A portion of a major highway in the southwest metro will be closed for painting and bridge work this weekend , while a freeway in the east metro that has been reduced to a single lane in both directions for months has all lanes open, Minnesota Department of Transportation officials said.
Highway 169 in Eden Prairie and Edina will be closed in both directions from Valley View Road to 494 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The posted detour will route motorists along Hwys. 212, 62 and 100. The work is associated with the reconfiguration of the 494/169 interchange.
It's not the only project on tap for the weekend. Interstate 694 in Brooklyn Center and Fridley will be reduced to two lanes in both directions between University Avenue and Shingle Creek Pkwy. for bridge maintenance.
In the east metro, MnDOT crews are picking up the last of the cones and barrels on 694 in Maplewood and Oakdale. The eastbound and southbound lanes between Hwy. 61 and Hwy. 5 opened to traffic Thursday night, and the northbound and westbound lanes opened to traffic at noon Friday.
The $20 million construction project started in June. With all lanes and exit ramps open, that should ease congestion in the area and reduce motorists' stress levels.
"People are always happy about the roads re-opening," said MnDOT spokeswoman Cara Chandler.
A look ahead
Starting Monday, drivers in St. Paul will encounter overnight lane closures on I-94 and Hwy. 52 as work on the Lafayette Bridge continues.
On both eastbound and westbound 94, motorists can expect to encounter congestion between Mounds Blvd. and 35E as lanes are shut down to allow crews to remove a permanent barrier to make room for a bypass that will be built. The closures will begin at 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All lanes are expected open by 5 a.m. each day.
That project also will impact drivers on Hwy. 52. Northbound lanes will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights from Concord Street to E. 7th Street.
The left lane of southbound 52 between 94 and Plato Blvd. will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Wednesday nights. There will be no access to southbound Hwy. 52 from E. 7th Street, but ramps from eastbound and westbound 94, and 35E will remain open.
In Bloomington, crews will be pile driving for foundations for the new Xerxes Avenue Bridge over 494. MnDOT will close the left lane in both directions at 7 p.m. Monday at Xerxes. The freeway will be reduced to a single lane in each direction from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday. The lane restrictions will also be in place overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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