Drivers in Little Canada and Roseville will want to avoid Hwy. 36 because of lane and road closings near the Rice Street exits Thursday through Saturday nights. Crews from the Minnesota Department of Transportation will be installing beams as part of a bridge project.

WHEN: The left lane of eastbound Hwy. 36 will be shut down at 8:30 p.m. and both westbound lanes of Hwy. 36 will be closed at 10 p.m. each night. Rice Street in both directions will be closed at 9 p.m. The affected lanes will be reopened to motorists at 5 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

STILL OPEN: One lane of eastbound Hwy. 36 will remain open round the clock, as will the ramps leading to and from eastbound Hwy. 36 to Rice Street.

DETOURS: Drivers heading west on Hwy. 36 will be redirected up the off-ramp at Rice Street and back onto the highway via the entrance ramp. Detour signs will be posted for westbound drivers seeking to access Rice Street.

DON'T GO THERE: To avoid delays, MnDOT encourages drivers to take alternate routes while the work is being done.

UP NEXT: Work affecting eastbound lanes of Hwy. 36 and exit ramps to and from Rice Street is scheduled for next week, MnDOT said.

WHY: The new bridge is part of an interchange construction project expected to be done in November.

TIM HARLOW