More Closures On Twin Cities Highways This Weekend

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - There was some relief on the road Friday as westbound 394 in Minneapolis reopened after being reduced to just two lanes for weeks.

But the approaching weekend means more closures in the Twin Cities.

Another summer weekend, another important stretch of roadway closes -- this time in St. Paul.

"We're pouring a portion of the Snelling Avenue Bridge deck," said Nick Carpenter, Public Information Officer with MnDOT.

That means the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 between 280 and 35E will shut down starting 10 p.m. Friday and not open again until Monday morning's commute at 5 a.m. The detour is 35E north to 694 west to 35W south, where you will meet back up with 94.

In the west metro, southbound 494 will shut down from the Fish Lake split in Maple Grove to 394 in Minnetonka while MnDOT repairs pavement and bridges. The detour goes east on 694 to hook up southbound on 169 and then westbound on 394. This, too, is on the Friday 10 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m. timeline.

There's no good time for construction, and MnDOT said that's why they space out the projects. This weekend the closures are in Plymouth and St. Paul.

"We are, years in advance, planning the projects we have to do," Carpenter said. "As we are working on corridors, we want to make sure we aren't working on two parallel corridors at the same time."

So as you make your way around town this weekend, be sure to plan your route and pack your patience.

"People are happy once it's all done," Carpenter said. "For now though, we have an aging infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are getting older, and as they age, we need to do the work to make sure all those repairs are done."

If you want real time traffic information or to see what's closed near you, dial 511 on your phone, go to 511mn.org or download the 511 app.

You can also visit MnDOT's website for information on weekend construction road detours.