Nearly 3 months after water line break, Duluth Radisson reopens following $3M renovation

DULUTH, Minnesota — The Radisson hotel in downtown Duluth has reopened nearly three months after being closed by a water main break.

Thursday's reopening comes just in time for the city's busy summer tourist season.

The Radisson's Harborview hotel closed on March 13 after the hotel's water line under Superior Street broke. The break flooded the sub-basement's mechanical room with four feet of water, sand and dirt and knocked out power.

PHOTO: In this June 5, 2013 photo, Jared Paulson of Servpro uses a floor stripper to prepare the marble floor in the lobby of the Radisson Hotel for cleaning and polishing in Duluth, Minn.. The Radisson hotel in downtown Duluth has reopened, Thursday, June 6, 2013 nearly three months after being closed by a water main break. (AP Photo/The Duluth News-Tribune, Bob King)
In this June 5, 2013 photo, Jared Paulson of Servpro uses a floor stripper to prepare the marble floor in the lobby of the Radisson Hotel for cleaning and polishing in Duluth, Minn.. The Radisson hotel in downtown Duluth has reopened, Thursday, June 6, 2013 nearly three months after being closed by a water main break. (AP Photo/The Duluth News-Tribune, Bob King)

Officials say the cost of repairs and new utilities is over $3 million.

The Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/14j0OCH ) reports a top-to-bottom cleaning of the 16-story, 268-room hotel wrapped up Wednesday night.

General manager Jeff Briner says all but a dozen of the hotel's 75 employees who were laid off back in March are back, with 10 more hired.

Reported:  The Republic Columbus, Indiana