VIRGINIA, MN – Businesses wishing to take part in the Highway 53 economic impact surveys are encouraged to contact the group conducting them.
The relocation of a segment of Highway 53 between Eveleth and Virginia is expected to occur before May 2017, after landowner RGGS and leaseholder Cliffs Natural Resources (United Taconite) terminated the easement the state Department of Transportation held in 2010, to mine iron ore beneath the highway at that location.
There are a number of route options:
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A middle westerly route through mining operations.
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A no-build option easterly.
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A remain in place option easterly.
The highway segment, roughly between the Highway 135 interchange the Second Avenue traffic loop, is scheduled for mining after the road is relocated.
Two major areas that the surveys will focus on are:
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A “customer spotting” survey, to be done by July 21, for retail stores and food services, and establishments offering recreation and attraction activities. Information requested in this survey included a customer’s address, work zip code, reasons for coming to a store, and whether they’re a visitor. The checkout survey takes less than a minute."
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An online survey for retail stores, food service and services; hotel and motels; establishments offering recreation and attraction activities, and businesses making sales/service calls or deliveries to the area. Activities, costs and impacts from any of the proposed highway routes are being requested for this survey.
A total of 40 businesses have signed up to take the surveys.
Anyone wishing to take the survey can email linda@mccombgroup.com or call 612-339-7000.
Upcoming meetings will be held July 23, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sept. 3 and Sept 17.