Lake County to close Two Harbors' 15th Street for rail work

Lake County will close 15th Street in Two Harbors to through traffic beginning Monday, July 6 at 7:00 a.m. and expects to reopen the road Monday, July 13 at 7:00 a.m. The shutdown covers the stretch between August Omtvedt Boulevard and 20th Avenue and was requested by CN Rail for railroad crossing upgrades near Marie Avenue.

The tracks and rail crossing surface will be removed during the project, which means highway traffic will not be able to pass straight through the crossing while crews are working. Residents and local traffic on either side of the closure will still have access, but drivers trying to cross the corridor will need to plan around the work zone before reaching downtown Two Harbors, nearby businesses or delivery stops along 15th Street.

Trips that normally use 15th Street as a cross-city route will have to stay on the surrounding street network and approach the closed segment from the north or south instead of driving through it. The county has not identified a full detour route in the notice, but the ends of the closure at August Omtvedt Boulevard and 20th Avenue will serve as the main reference points for avoiding the blocked crossing.

Lake County Highway Department oversees 375 miles of roadways and 77 structures, and active summer 2026 jobs include Two Harbors street and utility work, Highway 2 resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation work. The department follows Minnesota Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration traffic-control guidelines for its work zones.

15th Street has already been part of another summer project in Two Harbors. In May 2026, the county closed the street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue for city water and natural gas improvements, while keeping it open to residents between 9th Avenue and 15th Avenue and allowing coordinated driveway access between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue.

In June 2025, CN announced it would invest $60 million in Minnesota in 2025, including more than $9 million to upgrade and improve operations at its Two Harbors rail yard and more than $2.5 million at the Duluth Iron Ore Dock.