Beltrami County weighs pausing Scenic Highway 39 pedestrian bridge after human remains found; Leech Lake Band to lead cultural review

Beltrami County commissioners discussed whether to continue with a long‑planned pedestrian and bicycle bridge on Scenic Highway 39 after utility crews uncovered human remains near the proposed site.

Bruce, the county highway engineer, told commissioners the bridge project dated back more than a decade: design work was funded by grants, and construction funding had been located through federal grants and matching funds. "We were working towards the actual construction, developing the, getting the plans ready," Bruce said. He said a utility relocation encountered human remains and the county has worked with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe heritage office to determine next steps.

The Leech Lake heritage office proposed additional cultural assessment work, including…