Lots of construction has already taken place along the I-35E corridor between Little Canada Road and I-94 as MnDOT works to improve traffic flow and access to downtown St. Paul. And there is lots more ahead.

To that end, the agency will hold two open houses this week to update commuters on the 2015 construction schedule, anticipated traffic impacts and status of the new MnPass Express lane.

The meetings will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Little Canada City Hall, 515 E. Little Canada Road and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Avenue, St. Paul.

MnDOT will show off design layouts and staff will answer questions.

Construction began in 2013 with the replacement of the Cayuga Bridge and rebuilding of the freeway between University Avenue and Maryland Avenue. Several bridges along that stretch also were replaced. Overpasses at Maryland Avenue, Larpenteur Avenue and Wheelock Pkwy. have been rebuilt.

By next year and into 2016, the new MnPASS lane should be complete. The lane, which MnDOT says will move 50 percent more traffic, will operate similar to those on I-394 and I-35W in the west and south metro. Those lanes are free for vehicles carrying two or more people or open to solo drivers who pay a fee to use them during rush hours.

According to MnDOT, here is a sampler of what is on tap for next year. For details on current activities, see the project page here.

2015 Construction

  • Close and reconstruct L'Orient Street between University Avenue and Arch Street (spring-summer)
  • Close and reconstruct L'Orient Street between Arch Street and Phalen Blvd (summer-fall)
  • Complete the northbound I-35E bridge and shift traffic to the new bridge (summer)
  • Complete and open the permanent loop exit ramp from northbound I-35E to Cayuga Street (summer)
  • Complete reconstruction and open the ramp from southbound I-35E to University Avenue. Remove the temporary exit to 12th Street and reopen the ramp from University Avenue to westbound I-94
  • Permanently close the ramp from southbound I-35E to Pennsylvania Avenue for continued southbound I-35E reconstruction (summer/fall)
  • Close the ramp from southbound I-35E to eastbound I-94 for approximately two months during reconstruction work

Late 2015/mid-2016 Construction

  • Complete construction and open the ramps to/from southbound I-35E at Cayuga Street (opening to traffic in fall 2015 or spring 2016)
  • Complete reconstruction and paving for all local roadways in the project area, including Cayuga Street (west of I-35E), the west I-35E frontage road, and Pennsylvania Avenue/Phalen Blvd
  • Complete site clean-up and open the new portion of the MnPASS lanes between Maryland Avenue and Cayuga Street