Contractors broke ground last week on the biggest road project in Cloquet this summer, the complete reconstruction of Washington Avenue. The $3.074 million project includes all of the busy roadway, from Minnesota Highway 33 to County Highway 45.

For now the work is limited to the portion between Highway 33 and 14th Street, where the pavement has been removed and work on storm sewer crossings and city of Cloquet sanitary sewer is underway. That section is still open to local traffic, although the county recommends people detour down Doddridge or Carlton Avenue when and where as they can.

As...