will begin east of the intersection of US-53 and Progress Parkway / Park Avenue, and it will extend Progress Pkwy south to Station 44 Road at Minnesota Highway 37 on a new alignment. The new road will provide relief to the US-53 primary access to the new Rock Ridge High School and Laurentian Elementary School via a low-speed connection that is more pedestrian friendly and offers an alternate route for travelers.
 

History

• In 2020, the Virginia Public School District and Eveleth-Gilbert Public School District merged to become the Rock Ridge Public School District.
• Two new schools, Rock Ridge High School and Laurentian Elementary School have been under construction to the east of US-53 along the border of Eveleth and Virginia. The Laurentian Elementary opened in fall 2022, and the High School will open in fall 2023.
• With the opening of the two new schools, both vehicular and pedestrian traffic is anticipated to increase along US-53.
• MnDOT recently completed intersection control evaluations for intersections along Highway 53 in Eveleth. As part of that process, St. Louis County determined it was necessary to explore the need for a new frontage road / reliever road on new Progress Parkway.