A major traffic snarl developed before dawn Monday in downtown Minneapolis as authorities shut down both directions of I-94 for about 30 minutes.

Authorities said “police activity” in the vicinity of the 3rd Avenue bridge was the reason the freeway was closed around 5:30 a.m. The ramp from northbound I-35W to westbound I-94 was also closed until the situation cleared just after 6 a.m., the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

Traffic stacked up in both directions, but was nearly back to normal levels by 6:30 a.m.

Eastbound I-94 was still tight in the area of Groveland Avenue where the State Patrol was handling a fender bender on the right shoulder.