MnDOT response to curb illegal lane changes in I-694 work zone in Shoreview: More barriers

Disobedient motorists are forcing the Minnesota Department of Transportation to bring out more concrete barriers to keep drivers on westbound I-694 from making illegal lane changes in a construction zone in Shoreview.

In the past few weeks, the agency has seen scores of drivers cutting through an area blocked only by orange barrels to get into a lane in which traffic appears to be moving faster. The dangerous and prohibited maneuvers have not caused any severe crashes yet, said MnDOT spokesman Kent Barnard. But there have been many near misses, he said, and lots of complaints from other drivers who have been cut off and want somebody to take action.

To take away the temptation to sneak through, MnDOT will replace the barrels with concrete medians this week, Barnard said.

This summer MnDOT is doing the first half of the $42 million Enhance 694 project by adding a third lane between Rice Street and Lexington Avenue. To do that, the agency has split westbound traffic into two lanes just before Rice Street. The far right lane is designated as a "Local Access" lane, which allows motorists to access exits along the 3-mile stretch.

The far left lane is called a "Through" lane, which does not allow motorists to get on or off the freeway until reaching I-35W. Concrete medians separate the right and left lanes.

The problems are coming near Rice Street just before drivers reach the construction zone. Barrels were set up at Rice Street to block the center lane and funnel traffic into the left or right lane. The arrangement prevents motorists coming off the ramp from northbound I-35E to westbound I-694 to access the left, or "Through" lane.

Some, however, have made left turns on the freeway and squeezed through the barrels to join the faster-moving left lane. In the process, they've become a highway menace.

MnDOT spent $15,000 this spring to create a series of animated videos showing how traffic will flow for the next two years. A third eastbound lane will be added in 2017.

It's not just on I-694 where drivers have ignored traffic control devices in construction zones. This spring some motorists attempted to drive on I-35W when the road was closed while beams for the new County Road E2 bridge were set.

In other cases, people have gotten out of their vehicles to move signs. Motorists have driven into fresh concrete and cutouts. They've hit rebar and unfortunately, workers, too, Barnard said.

Barrels and cones "are there to protect workers and drivers," Barnard said.