The weather forecast calls for rain and snow Thursday and Friday, and as a result the Minnesota Department of Transportation is rescheduling work to repair the ramp from southbound Hwy. 280 to eastbound I-94.
The project to fix what spokesman Kent Barnard called "the most awful ramp in the state," is set to begin Monday at 5 a.m. The closure will be in effect for about a week with a projected opening on Nov. 4.
Poor drainage and a high water table frequently leave the ramp wet in the summer months and icy during cold-weather months even when precipitation has not fallen. The project will address the drainage problem and put down new pavement.
During the week-long closure, here are a few suggested routes for drivers needing to access eastbound I-94.
Motorists who normally use southbound Hwy. 280 from Hwy. 36 or Interstate 35W: Take Hwy. 36 to Snelling Avenue, then south to I-94.
Drivers who get on Hwy. 280 using city streets such as Larpenteur Avenue, Como Avenue and Kasota Avenue can take Larpenteur or Energy Park Drive east to Snelling Avenue, then south to I-94.
Drivers on University Avenue can take Cretin Avenue south to I-94.
