Parts of three major metro highways will be closed this weekend

Another challenging weekend is ahead for drivers in the Twin Cities, as portions of three major routes will be closed and another will have traffic funneled into fewer lanes.

Detours will be in place on portions of I-494 in the south metro and I-94 and I-35E in the east metro.

Motorists using I-35W between Blaine and Roseville could get caught in long traffic jams, as just one or two lanes will be open.

All the construction-related disruptions will last from Friday night to Monday morning, though the schedule could change due to weather or other reasons, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

Why so many disruptions at once?

“We don’t try to do it all at once, but we have large projects and we need to get this work done,” said Kent Barnard, a MnDOT spokesman. “This work requires we close the roads, so we do it on weekends when there is less effect on traffic.”

Here is the breakdown:

Drivers will be directed to use Cedar Avenue/Hwy. 77, Crosstown Hwy. 62 and Hwy. 100 to get around the closure.

Crews will be working to improve drainage along the freeway.

I-94 in St. Paul: Eastbound lanes will be shut down between Hwy. 280 and I-35E from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

The suggested detour is northbound Hwy. 280 to eastbound Hwy. 36 to southbound I-35E.

Crews will continue with a project fixing nine bridges spanning the freeway.

The signed detour is eastbound I-494 to westbound I-94.

Crews will continue with a project fixing nine bridges spanning the freeway.

I-35W in the north metro: Both directions of I-35W will have fewer lanes open. Only two lanes will be available for drivers between County Road C in Roseville and Hwy. 10 in Blaine. Only one lane will be open between Hwy. 10 and Lexington Avenue.

Southbound lane reductions will begin at 8 p.m. Friday. Northbound reductions will begin at 10 p.m. Friday. Both lane closures will be in effect until 5 a.m. Monday.