St. Louis County Advances $2.328M Study of Two Midway Road Rail Crossings

St. Louis County, Minnesota, has launched a planning effort to evaluate alternatives for eliminating two railroad crossings on Midway Road, also designated County State Aid Highway 13. The crossings are on CN-owned and operated infrastructure in Hermantown and Midway Township: one at St. Louis River Road and the other in Adolph, 0.2 mile south of US 2. They are just over a mile apart. The county’s current effort covers planning and project development—not construction—and is intended to identify potential approaches for improving safety and movement for motorists, freight traffic, and trains.

The estimated planning budget is $2.328 million. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) selected the project in January 2025 for up to $1,862,400 through its Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program, while Minnesota’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Match Program contributes approximately $249,000. The source reports that the county is responsible for about $217,000 of the estimated total. Sambatek is leading the consultant team, which also includes Bolton & Menk, LHB, and Braun Intertec. The funding and consultant scope point to an active planning engagement, but the supplied information identifies no construction award, construction budget, or implementation schedule.

The planning case is grounded in substantial road and rail activity. More than 6,500 vehicles per day use Midway Road at the crossings, and approximately 15% to 20% are trucks hauling freight. The corridor is also an oversize and overweight route supporting the Duluth Port. Each crossing handles up to 30 trains per day. A county exploration study completed in 2023 found that delays had increased as trains became longer and more frequent, and ranked the crossings as the area’s top traffic concern based on their effect on travel times. These conditions could shape alternatives analysis, design requirements, cost estimates, and the eventual scope of any capital project.

Safety and operational effects are also part of the procurement context. Queued vehicles may be struck from behind, and a hill about 0.4 mile south of the Adolph crossing limits northbound drivers’ visibility of the queue. Southbound traffic stopped at Adolph can back up into the US 2 intersection, while crossing delays can increase emergency response times. A public meeting was scheduled for November 12 at the Aad Shrine Meeting and Event Center in Hermantown, with an online participation option, to introduce the effort and gather residents’ concerns and ideas. County Commissioner Keith Musolf, whose district includes both crossings, said: “The wait for motorists at these crossings causes more than just frustration. With so many vehicles carrying freight, there’s an economic impact as well, so I’m excited to see what alternatives can be determined to keep our trains and our motoring public moving safely and efficiently.” For contractors, the near-term signal is the planning phase; firms should track the study’s recommendations and subsequent funding actions before treating construction as a defined opportunity.

• Project scope: Plan alternatives to eliminate two crossings on CN tracks along Midway Road in Hermantown and Midway Township.
• Planning budget: Estimated at $2.328 million, including the reported county contribution of about $217,000.
• Federal support: FRA selected the project in January 2025 for up to $1,862,400 through its Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program.
• State match: Minnesota’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Match Program contributes approximately $249,000.
• Consultant team: Sambatek leads; Bolton & Menk, LHB, and Braun Intertec are also identified.
• Traffic profile: More than 6,500 vehicles daily, with 15% to 20% freight trucks; the route supports Duluth Port traffic.
• Rail activity: Each crossing carries up to 30 trains per day; the two crossings are just over a mile apart.
• Safety and mobility issues: Queues, restricted sight distance near Adolph, potential spillback into the US 2 intersection, and emergency-response delays are among the stated concerns.
• Procurement outlook: No construction funding, contract, or schedule is identified. Monitor study findings and later capital-funding decisions for a potential follow-on opportunity.