With the Memorial Day weekend kicking off the unofficial start of summer, millions will take to the roads for a getaway, AAA says, and locally the biggest travel may be outside the metro area as road work on Interstate 35 north and south of the metro area has the potential to tie up traffic.
Interstate 35 is down to a single lane between Owatonna and Ellendale in southern Minnesota. To the north, a long stretch of the freeway is down to a single lane in each direction between Rush City and Pine City.
For those heading northwest, be on guard for traffic backups in work zones between Clearwater and Monticello and from Alexandria and Evansville. On Hwy. 169, drivers could find delays between Belle Plaine and Jordan and from Le Sueur and St. Peter.
For those staying home, a host of road projects will bring some lane closures, but there is good news: All freeways will be open.
A reminder to drivers, even if construction workers are not present, work zone speed limits remain in effect. Law enforcement also is continuing its Click-It or Ticket campaign targeting motorists who are not wearing their seat belts.
Minneapolis
1. Interstate 94: Ramps from eastbound I-394 to westbound I-94 and the ramp from northbound Lyndale Avenue to westbound I-94 closed. Ramp from westbound I-94 to Hwy. 55 closed.
2. Franklin Avenue: Bridge is closed over I-35W through at least midsummer.
3. Penn Avenue N.: Three closures related to construction of the C-Line bus rapid transit line are in place: 26th to Lowry avenues, 17th to 21st avenues and 12th to 14th avenues.
