Road, park closures in northeastern Minnesota

A car fell into a huge sinkhole
A car fell into a huge sinkhole in Duluth, Minn. on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Roads throughout the city and surrounding communities are damaged or impassable due to the severe flooding.
AP Photo/The Duluth News-Tribune, Bob King

TRAFFIC

The Minnesota Department of Transit advises drivers to be cautious in or around Duluth. Sinkholes have been a problem in some areas.

The following MnDOT roads were closed as of 5:00 p.m., Thursday, June 21:

• Hwy 2 from I-35 to Boundary Avenue in Proctor, closed
• Hwy 2 between mile post 220.7 through 232.0, completely closed, detour in place
• Hwy 23 from Hwy 39 in New Gary Duluth to just south of the St. Louis River in Fond Du Lac, closed
• Hwy 33 at mile post 9 near Independence, closed
• I-35 from mile post 215 to Moose Lake, ramp closed
• Hwy 39 westbound by McQuen St., single lane traffic
• Hwy 61 at Knife River, closed, detour in place
• Hwy 65 eight miles south of McGregor, from mile post 107 to 112.6, closed, detour in place
• Hwy 65 one mile south of Jacobson, single lane traffic
• Hwy 73 and County Hwy 61 at mile post 00.6 at the south end of Moose Lake, closed
• Hwy 73 at mile post 15, west of Moose Lake, closed
• Hwy 73 at mile post 31.5, closed
• Hwy 73 at mile post 46.3, closed, detour in place
• Hwy 73 at mile post 47.4, closed, detour in place
• Hwy 73 at mile post 27.4SB, 2 miles north of Cromwell, shoulder gone but open to traffic
• Hwy 200 between Hwy 2 and Hwy 65, open to local traffic only
• Hwy 210 through Jay Cooke State Park, closed
• Hwy 210 from McGregor to Tamarack, closed, detour in place

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Street closures in Duluth:

• Pleasant View (residential traffic only)
• Skyline 9th to 8th Avenue East
• 8th Avenue East, 9th Street to Kenwood
• Glenwood Avenue — Jean Duluth to 43rd (residential traffic only)
•1st Avenue E — Mesaba Ave to 4th St (residential traffic only)
• Chester Park Drive
• Skyline — Kent Road to Kenwood
•Triggs — Arrowhead to Buffalo
• Columbus Street — Arrowhead to dead end
• Vermillion Road off Wallace
• Dodge Street — 40th to 45th Avenue E
• 29th Avenue East (residential traffic only)
• Wallace Avenue — Superior Street to Woodland (residential traffic only)
• Lakewood Road off Highway 61 (residential traffic only)
• McFarland Road off Howard Gnesen
• South Road
• Fairmont — Woodland Ave to Dead End (residential traffic only)
• Toledo Street — Triggs to Humes
• Middle Road (residential traffic only)
• Niagra Avenue — Kenwood to dead end
• Chambersburg Avenue
• 7th Avenue E and 1st Street to 4th Street
• 1st Avenue E — 4th Street to Mesabi Avenue (residential traffic only)
• Chester Park Way
• Norton Road (residential traffic only)
• Observation Road (residential traffic only)
• Everett Street
• Westgate Blvd — past 67th
• Exhibition & Hutchinson
• Gogebic — top half
• W. Skyline — West of Spirit Mountain
• 28th Avenue W & 13th Street
• Chambersburg — Piedmont to Anderson
• St. Louis River Road
• 38th Avenue W & 5th Street
• Cody Street (residential traffic only)
• Hudson
• Seven Bridges Road

STATE PARK CLOSURES

Several parks in Northeastern Minnesota were hard-hit by the flooding and remain closed including Savannah Portage State Park, Moose Lake camp ground, Cuyuna recreation area bike trails and Jay Cooke State Park. The Willard Munger State Trail from Carlton to Duluth is closed until further notice due to washouts.

Cuyuna County State Recreation Area and Miner's Mountain Road are closed. Tours at Hill Annex Mine State Park are cancelled for Thursday and questionable for the weekend. Superior National Forest reports that roads were affected in the Laurentian Ranger District in the southern part of the park. There were also some minor washouts and shallow water across a few of the main roads on the Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Districts.

"Visitors can change their campground reservations to another park and we encourage them to do that. They're going to want to do that fairly soon. Anyone wanting to travel or book in those areas should check the DNR web site for closures," said Cheri Zeppelin of the DNR's Minnesota's northeast region.

OTHER SAFETY NOTICES

Minnesota Power reports approximately 300 households are out of power. Crews are working to safely restore power. The Miller Hill Mall area is currently out of power.

The public is advised to take these precautionary steps:

•Residents with propane tanks are advised to shut off tank valves.

•The public is advised to call 211 for non-emergency needs or for information, the toll free number is 800-543-7709. 211 is a 24 hour service line.

•Residents who cannot access their homes are advised to safely make their way to the First United Methodist Church (aka Copper Top Church), 230 E Skyline Parkway.

•The public should keep in mind that standing water is likely not sanitary water and people should avoid coming into contact with overflow areas.

•Motorists should use caution, as roads are deteriorated and impassable. Please do not drive around barricades. Roads may still be unstable after the rain subsides.

•All state offices in the city of Duluth will be closed until the end of the business day. Employees and the public are asked to monitor BeReadyMN.com.

•Thomson Township residents are warned not to eat, drink, bathe or cook with tap water until further notice.

•The city of Willow River warns that city residents should boil tap water for drinking and cooking due to the possibility that the water is contaminated.

• The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has said that fruits and vegetables exposed to floodwaters should "be considered adulterated and should not be used for food."

•People should call 218-730-HELP to report road damage, infrastructure issues.

•Call 211 for private property problems.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

•Those interested in offering volunteer assistance can call 211 to register.

•Donations are being accepted through the Red Cross Northland. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcrossmn.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Contributions can be sent to your local Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross chapter at 2524 Maple Grove Road, Duluth, MN 55811 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

• Duluth Superior Zoo is planning a cleanup operation this week, and will let volunteers know about opportunities through their Facebook page. The zoo is also collecting donations through giveMN.org.

MAP

MAP LEGEND

Heavily affected areas are outlined in RED

Closures are marked in RED

Hazards and other warnings in YELLOW

Services and assistance marked in GREEN

Video and Images marked in BLUE

Northeast Minnesota Floods: The Latest
• Photos: Duluth, northeast Minnesota awash
• Photos: Gooseberry Falls at full trottle
• Photos: North Shore residents shocked by deluge
• Photos: Moose Lake fights the flood
• Story: Tourism-dependent region worries
• Story: Duluth turns to FEMA for help
• Story: Cell phone, 911, cable out in Arrowhead
• Story: Frantic search for loose zoo animals
• Map: Duluth, North Shore flood zone
• Closures: Highways, Duluth streets, state parks