This weekend in traffic: Freeway closings and street parties

It starting to feel like fall out there with cooler temperatures and some rain in the forecast, but that won't stop MnDOT crews from working on the roads or people reveling in the streets.

Portions of two major interstates, 694 and 35W, will be closed as will streets and parkways in Minneapolis and St. Paul for celebrations and a big bike ride.

The Twins are at home for games with Tampa Bay Friday through Sunday at Target Field. The Lynx host the Chicago Sky in a battle conference leaders at 7 p.m. Saturday at Target Center.

Here is a rundown of where you'll be likely to encounter traffic delays or detours. Plan on extra time

I-694

This is supposed to be the last weekend that MnDOT will shut down eastbound I-694 between I-35W and Lexington Avenue in Arden Hills. The freeway will be reduced to a single lane starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Then, at 10 p.m., the entire segment will be blocked off until 5 a.m. Monday.

Crews will be completing concrete pavement repair and working on the I-694/Hwy. 10/Snelling and Hamline Avenue interchange.

There are more westbound closures coming up in the coming weeks, but those dates have not been set yet.

I-35W

Last month while painting the Hwy. 13 bridge over I-35W, MnDOT crews found damage that needs to be repaired. They will do that this weekend.

The northbound lanes of I-35W will be closed from the I-35/35W/35E split up to Hwy. 13. The closure goes into effect at 10 p.m. Friday and will last until 5 a.m. Monday.

Detour: Northbound 35E to northbound Cedar Avenue to westbound 494.

The work on I-35 between County Road 70 and County Road 2, the Elko/New Market exit, continues through November. The freeway is reduced to a single lane.

Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, the northbound lanes between County Road 50 and the I-35/35W/35E split also will be down to a single lane until 5 a.m. Monday.

Lafayette Bridge

It's bridge inspection time, so the southbound lanes of Hwy. 52 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday from I-94 and Eaton Street.

Northbound lanes will remain open, but as a reminder, no vehicles longer than 35 feet, including trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers, will be allowed north of Plato Blvd.

Westbound Hwy. 8 between Hwy. 61 and I-35 will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 10 p.m. Sunday. Crews will be making repairs on the bridge that carries traffic over I-35. Detour: Westbound motorists can follow southbound Hwy. 61 to West Broadway Avenue in Forest Lake, then west to I-35.

I-494

Westbound 494 will be reduced to two lanes from Bailey Road to Hardman Avenue in South St. Paul as part of a road repaving project. The restrictions go into effect at 6 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Sunday.

Closer to the airport, the ramp to 34th Avenue remains closed as work on the new Diverging Diamond Intersection continues.

Hwy. 169

St. Paul city streets

It's no cars allowed on University Avenue as St. Paul Open Streets take over the segment from Hamline Avenue to Marion Street. Walkers, bicyclists and all non-motorized vehicles will have full reign from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

The fun includes demonstrations, pop-up zumba, yoga classes and vendors along where the new Green Line light-rail trains will start running next year. Metro Transit will offer free rides to the event to those who download a pass.

The south leg of Westminster Street and Maryland Avenue intersection will be closed through Saturday. This closure is for utility work that will cross Westminster Street. All Maryland Avenue traffic will follow a detour to northbound Westminster Street.

Look for some road closures in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood near the Mississippi River Saturday morning. The occasion is the Summit Brew Run. The area is between I-35E, W. 7th Street and Shepard Road. The fun and post-run beer begins at 10 a.m.

Several of the city's parkways will be off limits to vehicles from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for the annual Ground Rounds National Scenic Byway. The recreational bike ride around the city includes a 14-mile and 36-mile ride, plus post-ride festivities.