Commuters in Lakeville, Farmington, Elko, New Market and other communities in the far south metro who use I-35 can enjoy the drive home tonight. By Wednesday morning, the freeway will be reduced to a single lane in both directions between Scott County Road 70 and County Road 2.
Traffic will share a lane on the same side of the freeway for six to eight weeks as MnDOT continues its pavement rehab and bridge repair project. Lane restrictions will kick in starting at 8 tonight.
Starting on Sept. 23, the work zone will expand north to County Road 50. At that time, the ramp from 185th Street (County 60) to northbound I-35 will close. The ramp from northbound 35 to County 50 will be closed.
For Lakeville and Farmington residents, Kenwood Trail would be the best alternate. Those living east of 35 could use Hwy. 13 . Neither are great as they are rife with traffic lights and have smaller capacity. Cedar Avenue further to the east might work, but again, lots of traffic lights through Apple Valley, so that might not save much time.
