I-35W weekend closure in Minneapolis scheduled June 15-18
Lane reductions on I-35W and I-94start Monday
ROSEVILLE, Minn. –Interstate 35W will close in both directions between Interstate 94 and Highway 62 in Minneapolis, beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, June 15 to allow for the demolition of the 24th Street pedestrian bridge over I-35W and restriping of lanes on I-35W.
Crews will begin closing the on and off ramps for I-35W about one hour before closing the interstate. Southbound I-35W will be open to traffic south of 46th Street. Motorists will be detoured around the closure using Interstate 394, Highway 100 and Hwy 62. I-35W will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, June 18.
Once reopened, northbound I-35W from 43rd Street to downtown Minneapolis will be three lanes with one lane for MnPASS. Southbound I-35W from downtown Minneapolis to 43rd Street will be two lanes. The number of lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times during construction as crews work to reconstruct pavement on I-35W. The lane reductions will be in place through fall 2021.
Also beginning on Monday, June 18, westbound I-94 from Nicollet Avenue to Chicago Avenue will be reduced to two lanes. The lane reductions will be in place through fall 2018.
In addition, the ramp from southbound I-35W to 35th Street will close beginning at 10 p.m.Friday, June 15. Motorists should follow the posted detour using southbound I-35W to the 46th Street exit to northbound Nicollet Avenue. The ramp is expected to reopen in fall 2020.
The 24th Street pedestrian bridge will also close beginning at 10p.m., Friday, June 15. During the closure, pedestrians can use the Franklin Avenue bridge to cross I-35W. The 24th Street pedestrian bridge will reopen in fall 2021. The new pedestrian bridge will be ADA accessible and will be less steep to cross.
The long-term closures of the ramp from southbound I-35W to 35th Street and the24th Street pedestrian bridge are because of several factors: the ramp and bridge are being completely reconstructed and with the construction activities taking place on I-35W for the remainder of the project, highway lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times. Construction on I-35W will not allow motorists to safely merge from I-35W to the 35th Street ramp, and the new bridge piers will not allow traffic lanes to be safely shifted.
These closures are part of the larger four-year 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown reconstruction project on I-35W between 43rd Street and downtown Minneapolis. The work includes reconstructing pavement, bridges and ramps on I-35W, adding new access ramps to the Lake Street Business District, building a new transit station on the interstate and constructing new MnPASS lanes. Once complete, motorists and residents will have better accessibility, safety and mobility in the area. Work is expected to be completed in fall 2021. To learn more about the project, visit: www.mndot.gov/35w94
During the 35W@94 reconstruction project, people are encouraged to make a new connection to other forms of transportation such as transit, carpools, MnPASS, and try alternate routes. Or consider alternatives to traveling to/from work such as telecommuting or driving during off-peak hours. Information on these alternatives can be found at www.mndot.gov/35w94
Please plan ahead, know your route and check 511 and the project web site for updates:
www.511mn.org
The 35W@94 reconstruction project is one of many critical road and bridge improvement projects underway across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area this summer. These projects represent a significant undertaking to build better roads and a multimodal transportations system that supports a growing economy and a stronger community. More information at www.mndot.gov/betterroads
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