MnDOT to modify downtown Mpls. street to help Super Bowl traffic flow

Source: Google maps

Changes are coming to a little used street on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis, and they could have a big impact the traffic flow during the Super Bowl.

Curbs along a two-block segment of 13th Avenue S. between 8th and 6th streets will be realigned and traffic signals will be modified to provide motorists with another way to access eastbound I-94.

The work on 13th Avenue started Thursday and will likely take until Jan. 13 before it is completed.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Minneapolis are teaming up to make the changes to help motorists get out of downtown when street closures around U.S. Bank Stadium have the potential to choke traffic.

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 5, eastbound 6th Street will be closed between Chicago Avenue and 11th Avenue S. During the closure, drivers will be shifted to 8th Street. At 11th Avenue, motorists will be allowed to make the jog over to 6th Street and make a right turn to get to eastbound I-94.

To ease the traffic crunch, the intersection of 7th Street and 13th Avenue will be modified to allow for through traffic. Currently all drivers on 13th Avenue must make a left turn onto 7th Street and can not proceed to 6th Street. With the modification, motorists will be able to take 13th Avenue over to 6th Street and turn right onto the ramp to eastbound I-94.

In other downtown construction: MnDOT will be doing some paving in the area of the Franklin Avenue bridge. The segment of I-35W that leads to the "Downtown Exits" for Grant Street and 5th Avenue will be closed from midnight to 5 a.m. on Jan. 11. The ramp from northbound I-35W to westbound I-94 also will be closed during those hours.

MnDOT will close one lane between the I-94/I-35W split and downtown between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. several days next week. Crews will be preparing the MnPASS lane to serve as a general traffic lane to allow for three lanes heading into downtown. The lane should be ready for use by Jan. 26 when Super Bowl festivities start ramping up.