Commuters looking to make a fast exit out of downtown Minneapolis by way of 4th Street will run into a detour starting Wednesday.
A one block segment of 4th Street is closed between Portland Avenue and Park Avenue. The closure will be in effect until July, according to city officials.
Traffic will be detoured south on Portland Avenue to 6th Street, east on 6th to Park Avenue then north on Park back to 4th Street. The bike lane also will be closed.
For commuters looking to access I-35W, rather than taking the six-block detour, it might be easier to just scoot over to Washington Avenue or use 4th Avenue S. For drivers looking to get on westbound I-94, it might be just as easy to hit 3rd Street and leave on the west end of downtown.
Over the next few months, crews will be relocating utility lines and filling a tunnel that used to connect the former Star Tribune buildings.
The newspaper recently moved its operations to the Capella Building at 650 3rd Avenue S. Its former headquarters on Portland Avenue will be torn down to make way for the public park planned in connection with the new Vikings stadium.
