Virginia’s floating pier nears completion – Duluth News Tribune

VIRGINIA. Longtime residents of this community in the heart of the Iron Range may recall a railroad trestle built decades ago that ran through part of Silver Lake, and pedestrians could cross it (illegally) as a shortcut between downtown Virginia and several residential areas of the city. quarters.

In a matter of days, city officials hope a new floating pier across Silver Lake will open to the public, reminiscent of an old railroad crossing but without the danger of dodging a locomotive.

“The contractor is telling us they should be done by the end of the month, which is next week,” said Brian Silber, director of Virginia Parks and Recreation. “We are keeping our fingers crossed and are very excited that the Silver Lake Trail will be completed at the end of this project.”

Silber acknowledged that opening the floating dock in the summer, rather than ahead of a long, cold winter in northern Minnesota, would have been preferable. But the berth is designed for year-round use.

“The floating pier remains in the water all year round. It’s wide enough that our sidewalk plow, which is actually a broom, can go across it and remove the snow,” he said. “We hope to maintain the entire walkway year-round because it connects downtown to the residential parts of our community.”

The Silver Lake Trail project, first conceived in 2021, has been built in various stages since then. Installation of the floating pier, which was jointly funded by grants from the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources and Iron Range Resources, began over the summer. There is currently a trail around the lake, but Silber noted that before the dock was installed, walkers had to cross city utility land to do so.

“It allowed you to continue on, but it wasn’t an ideal situation,” Silber said. “We took inspiration from this historic railroad trestle to create a floating pier across the lake.”

The planning and permitting process was extensive, but the city worked with planners and the Minnesota DNR to secure funding and permits. Silber said a ribbon cutting ceremony has been discussed and they hope they can open the pier before the snow flies away.