Council ponders Highway 33 proposal

Cloquet City Councilors know where the Wood City Riders stand on potential plans for Minnesota Highway 33, after an hour-long presentation by club president Chris Rokke.

They appeared to agree with Rokke on at least one point: that any highway modifications need to include some kind of multi-use trail or trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, ATVs and snowmobiles on the west side of the highway, particularly between Perkins and Pinehurst Park, where a steep hill leaves little space for anyone trying to walk or ride next to the southbound lanes.

Ward 4 Councilor Kerry Kolodge said he’d like to see the council draft a resolution of support for a multi-use trail, which would likely mean moving the roadway east during reconstruction. Kolodge talked about damage caused by errant ATV drivers on the Pinehurst sledding hill.

“Because if we don’t make a place for them to go, they’re going to go wherever they want to go: through our parks and through our residential areas, and I don’t want to see that,” Kolodge said.

City administrator Tim Peterson will be drafting a letter to MnDOT asking them to also consider past city studies including trails when planning for the future project.

“We do want motorized and non-motorized trails to be a part of the planning process for this corridor,” Peterson said.

~ Jana Peterson / Pine Knot News