Twin Ports Interchange Project in Duluth Receives National Operational Excellence Award
The Twin Ports Interchange Project in Duluth, Minnesota, has been recognized with a national award in the Operational Excellence – Large Project category at America’s Transportation Awards. This five-year, $435 million initiative involved the reconstruction of the complex I-35, I-535, and Highway 53 junction, previously known locally as the 'can of worms.' The project aimed to enhance safety by eliminating left-hand exits and blind merges, replacing aging infrastructure including several bridges, and improving freight movement. The Operational Excellence category specifically acknowledges projects that effectively utilize existing transportation assets and processes to deliver cost-effective, near-term solutions. Minnesota saw four of its projects recognized across the 10-state Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials region, with two of these being local to the Duluth area. The project was managed by Peter Marthaler, who joined the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) approximat... 
