Riverwest Drive is a new street on the west side of the City of Duluth, just across Trunk Highway 23 (Grand Avenue) from Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, a year-round recreation destination for alpine and Nordic skiing, mountain biking and hiking. In 2018 the City selected MSA for the design of this MnDOT State Aid project which provides access to an emerging mixed-use residential and commercial development along the St. Louis River.

Image of the property pre-construction, with Grand Avenue on the left.

The project features a new signalized intersection at TH 23/Grand Avenue to boost vehicular and pedestrian safety, an at-grade crossing of the Willard R. Munger State Trail and new at-grade crossing of an active BNSF rail spur. Design also includes construction of new sanitary sewer, water main and gas utilities — as well as a new storm sewer system for the associated stretch of urban street. Close coordination with the BNSF railroad aided in completing a new underground crossing of the rail spur for new utilities. A new multiuse path adjacent to Riverwest Drive now connects residents and guests to the 80-mile-long Munger Trail as well as to a southerly segment of the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail.

New vacation rental homes along Riverwest Drive – image courtesy of Riverwestduluth.com

Development of Riverwest Drive followed MnDOT State Aid Standards and was funded through a variety of sources, including Transportation Economic Development funds, City of Duluth funds and County Transportation Sales Tax. MSA worked in close collaboration with the City of Duluth Engineering and Parks and Recreation departments, MnDOT and the Minnesota DNR.

Since completion in 2022, three new vacation rental homes have been constructed just off Riverwest Drive as part of a larger 26.8-acre development. The homes are situated on what has been named Eric Shaffer Way in honor of former City of Duluth Chief Engineer Eric Shaffer who passed away unexpectedly in February 2023 and was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

Plans are underway to construct more vacation homes, as well as a proposed 100-120-unit apartment building, hotel, restaurant and other retail establishments — including a branch of a popular Duluth outdoor recreation business, the Ski Hut.