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Weekend traffic: Big fireworks shows and some road work

AAA says more than 34.8 million Americans will hit the highways between Wednesday night and Sunday, and they will pay more for gas.

By Tim Harlow

July 4, 2014 at 3:07PM

Fireworks capped off Summer Fete in Bloomington Thursday evening. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

AAA says more than 34.8 million Americans will hit the highways between Wednesday night and Sunday, and they will pay more for gas. On Monday, the Energy Information Administration said the national average price for a gallon of gas was $3.70, the highest heading into a July 4 weekend since 2008. Here in Minnesota, the average price of a gallon of gas Thursday morning was $3.66 according to AAA.

For those staying in town, the Twins are playing the New York Yankees in games Thursday through Sunday at Target Field.

Car travel in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul could prove difficult Friday night as thousands are expected to descend on the downtowns for big fireworks shows. Some roads will be blocked. See details below.

MnDOT is suspending road work, but drivers will still find cones and barrels out in long-running construction zones. See details about metro area road work and significant projects outstate that could affect out-of-town travel below.

Metro Transit buses and the METRO Blue and Green lines will follow Sunday/Holiday schedules on Independence Day Friday. Minnesota Valley Transit buses and the METRO Red Line will, too. No service on SouthWest Transit or Maple Grove Transit lines.

Metro Transit will offer Northstar service to all weekend Twins games. Here is a schedule.

Here is a rundown on getting around this weekend.

Fireworks in Minneapolis and St. Paul commence at 10 p.m. Friday, but festivities and set up begin long before that. Look for road closures in both downtowns.

In Minneapolis:No official road closures have been announced for the Red, White and Boom celebration, but expect crammed conditions on roads near the downtown Minneapolis riverfront, including Hennepin Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Washington Avenue, Central Avenue and University Avenue. Organizers say 60,000 people may attend.

In St. Paul vehicle traffic will not be allowed in the area from Rice Street to Cedar Street and from University Avenue to 12^th Street West. City officials suggest people use public transit to get to and from the show at the State Capitol Mall.

Parking meters

Parking meters will not be enforced Friday in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. However, all other parking restrictions in the city remain in effect and will be subject to enforcement, including Park Board meters along Minneapolis parkways, University of Minnesota parking meters and those of private organizations who operate their own meters. Always read the information posted on the meter and follow other parking regulations as posted to be certain.

Metro area road projects

An advisory from MnDOT reminds motorists to use extra caution when driving through highway work zones this weekend. Here are some projects that could affect travel:
Twin Cities Metro area

Highway 61 - Single-lane traffic in both directions between White Bear Avenue and north of Highway 96 in White Bear Lake
Highway 65 - Southbound between 53rd Ave NE in Fridley and County Road 10 in Spring Lake Park is closed
Highway 36 and Hilton in Pine Springs - Lane and ramp closures; northbound I-694 ramp to eastbound Highway 36, the ramp from Hilton Trail to westbound Highway 36; and access to Viking Drive from eastbound Highway 36 are all closed
Highway 101 and County Road 144 in Rogers – Lane closures; northbound to eastbound County Road 144 is closed; westbound County Road 144 to northbound Highway 101 is closed; County Road 144 is closed west of James Road
Highway 101 - Single-lane traffic northbound and southbound from County Road 14 to Hwy. 212.
Highway 169 in Edina – Southbound is closed between Highway 62 and Valley View Road
Highway 41 between Chaska and Shakopee is closed due to flooding
I-35E is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Little Canada Road and Maryland Avenue in St. Paul.

Northern Minnesota

Highway 10 east of Glyndon - Lane closures; traffic reduced to one lane in each direction
Highway 29/Broadway St., downtown Alexandria - Traffic detoured to adjacent streets
Highway 10 in Rice - Narrow lanes, lane shifts, reduced speed limit, temporary signals
Highway 95 at Rum River in Cambridge - Detour via local streets, width limit
Highway 33 northbound - Restricted to single lane near Doddridge Avenue/Big Lake Road intersection; entrance from Big Lake Road to Super One is closed; frontage road entrances are closed on both sides of Highway 33 at Doddridge Avenue and Big Lake Road
Highway 71 in Browerville – Road closed, detour via County Roads 14, 11
Highway 22 in Eden Valley – Road closed, detour via County Road 9

Central Minnesota

I-94 in Monticello - Narrow lanes, lane shifts, reduced speed limit, Go Hasty detour uses County Road 75 in Monticello to County Road 8 in Hasty; through-town detour uses Highway 25, County Road 18, Broadway/County Road 75 and Chelsea Road

Southern Minnesota

I-35 in Owatonna – Two-way traffic with crossovers, ramp closures, detours, delays
Highway 52 in Cannon Falls - Lane closures
Highway 63 south – Detour from north of Stewartville to south of Racine
Highway 14 – Detour from Florence to Tracy
Highway 24 – Detour from Litchfield to Highway 15
Highways 7/22 – Detour from Cosmos to Hutchinson
Highway 212 – Detour from Dawson to west of Highway 59
Highway 169 from St. Peter to LeSueur – Lane restrictions
Highway 22 in Mankato – Detour
Highway 60 near St. James – Detour
Highways 19 and 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson – Closed because of flooding

For the duration of the holiday weekend, and the remainder of the construction season, MnDOT urges drivers to:

Stay alert, especially at night.
Obey posted speed limits. Fines may double for violations in work zones.
Expect work zones to constantly change. Day to day, you could experience lane shifts, closures or moving workers and vehicles.
Stay off cell phones and mobile devices.
Move over one lane, if possible, or reduce speed for stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles, including ambulance, fire, law enforcement or maintenance and construction vehicles.
Use 511mn.org to plan trips and avoid delays.

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.