One more weekend motorists will have to endure a shut down of Interstate 35W in northeast Minneapolis, but this time only the southbound lanes will close. Then drivers will get a two-week break as construction and repaving project takes a hiatus for the State Fair and Labor Day.
Football fans will get to practice their travel and tailgating routines on Saturday as the Vikings host the Jaguars in a preseason game at noon at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Twins are home against the Tigers Saturday and Sunday at Target Field. Expect heavy traffic on Hwy. 169 south of Shakopee where the Renaissance Festival opens for the season.
Looking ahead, more misery in store for south metro drivers. On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin rehabilitating the Minnesota River bridge connecting Burnsville and Bloomington. Drivers will encounter nightly lane closures through Sept. 7.
But first a few of the major construction projects underway this weekend:
Minneapolis
1. Interstate 35W: Until 5 a.m. Monday, southbound lanes closed from County Road C to NE. 4th Street. Road C. Access to Hwy. 280 will be closed. Motorists will have access to exits between I-694 and County Road C. Access from westbound Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 280 will be closed. Freeway reduced to two southbound lanes from downtown to 43rd Street. Northbound is two lanes plus a MnPASS lane up to 31st Street, then third general traffic lane open to 3rd Street. MnPASS northbound open to 31st Street. This set up will be in place until late 2019. Ramps from northbound I-35W to 11th Street and 5th Avenue and to from 12th Street/4th Avenue to southbound closed.
2. Interstate 94: Reduced to two lanes between Chicago and Portland Avenues.
3. Penn Avenue N.: Closed from 23rd to Lowry avenues and 35th to Dowling avenues.