By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 3, 2025

The US Forest Service announced this week that the Cascade River Bridge on Forest Road 170 (FR170), known as "The Grade," in the Superior National Forest (SNF) will remain closed through October 30, 2025, or until further notice. The initial project was scheduled for the summer of 2024 to replace an old culvert. However, an extension was signed and went into effect on September 20, 2024, due to conditions encountered during construction that require "additional design, resources, and time" to complete the project while meeting safety and environmental quality standards, according to the USFS. 

The initial deadline for the extension was September 30, 2025, or earlier if construction was completed before that date. However, on September 29, the USFS issued a closure extension through October 30, or until further notice, "to ensure public safety while construction is completed."

When Boreal Community Media asked for the reasons behind the additional extension, the USFS did not provide an answer. When asked if there was a possibility of a further extension beyond October 30, the USFS cited a potential delay in work due to the lapse in federal funding resulting from the government shutdown. Boreal Community Media reached out again to inquire about the reasons behind the project delay and has not received a reply at the time of publication. However, an update will be issued as soon as one becomes available. 

The closure prohibits motor vehicle entry within the restricted area, which encompasses the river crossing and immediate construction areas. Barricades are posted on FR170, a quarter mile (0.25 miles) east and west of the Cascade River. Access to the Cascade River via foot is permitted, as long as cars are parked outside the posted barricades and do not interfere with construction. The trailhead for Eagle Mountain will also remain open. 

The SNF has provided alternative motorized routes around the closure via Minnesota Highway 61:

• Alternate Route 1: Caribou Trail to MN Highway 61, to the Gunflint Trail, to Cook County 8 (“Devils Track”), and to Cook County 27 (“Ball Club Road”).

• Alternate Route 2: Caribou Trail to MN Highway 61, to Cook County 7, to Cook County 48, and to FR158 (“Bally Creek Road”). The USFS notes this second alternative is not fully plowed during winter.

 Image: USFS