JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNIS: WITH PLENTY OF LOCAL SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ACROSS THE REGION THIS WEEKEND, FIND OUT WHY BUY LOCAL TAKES ON ADDED IMPORTANCE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

JULIE: AS THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CONTINUES ON DULUTH'S "CAN OF WORMS," ANOTHER LARGE PROJECT LOOMS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT WITH MNDOT'S DISTRICT ENGINEER.

DENNIS: AND MARSHALL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY IN TOWER IS OUR GUEST FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAD A GOOD THANKSGIVING.

I AM STILL DEALING WITH THE TURKEY.

DENNIS: I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT THE HOUSE AND WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

JULIE: LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS, JULIE.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED THAT A TWIN CITY'S MAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE STATE'S FIRST CASE OF THE OMICRON COVID VARIANT.

THE MAN HAD RECENTLY TRAVELED TO NEW YORK AND HAD BEEN VACCINATED.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE MAN HAS RECOVERED, BUT URGES FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE COVID VIRUS.

JULIE: IN RELATED NEWS, COOK COUNTY IN THE FAR NORTHEASTERN TIP OF MINNESOTA RECORDED ITS FIRST DEATH DUE TO COVID SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IN 2020.

COOK COUNTY WAS THE LAST OF MINNESOTA'S 87 COUNTIES TO RECORD A CONFIRMED DEATH DUE TO COVID-19.

THE COUNTY IS SPARSELY POPULATED AND BOASTS A 75% VACCINATION RATE AMONG ADULTS AGE 18 AND OLDER.

DENNIS: THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION APPROVED MINNESOTA POWER'S REQUEST FOR AN INTERIM RATE INCREASE THURSDAY.

THE DECISION WILL INCREASE RATES ABOUT 7% FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND 14% FOR ALL OTHER CUSTOMERS BEGINNING IN JANUARY.

THE INTERIM RATE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL FINAL RATES ARE DETERMINED BY THE PUC ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW.

THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $6 ON THEIR MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL DURING THE INTERIM.

JULIE: AND WDSE OFFICIALLY BECAME THE NEW OWNER OF UMD'S RADIO STATION KUMD ON WEDNESDAY.

THE FREQUENCY WILL REMAIN THE SAME, BUT THE STATION WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS THE NORTH 103.3 FM.

NO CHANGES TO PROGRAMMING ARE PLANNED AND MOST OF THE STAFF CHOSE TO REMAIN WITH THE RADIO STATION.

WATCH FOR MORE ON THIS STORY IN AN UPCOMING EDITION OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNIS: THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON KICKED IN TO HIGH GEAR AFTER THANKSGIVING, WITH BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY SALES ONLINE AND AT BIG BOX RETAILERS.

ECONOMISTS SAY IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO SHOP LOCAL, WHICH HAS A HIGHER RETURN FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS MONICA HAYNES, DIRECTOR OF UMD'S BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

JUST WHAT DOES LOCAL BUYING DO FOR THIS REGION?

MONICA: WELL, WE IN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT MODELING WORLD OFTEN LOOK AT A NUMBER CALLED A MULTIPLIER.

THAT RELATES TO WHEN A BUSINESS PURCHASES GOODS FROM ITS SUPPLIERS AND HIRES LOCAL PEOPLE, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS RECIRCULATED WITHIN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

SO, ONE STUDY THAT WE LOOKED AT FOUND THAT RETAILERS AND OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE PURCHASING LOCAL PRODUCTS, LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES TEND TO RECIRCULATE LIKE $.40 ON EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY SPENT.

WHEREAS, BIG-BOX RETAILERS CIRCULATE ONLY ABOUT $.14 PER EVERY DOLLAR.

ONLINE RETAILERS, THERE IS ALMOST NO LOCAL BENEFIT WHATSOEVER.

YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS, LOCALLY OWNED, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BUY PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE, AND HIRE LOCAL.

DENNIS: THE MONEY JUST KEEPS CIRCULATING.

MONICA: EXACTLY.

IT IS A BIGGER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

JULIE: FOR MANY BUSINESSES, THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS THE MAKE OR BREAK SEASON.

IS THIS YOUR MORE IMPORTANT THAN YEARS PAST BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT BUSINESSES HAVE HAD TO WEATHER IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC?

MONICA: DEFINITELY.

THEY HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH SO MUCH OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH, FIRST OF ALL, SHUT DOWNS.

NOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND A LABOR SHORTAGE.

SO, LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN REALLY STRUGGLING.

OBVIOUSLY, MANY OF THEM ARE STILL DOING VERY WELL, BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT HAD TO SHUT DOWN OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

SO, I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY A BIG SHOPPING SEASON.

DENNIS: YOU MENTIONED SUPPLY ISSUES.

LOCAL BUSINESSES WERE AFFECTED BY ALL THE SHIPS THAT GOT TIED UP IN A VARIETY OF PORTS WITHOUT THE GOODS BEING DELIVERED.

MONICA: LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES DO HAVE A DISADVANTAGE OVER THESE LARGE RETAILERS WHO CAN JUST OUTBID FOR PRODUCTS.

SO, THAT IS MORE CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO OFTEN GET SUPPLIES THAT HAVE LIMITED ACCESS OR HAVE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, WHILE ON ONE HAND YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHOP ONLINE BECAUSE IT IS EASIER AND IT COMES RIGHT TO YOUR HOUSE, BUT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SHOPPING LOCALLY ARE REALLY POWERFUL.

SO, THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN DO TO KIND OF HELP THOSE LOCAL RETAILERS WHO MIGHT BE HAVING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

JULIE: FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, HOW CONCERNING IS IT TO YOU THAT INFLATION IS HITTING PEOPLE SO HARD?

AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING MIGHT NOT BE AS BRISK AS IT HAS BEEN IN PAST YEARS BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR IS NEEDED TO BUY THE FOOD, THE GAS, PAY THE HEATING BILL.

WHAT COULD THAT POTENTIALLY DUE TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

MONICA: WELL, I THINK FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN SEEING IN THE NEWS AND OTHER SOURCES, THE REALLY SEEMS TO BE TWO KIND OF HOLIDAY SHOPPERS.

ON ONE HAND, HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE THIS YEEAR THAN PROBABLY EVER BEFORE.

THEY ARE PROBABLY SPENDING WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY SPEND ON TRAVEL AND OTHER THINGS.

I THINK THERE'S A BIG POPULATION THAT HAS A PRETTY GOOD DISPOSABLE INCOME RIGHT NOW AND THOSE HIGHER PRICES MIGHT NOT REALLY BE MUCH OF A HINDRANCE.

THEN, THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP WHO ARE ACTUALLY HAVE REALLY BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PAYING FOR THE HIGHER PRICES ON TOYS AND GIFTS.

THAT IS WHY IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE IN THE POSITION TO BE SPENDING MORE THIS YEAR, YOU ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER MAY BE DONATING TO SOME LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP FAMILIES IN NEED THIS YEAR.

DENNIS: IT SEEMS LIKE SO MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES.

YOU SEE JOB OPENING SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT HAS CAUSED THAT, WHAT IS THIS?

[LAUGHTER] MONICA: MANY, MANY THINGS.

IT'S A PERFECT STORM.

WE HAD THE PANDEMIC WHICH PUSHED A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE, ESPECIALLY OLDER WORKERS WHO WERE MAY BE PLANNING TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS JUST DECIDED TO DO THAT EARLIER AND ARE NOT PLANNING TO COME BACK.

OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD CHILDCARE ISSUES, HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND CHILDCARE, OR CANNOT RELY ON THAT STABLE CHILDCARE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OR OTHER WORK-LIFE CHANGES.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS CONTRIBUTING TO IT.

DENNIS: IT'S A PROBLEM.

JULIE: THERE IS NOT ONE GOOD SOLUTION, THAT IS DEFINITELY A STORY FOR ANOTHER SHOW.

JULIE: HAS THE PANDEMIC -- DID IT ACCELERATE THE INTERNET ECONOMY IN SOME WAYS TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS REALLY IMPACTING LOCAL BUSINESSES?

BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE COULD NOT GO SHOPPING.

THEY WERE ORDERING THINGS, HAVING THINGS COMING DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOUSE AND IT IS KIND OF NICE TO NOT HAVE TO GO OUT.

HOW CAN LOCAL BUSINESSES COMBAT THAT A LITTLE BIT?

MONICA: A LOT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE ACTUALLY REALLY EXPANDED THEIR INTERNET PRESENCE DURING THIS PAST COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THAT EXACT REASON.

PEOPLE HAVE BECOME USED TO IT NOW.

EVEN THINGS LIKE CURBSIDE SHOPPING WHICH PEOPLE THOUGHT MAYBE WAS GOING TO GO AWAY AFTER THE PANDEMIC WAS OVER, BUT CONSUMERS HAVE KIND OF BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THOSE CONVENIENCES.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU STILL HAVE TO CONSIDER OFFERING SOME OF THOSE ONLINE OFFERINGS AND CURBSIDE AND OTHER PERSONAL SHOPPER KIND OF CONVENIENCES THAT MAY BE THE BIG-BOX STORES CAN PROVIDE.

SO, IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO MAY BE DON'T HAVE THE NEEDS TO DO THAT -- MEANS TO DO THAT.

DENNIS: WE RECENTLY HAD SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING?

DID IT WORK?

MONICA: I DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A HUGE, IT IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT.

I HAVE SEEN ANECDOTALLY LOCAL BUSINESSES SAYING ONLINE THAT THEY'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD SHOWING.

WE'VE GOT THE WINTER FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND AND OTHER -- UP THE SHORE, THERE'S THE OTHER WINTER FESTIVAL HAPPENING.

I KNOW THIS IS, ESPECIALLY FOR LOCAL ARTISANS, EVEN MORE SO THOSE PURCHASES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EVEN PURCHASING THE GOODS AND SERVICES -- GOODS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE REGION.

THEY ARE BEING MADE HERE IN OUR AREA.

SO, ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS YOU ARE SPENDING ARE GOING RIGHT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE SELLING THE PRODUCTS.

IT IS REALLY IMPACTFUL.

JULIE: HOW DOES OUR REGION STACK UP IN TERMS OF THE LOCAL OFFERINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET OUT AND DO SOME SHOPPING?

MONICA: I THINK DULUTH HAS BECOME KIND OF WELL-KNOWN NOW FOR HAVING THIS REALLY STRONG ARTISAN, CRAFTS ECONOMY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS KIND OF PUT US ON THE MAP IN A LOT OF WAYS.

EVEN NATIONALLY, SOME OF THE GO ODS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE SO UNIQUE TO THIS AREA ARE SOLD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT IS BECOMING A PART OF THE DULUTH IDENTITY AND ECONOMY WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.

DENNIS: WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

HOW STRONG IS THE ECONOMY IN THE NORTHLAND RIGHT NOW AS THIS YEAR COMES TO AN END?

MONICA: IT IS STRONG, BUT HAS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, I GUESS I WOULD SAY.

JULIE: ALL RIGHT.

DENNIS: MONICA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

MONICA HAYNES, DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH AT UMD.

MONICA: THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.

THIS WEEK, OUR REPORTER IS MARSHALL HELMBERGER WITH "THE TIMBERJAY NEWS" IN TOWER, MINNESOTA.

♪ MARSHALL: THIS PROJECT IS SET TO BE BILLED AT TOWERS HARBOR WHICH IS LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN TOWER.

THE TOWER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS SIGNED A NEW DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH A FIRM THAT HELPS TO BUILD 12 HIGH-END TOWNHOMES AT THE HARBOR.

THE HARBOR CONNECTS TOWER TO LAKE DES MOINES THROUGH THE GENERALIZED RIVER.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN ON HOLD SINCE THE CITY OF TOWER FIRST SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY BACK IN 2016.

A HOST OF ISSUES HAVE HELD UP THE PROJECT SINCE THEN.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAS THE FACT THE CITY OF TOWER, WHICH HAD SIGNED THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT TO BUILD THE TOWNHOMES, DID NOT ACTUALLY OWN THE PROPERTY IT PROMISED TO CONVEY TO THE DEVELOPERS UNDER THE DEAL.

THE CITY HAD TRANSFERRED THE PROPERTY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER, BUT THAT DETAIL HAD BEEN OVERLOOKED WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS DRAFTED.

AT THE SAME TIME, A NUMBER OF OTHER HISTORIC CLAIMS ON THE HARBOR AREA PROPERTY, INCLUDING RIGHTS-OF-WAY OR EASEMENTS FROM OLD RAILROADS AND UTILITIES, WHICH IN SOME CASES DID NOT EXIST ANYMORE.

THAT WORK WAS FINALLY COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AT THE SAME TIME, A ROAD PROJECT NEAR THE HARBOR, WHICH IS NEARING COMPLETION, INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF UTILITIES FOR THE FIRST SIX TOWNHOMES.

THE DEVELOPERS SAY THEY ARE STILL INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE PROJECT AND PIECES HAVE KIND OF FALLEN INTO PLACE AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

♪ THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED THIS WEEK THEY WILL HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE MAJOR REPAIRS ON THEIR OWN DIME AT THIS POINT.

THAT IS THE FIX A NUMBER OF ISSUES AT TWO OF ITS NEW SCHOOLS WERE BUILT ONLY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

SHODDY CONSTRUCTION AND QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS HAVE PLAYED THE SCHOOLS LOCATED NEAR CULVER.

THE NORTHWOOD SCHOOL LOCATED JUST NORTH OF COOK.

THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE A SINKING FLOOR IN THE BAND AND CHOIR ROOM AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES RELATED TO THAT.

BROKEN PLUMBING AND SINKING FLOORS IN THE SPORTS CONCESSION AND BATHROOM BUILDING AT NORTHWOODS.

THAT IS NEAR THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

IN SOME CASES, THE FLOORS AT THE CONCESSION STAND DROPPED BY SEVERAL INCHES AND THAT HAS CREATED A HOST OF ISSUES FOR THINGS LIKE PLUMBING AND THE FOUNDATION.

THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN FORCED TO MAKE SOME COSTLY MODIFICATIONS AS WELL TO TWO WATER TOWERS BUILT FOR THE NEW SCHOOLS.

THE TOTAL COST OF ALL OF THESE PROJECTS IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MILLIONS.

THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN HOPING THEY COULD PURSUE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SOME OF THESE BIG CONTRACTORS WHICH INCLUDED JOHNSON CONTROLS AND ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES, BUT THOSE EFFORTS SO FAR HAVE NOT YIELDED ANY REAL CONCESSIONS.

A FELLOW, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF GREENING.

YOU NEED TO GO ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF COOK AND THEN TAKE A LEFT AND DRIVE ANOTHER EIGHT TO 10 MILES AND YOU ARE BASICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS GREENING.

HE'S LIVED IN A 16 BY 20 FOOT CABIN FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS.

WE'VE WRITTEN ABOUT NOVAK ONCE BEFORE BECAUSE OF HIS INTERESTED IN CRAFTING APPLE TREES.

RECENTLY, THE DULUTH TRIBUNE DID A PERSONALITY FEATURE ON HIM AND THE THING EXPLODED ONLINE.

THEY HAVE RECEIVED OVER ONE MILLION PAGE VIEWS ON THE STORY IN A MONTH.

THAT IS THE MOST THAT ANY STORY WITHIN THE ENTIRE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND ITS MANY PAPERS HAVE EVER HAD ON A SINGLE STORY.

IT HAS REACHED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND IT DEFINITELY STRUCK A CORD WITH MANY.

NOVAK HAS GOTTEN CORRESPONDENCE FROM AS FAR AWAY AS SOUTH AFRICA AND REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MEET IN PERSON.

EVEN HIS UPS DRIVER WHO STOPPED BY THE OTHER DAY SAID, YOU ARE FAMOUS.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS PRETTY UNUSUAL FOR A GUY WHO SPENT THE LAST 44 YEARS LIVING BY HIMSELF IN A LITTLE CABIN IN THE WOODS.

HE IS NOT SURE WHY THE STORY HAS ATTRACTED SO MUCH INTEREST, BUT HE SPECULATES MANY PEOPLE SECRETLY LONG FOR A RETURN TO A SIMPLE, LOW STRESS LIFESTYLE LIKE THE ONE HE'S MADE FOR HIMSELF HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: IF YOU'VE DRIVEN INTERSTATE 35 IN DULUTH RECENTLY, YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE MASSIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT THE SO-CALLED CAN OF WORMS INTERSECTION.

AND SOON, THE BLATNIK BRIDGE BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THE WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION WILL HOLD A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE HIGH BRIDGE REPLACEMENT NEXT WEEK.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS DUANE HILL, MNDOT'S DISTRICT ENGINEER IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK.

DUANE: GOOD EVENING.

DENNIS: THE SO-CALLED CAN OF WORMS PROJECT IS WELL UNDERWAY.

A LOT OF THE DECONSTRUCTION HAS TAKEN PLACE ALREADY.

HOW LONG WILL THIS PROJECT TAKE TO COMPLETION?

DUANE: WE'VE GOT TWO MORE SUMMERS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGES AND ROADWAYS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT PROJECT.

SO, THAT WILL GET US THROUGH 2023.

THEN IN 2024, WE WILL BE DOING FINAL CLEANUP AND PAINTING AT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WILL HAVE MINOR TRAFFIC IMPACTS.

DENNIS: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, WILL THE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS?

DUANE: YES, IT WILL.

THE CONTRACTOR IS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE BRIDGE DEMOLITION UNTIL THEY ARE DONE WITH IT THIS WINTER.

THEN, THEY WILL ALSO BE BUILDING BRIDGE SUBSTRUCTURES ALL WINTER LONG.

JULIE: YEARS OF PLANNING WENT INTO THIS INTERCHANGE PROJECT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING MOVED IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING SO FAR AS YOU LOOK AT THE PLANNING VERSUS WHAT REALITY IS LOOKING LIKE?

DUANE: IT IS GOING REALLY WELL.

THE PLANNING INVOLVED OUR CONTRACTOR AS WE WERE DOING THE DESIGN WORK.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BUILD AND INFLUENCE THE WAY WE DESIGN THE PROJECT SO THE 20 DIFFERENT OPERATIONS HAPPENING AT ONE TIME CAN FIT TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON SCHEDULE.

WE'VE HAD REALLY GOOD SUCCESS WITH THE WORK SO FAR.

WE'RE ONE THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH THE WORK.

DENNIS: SO, HOW WILL THE KICAN OF WORMS CHANGE?

WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THE NEW CAN OF WORMS OR WHATEVER WE CALL IT?

JULIE: IT WON'T BE A CAN OF WORMS ANYMORE.

DUANE: WE WILL CALL IT TO -- THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE.

WE WILL CHANGE THE NAME.

IN THE FALL INTERCHANGE, YOU EXITED TO THE LEFT.

THAT IS NOT A NORMAL MOVEMENT FOR INTERSTATE.

SO, WE WANTED TO MOVE ALL THE EXITS TO THE RIGHT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES YOU WILL SEE.

IN THE OLD INTERCHANGE, WE HAVE THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU WOULD GO OFF A RAMP AND MERGE INTO A SINGLE LANE.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ELIMINATE, WE CALL THEM BLIND MERGES.

WE ARE ELIMINATING THEM.

ALL THE TRAFFIC WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON FROM THE RAMPS AND THEIR ONLY AND THEN HAVE A REASONABLE -- THEIR OWN LANE AND HAVE A REASONABLE DISTANCE TO MERGE AND SORT OUT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE INTERCHANGE.

JULIE: A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN IN THE LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD WERE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WHAT THINGS MIGHT LOOK LIKE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION.

ARE YOU GETTING A SENSE THAT THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AT THINGS ARE WORKING PRETTY WELL?

DUANE: I THINK DURING THIS LAST SUMMER, IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAD UTILITY CONSTRUCTION AND LOWER MICHIGAN STREET WAS BEING WORKED ON.

IT WAS PRETTY DISRUPTIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALONG WITH OTHER LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

NOW WE ARE IN MORE OF A STEADY-STATE WHERE WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF SUMMERS AND THERE WILL BE LESS DISRUPTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

DENNIS: ANOTHER BIG PROJECT THAT IS FACING THE CITY OF DULUTH, SUPERIOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STATE IS THE BLATNIK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING MEETING?

DUANE: WE WILL BE STEPPING THROUGH ANOTHER STEP OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

LOOKING AT SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF A POTENTIAL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.

WHAT WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WITH HIS IDENTIFYING WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE PROJECT.

THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE STRUCTURE AND IMPROVE SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE AND IMPROVE MOBILITY, ESPECIALLY ON THE WISCONSIN END OF THE BRIDGE.

THE OTHER SECONDARY NEED IS ADDRESSING ACCESS FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS ACROSS THE HARBOR.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES AND WE ARE NARROWING AND NARROWING THAT RANGE DOWN SO EVENTUALLY WE GET TO A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.

THE MEETING NEXT WEEK IS ONE OF THE STEPS IN THOSE PROJECTS -- AND THOSE PROCESSES THAT WE WILL BE SHARING WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND ASKING THE PUBLIC TO CHECK OUR BLIND SPOTS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONSIDER EVERY POSSIBILITY NOW EARLY ON AND NARROWED DOWN TO THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK UP.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO STOP AND CHECK OUR BLIND SPOTS.

JULIE: THE BRIDGE TURNED 60 THIS WEEK.

IS THAT AN AVERAGE LIFESPAN FOR A BRIDGE?

IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT IS THAT OLD.

DUANE: MAYBE IT DOESN'T, BUT ACTUALLY AT THE TIME IT WAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED, ARE DESIGNED LIFE IS A 50 YEAR DESIGN LIFE.

IT HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED THE DESIGN LIFE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT REPLACING IT BECAUSE IT HAS EXCEEDED ITS DESIGN LIFE.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MANAGE IT SAFELY.

WE INSPECT THAT BRIDGE EVERY YEAR.

WE'VE HAD TO RESTRICT LOADS ON THE BRIDGE.

WE DON'T ALLOW ANY LOADS ACROSS THE BRIDGE BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE HEAVIER LOADS, REDUCING THE REMAINING LIFE.

DENNIS: THE BRIDGE DOES NOT HAVE EMERGENCY PARKING LANES OR SIDEWALKS.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL CHANGE WITH THE NEW BRIDGE?

DUANE: YES.

I THINK ONE OF OUR NEEDS WITH THE CROSSING WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A MULTIUSE TRAIL.

BIKES AND PADS HAVE A WAY TO CROSS.

DEFINITELY ON THE TRUST SPIN, WE DON'T HAVE SHOULDERS RIGHT NOW.

THE NEW DESIGN WOULD HAVE INADEQUATE SHOULDER.

-- AN ADEQUATE SHOULDER.

JULIE: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR DULUTH-SUPERIOR TO HAVE TWO HIGHWAY BRIDGES?

DUANE: IT IS REALLY CRITICAL.

THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE NEED TO DO REPAIRS AND YOU NEED TO SOMETIMES CLOSE IT TO DO THOSE REPAIRS.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL BRIDGE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES RATHER THAN THE OLIVER BRIDGE.

OR WE HAVE TO SEND THEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH DAN BARRY AND HINCKLEY TO DETOUR AROUND IF THERE WAS NO BRIDGE CREATIVE -- NO BRIDGE.

JULIE: IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ONLINE MEETING, HOW CAN THEY ASCCESS IT AND WHEN IS IT?

DUANE: I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHEN IS IT.

IF YOU GOOGLE MNDOT BLATNIKBRIDGE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND IT.

DENNIS: WE HAVE TO CUT IT SHORT.

DUANE HILL, DISTRICT ENGINEER.

THANK YOU.

DUANE: THANK YOU.

JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

CHECK OUT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE.

THERE ARE SOME PREDICTIONS THAT WE MIGHT GET SOME MEASURABLE SNOW THIS WEEKEND.

I GUESS WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT PREPARED FOR THAT.

DENNIS: IT SOUNDS LIKE WINTER IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.

EIGHT INCHES, 10 INCHES?

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

JULIE: I AM OPTIMISTIC WE CAN SHOVEL THE AMOUNT.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪