After a soggy start, Minnesota Department of Transportation crews are hoping for dry conditions this weekend which will allow them to resume a bridge painting project on I-694 in the northern suburbs that has been on hold for a couple weeks.
If the weather holds up, they will shut down the eastbound lanes of I-694 from Brooklyn Center to New Brighton from Friday night to Monday morning.
Both directions of I-35E south of downtown St. Paul will be closed from Friday night to Monday morning for bridge work while I-94 in both directions is squeezed in the Midway near the Prior Avenue bridge project.
Once again, the southbound lanes of Hwy. 100 will be shut down, but only for 24 hours from 10 p.m. Friday night to Saturday night between I-394 and 70th Street. Since this closure extends south of the usual closing point at the Crosstown, motorists should use Hwy. 169 or I-35W to make their southbound trips.
Football is back on the University of Minnesota campus. Be alert for road closings and turn lane restrictions in the vicinity of TCF Bank Stadium before and after Saturday's 11 a.m. kickoff.
The Saints have a playoff game at 7 p.m. Saturday at CHS Field in downtown St. Paul while the Twins play Friday through Sunday at Target Field. No traffic will be allowed on West Broadway between Lyndale and Penn avenues Saturday as another installment of Minneapolis Open Streets is on tap. The Renaissance Festival continues in Shakopee so look for heavy traffic on Hwy. 169.
Keep your eyes open for bicyclists participating in the St. Paul Classic Bike Tour along the Saint Paul Grand Round parkway system on Sunday. Road closures in the direction cyclists are riding include Mississippi River Boulevard, Shepard Road, Warner Road, Johnson Parkway, Wheelock Parkway and Pelham Boulevard. Summit Avenue will be open to traffic but no parking rules will be enforced on the north side.
And the sweet sounds of Kirk Whalum and others will fill the air Saturday at the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest at Selby Avenue and Milton Street in St. Paul.