West Third Street in Duluth closes for utility work for one week

West Third Street closed between 25th Avenue West and 27th Avenue West in Duluth on Monday, June 29, for utility work expected to last about one week. The City of Duluth said the full closure gives contractors safe space to perform the work, and a signed detour is in place while the block remains shut.

The disruption reaches beyond the immediate stretch of roadway. West Third is part of a west-end traffic pattern that carries commuters, delivery traffic and neighborhood trips through an area where businesses and homes sit close to the street. Drivers using the corridor were told to plan ahead and follow the posted detour rather than try to work around the closure on their own.

The Duluth Transit Authority said the Blue Line is detouring around the shutdown as well. Westbound buses are turning from West Third Street onto 25th Avenue West, then onto West First Street, then onto 27th Avenue West before returning to West Third Street and regular service. The agency said that detour was expected to stay in place until July 10, unless the intersection reopened sooner.

The city issued its closure notice on June 26, three days before the shutdown began. That timing gave West Duluth drivers and transit riders advance warning, but it also underscored how quickly utility projects can reshape travel on a busy corridor even when the work is temporary.

This was not the only recent utility-related restriction on the street. A nearby segment of West Third Street between 27th Avenue West and 28th Avenue West had an eastbound lane closure from June 26 through June 28, adding another short-term disruption to the same stretch of Duluth’s west side. The city also said a West Third Street closure in June 2025 was part of work to remove lead from private water service lines, a sign that the corridor has seen repeated infrastructure projects over the past year.

For residents, businesses and drivers who rely on West Third, the immediate issue is the added time and rerouting during the closure. The city’s message remains straightforward: use the signed detour, expect delays and watch for the street to reopen after the utility work is finished.