Yes, there are freeway closures on tap for the weekend, but for once it's not in downtown Minneapolis. This time it's drivers in the north and south metro who get to play the game of finding an alternate route.
Eastbound I-494 is closed through Eden Prairie and west Bloomington and westbound will be down one or two lanes at times while the nearby Crosstown has lane closures between Shady Oak Road and Interstate 494.
Drivers heading north out of Minneapolis will find I-35W blocked off from 4th Street up to Roseville, meaning Hwy. 280 may be busier than normal.
Traffic-busting events include Twins games at Target Field, a Loons soccer match Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium and Lynx game Sunday night at Target Center. Several communities have celebrations that will bring road closures, including the annual Bastille Day fete at 31st and Lagoon in south Minneapolis and the St. Paul Dragon Festival. The Life Time Tri will have Minnehaha Parkway shut down Saturday.
Here are a few spots you may encounter traffic headaches and detours:
Minneapolis
1. Interstate 35W: Reduced to two southbound lanes from downtown to 43rd Street. Northbound is two lanes plus a MnPASS lane up to 31st Street, then third general traffic lane open to 3rd Street. MnPASS northbound open to 31st Street. This set up will be in place until late 2019. Ramps from northbound I-35W to 11th Street and 5th Avenue and to from 12th Street/4th Avenue to southbound closed.
2. Interstate 94: Westbound reduced to two lanes from Chicago Avenue to Nicollet Avenue until fall.
3. Penn Avenue N.: Closed 23rd to Lowry avenues and 35th to Dowling avenues.
