A box culvert-sized tunnel, currently being installed, will be a passageway for the train, operated by the Railroad Museum of Minot, to go through. The tunnel is located behind the zoo’s Visitor Center to the west of the bear exhibit.

According to Patrick Samson, PE, of Ackerman-Estvold, one of the project managers for Phase MI-7 Roosevelt Park and Zoo, the structure is under construction and will include placing fill over it.

Samson said the structure will be at grade. “But there will be a pedestrian path over it. When the full project is completed, the zoo will extend into the Roosevelt Park area. The intent of the tunnel is to allow for zoo visitors to follow the path over the train tunnel to access the full zoo. The tunnel became necessary due to zoo regulations that require the perimeter security fence to remain closed, meaning that the train would not be able to pass through it,” Samson said.

He said

the tunnel for the Magic City Express is part of the Phase Mi-7 (Roosevelt Park and Zoo) construction project of the Mouse River Plan.

Submitted Photo The tunnel being constructed for the Magic City Express miniature train is located in Roosevelt Park behind the Roosevelt Park Zoo Visitor Center. Photo from Ackerman-Estvold.

The area is an active construction site and is not open to the public.

According to Samson, completion of the MI-7E contract, which includes flood control, the Magic City Express and the north park area, is scheduled for this fall.

“However, due to the construction schedule of the various zoo exhibits, we don’t anticipate the MCE (Magic City Express) to run until the summer of 2028. There will be on-going construction activity in the park and zoo area through 2028 when exhibits and the final site restoration is completed,” Samson said.

Submitted Photo The miniature train tunnel in Roosevelt Park will have a pedestrian path over it. Roosevelt Park Zoo will extend into the park when the full flood control project is finished and the tunnel will allow zoo visitors to use the path over the tunnel to access the full zoo. Photo from Ackerman-Estvold.

Submitted Photo The opening of the tunnel for the Magic City Express miniature train in Roosevelt Park will be 24 feet wide, extend 10 feet above the tracks and be about 36 feet long. Photo from Ackerman-Estvold.