Headaches expected as major metro road projects get underway

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be doing fewer road construction projects during the 2016 season. That's the good news.

The bad news is that drivers can still expect major headaches, especially in the east metro where simultaneous pavement and bridge repair on three major arteries — I-694, Hwy. 36 and I-94 east of downtown St. Paul — will constrict traffic significantly.

They are among the 246 road projects statewide that MnDOT will undertake this spring, summer and fall at a cost of $1.04 billion. The agency will spend $70 million less than last year and complete 44 fewer projects, said state transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle at a news conference.

With the early spring, a few projects such as Hwy. 100 through St. Louis Park are already underway. But most will resume or kick off over the next few weeks.

The biggest project is a redo of I-94 from Mounds Boulevard to Century Avenue in Maplewood. Over the next two years, lanes will be reduced as MnDOT puts down new concrete. "This one will have the greatest traffic impact in the metro," said Tom O'Keefe of MnDOT's metro district.

That put it on the same schedule as a planned replacement of the Lexington Avenue bridge on Hwy. 36.

With those two projects and work to add a third lane on I-694 between Rice and Lexington Avenue, east-west travel in the metro will be difficult, MnDOT acknowledges. But it all comes down to funding.

Adding to the misery is a reconstruction of the ramps on Hwy. 280 at Hwy. 36 and I-35W. That will bring a closure of Hwy. 280 north of Como Avenue from May 2 to July 11. "That will be a big headache for folks," O'Keefe said.

Zelle said a majority of this year's work is on maintaining the current system of 30,000 lane miles and 4,000 bridges. But some projects will expand capacity.

Among them is adding a third lane on I-494 in Plymouth between I-394 and the I-494/694/94 interchange in Maple Grove. That project started last year and will conclude this year. Highway 100 also is getting an extra lane between Hwy. 7 and I-394 and a new interchange at Hwy. 7.

Officials warned drivers that they will need extra time to pass through work zones, and to pay attention, slow down and use caution. Fines for not obeying speed limits begin at $300.

Fewer construction projects does not mean the state's roads are in good shape, officials said. But current funding is not enough to keep up with the needs of the state's deteriorating roads, said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith.

"If we don't, our needs won't go away and they will become more expensive," she said.