A Decade in the Making: Celebrating 6th Ave. East

A Decade in the Making: Celebrating 6th Ave E

6th Ave East is a relic of the former MN highway 194 system that divides the Hillside neighborhood. Paired with redlining, its high-speed design has caused major disruptions for the health and safety of those in the neighborhood.

After nearly 15 years of study, engagement, demonstrations, and planning, the City of Duluth heard residents’ concerns and decided to reconfigure the corridor as part of a planned resurfacing project. The new corridor includes a road diet (4 to 3 lanes), improvements to improve access for people with disabilities, and crossing enhancements to make this road safer for all users. A full reconstruction is scheduled in 7-10 years. This provides an opportunity to revitalize both the roadway and hillside neighborhood, creating a healthy and welcoming place where residents can thrive.

This month, Zeitgeist will gather with partners, neighbors, and community leaders to cut the ribbon on the newly completed improvements to 6th Avenue East—a project more than a decade in the making.

A Long Journey Toward Safer Streets

This moment casts a light on an earlier moment in the story, back in 2013, when neighbors and advocates voiced concerns regarding the difficulties encountered on 6th Avenue East. During neighborhood walks, groups—including local Statewide Health Improvement Partnership staff—observed and discussed the traffic and obstacles children faced while walking to Myers-Wilkins

The corridor has long been a barrier in the Hillside. Fast-moving traffic, narrow sidewalks, and difficult crossings made it unsafe for children walking to school and neighbors moving between hillside homes and downtown Duluth.

In fact, currently - 90% of students need to be bussed to Meyers-Wilkins because certain roads are deemed unsafe to cross, including 6th Ave East.

244 crashes and 20% of Duluth’s pedestrian deaths in a ten-year period have been on 6th Ave E. It is estimated 20% of these crashes would not have happened on the newly designed  3-lane road.

Recognizing these risks, Zeitgeist and committed community partners have conducted listening sessions, visioning exercises, walk audits, and hosted the 6th Ave East summit and Building Great Places events with local leaders and community members to center the needs and vision of  those who lived the daily reality of this street. The stories were clear: people wanted a street that supported connection, health, and safety.

Persistence Through Partnerships

What followed was years of persistence—building coalitions, securing funding, and working through design after design with city officials and engineers. Each step brought new challenges: budgets shifted, administration changed, plans were delayed, and timelines stretched. But what never wavered was the community’s determination, and Zeitgeist’s role as a connector and advocate.

This work ensured that people walking, rolling, biking, or driving could all share a street designed with their safety and wellbeing  in mind.

Why This Ribbon Cutting Matters

The impact of these changes extends well beyond infrastructure. Streets designed for people are healthier streets. When children can safely walk, or bike to school, they get more physical activity. When neighbors feel comfortable walking to the bus, church, or grocery store, they are more connected and less isolated.

Reducing traffic risks lowers stress, while cleaner, calmer streets promote both physical and mental wellbeing.

The ribbon cutting isn’t simply the opening of a street. It’s the culmination of years of advocacy, collaboration, and resilience. It’s a moment to pause and honor the many voices—past and present—that pushed for change.

And it’s a milestone that reminds us: the transformation of 6th Ave E is an investment not just in transportation, but in the health and vitality of Duluth’s families.

For more information about this work, check out the 6th Ave E page on Zeitgeist’s website: Safer 6th Avenue East | Zeitgeist.