This just in. The westbound lanes of I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Hwy. 100 in Golden Valley will be open by 5 a.m. Friday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

That means all general traffic lanes in both directions will be available to motorists. The reversible carpool lanes will be restricted to vehicles carrying two or more people, buses, motorcycles and motorists with transponders who pay a fee to use them.

While the westbound lanes will be open, motorists should expect periodic lane closures and night work over the next few weeks. Crews will be grinding the pavement to make it smoother and quieter, so motorists should expect delays, MnDOT says.

But at least for a week, drivers won't have to deal with the levels of congestion that they have since the westbound lanes were closed on July 10.

The reprieve will last until July 31 when the eastbound lanes will be closed for two weeks. That's when inbound traffic will be diverted to the HOT lanes and all westbound traffic will be confined to the general purpose lanes.

These ramps will be closed when the eastbound lanes are shut down:

  • Eastbound I-394 to Penn Avenue
  • Penn Avenue to eastbound I-394
  • Northbound Hwy. 100 to eastbound I-394
  • Southbound Hwy. 100 to eastbound I-394 will use the HOT ramp

Lyndale Avenue over Dunwoody Boulevard/Hennepin Avenue will remain closed until the fall. Motorists should use Dunwoody Boulevard to access westbound I-394 and use Hennepin Avenue, 11th Street and Linden Avenue to continue traveling on Lyndale Avenue.