Weekend traffic: Twin Cities Marathon, Vikings and I-694 closure could bring big traffic disruptions

There's nothing like a marathon right through the heart of the city to disrupt traffic, but that's the case this weekend as the 35th running of the Twin Cities Marathon takes place. Thousands of runners will take part in the 26.2-mile race Sunday from downtown Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul. A 10-mile race also will take place Sunday while affiliated events will be held on Saturday. More than 300,000 spectators will watch.

A large swath of downtown in the vicinity of U.S. Bank Stadium will be off limits to vehicular traffic starting at 5 a.m. Sunday. Traffic will be prohibited in the area from 5th Avenue to 11th Avenue and from 6th Street to 3rd Street until approximately 9 a.m. when runners are expected to clear the area.

Getting other parts of Minneapolis during the marathon could put drivers on an endurance test of their own as runners make their way around the Chain of Lakes, across Minnehaha Parkway, up West River Road and along Summit Avenue to the State Capitol.

Marathon officials suggest using Interstate Hwy. 94 and I-35W in Minneapolis to bypass the racecourse. In St. Paul, motorists are advised to use I-35E or Ayd Mill Road or Grand Avenue to get around the finish line and numerous road closures around the State Capitol. A full list of road closures and where traffic will be allowed to cross the race course is here. Minneapolis bus riders will find a number of Metro Transit routes on detour from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Other sports events that will bring thousands of people to town include a Gophers vs. Iowa football game at 11 a.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings-Houston Texans game at noon Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium and a Lynx playoff game at 2 p.m. Sunday at Target Center.

Event rates will be in effect all day at parking meters in downtown Minneapolis, so be sure to check the pricing before leaving your vehicle.

Motorists heading to the events will likely encounter construction-related delays. This will be the last weekend for a bridge painting project that will bring a full closure on westbound I-694. All lanes between I-35W and Hwy. 252 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

In St. Paul, look for jams on westbound I-94 as the freeway is slimmed down to a single lane from 7 p.m. Friday until early Sunday from Hwy. 61 to Mounds Blvd.

Here is your weekend road construction map with details below:

1. Westbound I-94 in Maple Grove: Westbound single lane from 95th Avenue N. and Hwy. 101 from 7 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

2. I-494 in Plymouth/Maple Grove: Lane restrictions between Fish Lake Road in Maple Grove and Hwy. 55 in Plymouth.

3. Hwy. 100 in St. Louis Park: Lane restrictions in the vicinity of Hwy. 7 and Excelsior Blvd.

5. Westbound I-694 in New Brighton: Closed 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday from I-35W to Hwy. 252.

6. I-35W in Mounds View: Lanes narrow in the vicinity of County Road H due to bridge construction.

7. I-694 in Shoreview: Westbound traffic has two lanes separated by a concrete barrier between I-35E and Lexington Avenue.

8. I-35E in the northeast metro: Intermittent lane closures between County E and Main Street. County 96 is closed from Manning Avenue to Dellwood Road.

9. Hwy. 8 in Franconia: Closed between the south junction of Hwy. 95 in Franconia and downtown Taylors Falls.

11. I-94 from St. Paul to Maplewood: Westbound from Hwy. 61 to Mounds Blvd. single lane from 7 p.m. Friday until early Sunday.

12. Hwy. 36 at Lexington Avenue in Roseville: Eastbound is still using a bypass at Lexington Avenue.

13. Hwy. 5 in St. Paul: Right lanes closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.

14. Washington Avenue in Minneapolis: Westbound lanes closed from 5th Avenue to Hennepin Avenue S.

15. Cedar Avenue in Eagan: Reduced to two lanes between Diffley Road and Nicols Road. Ramp from westbound Hwy. 13 to northbound Cedar closed.