Eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul were reopened to traffic at 3 p.m. Saturday, 38 hours ahead of when they had been scheduled to reopen on Monday morning, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Westbound lanes of I-94 in the same area — between Interstate 35W in Minneapolis and Hwy. 280 in St. Paul — will remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday, to restore pavement markings and return traffic to its usual configuration of three to four lanes.
The six-mile stretch of I-94 will fully reopen Monday in time for the Minnesota State Fair, which runs Thursday through Labor Day. In the meantime, the ramp from SE. Huron Boulevard in Minneapolis to eastbound I-94 will reopen Wednesday.
After Labor Day, MnDOT will resume construction work through the end of September, removing crossovers, temporary signs and lighting. When the $16 million project started, MnDOT had pledged to have the freeway back to full capacity ahead of the State Fair.
Drivers using the corridor have felt the pinch since April, as I-94 has been restricted to two lanes in each direction while MnDOT repaired the bridge over the Mississippi River and four others. The configuration has led to significant backups, even outside of normal rush-hour periods.
According to MnDOT, motorists in the area may expect to see periodic lane closures in the spring of 2026 as crews seal the decks on the five repaired bridges along I-94 for a smoother and safer riding surface.
For more information or to sign up for traffic impact email updates, visit the project webpage at mndot.gov/metro/projects/i94minneapolis.
