CLOSED090607

Weekend detours planned on I-35W, Crosstown

Already inconvenienced by the Interstate Hwy. 35W bridge collapse, motorists using the freeway this weekend will encounter another detour as a five-mile segment of the highway through south Minneapolis will be shut down.

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune

Last update: September 5, 2007 - 1:03 PM

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-35W from I-94 in downtown Minneapolis to Hwy. 62 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. In addition, Hwy. 62, also known as the Crosstown Highway, will be off limits to motorists from Cedar to Lyndale Avenues.

The freeway's closing comes on a weekend when thousands of fans will be attempting to get to the Metrodome on Saturday morning for a Gophers football game and on Sunday for the Vikings-Atlanta Falcons game, which kicks off at noon.

Drivers should allow extra time getting into and out of downtown Minneapolis and follow the posted detours.

While freeway is closed, crews will demolish the 50th Street Bridge, put steel beams in place on the Diamond Lake Road Bridge, relocate girders and widen the I-35W bridge over Minnehaha Creek, begin bridge work at the east and west junctions of I-35W and Hwy. 62, and drainage and temporary roadway construction.

Bike and pedestrian paths on Minnehaha Parkway passing under I-35W also will be closed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tim Harlow • harlow@startribune.com