Weekend traffic: Southbound I-35E closure in east metro delayed

Road construction season is winding down for the season, but drivers will still face a few obstacles in the Twin Cities metro areas this weekend.

However, the planned weekend closing of southbound Interstate 35E in the northeast metro has been postponed because of the threat of rain, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

MnDOT had planned to close the southbound roadway from Friday night until early Monday to repair joints in the highway's concrete surface between the I-35 split in Columbus and I-694 in Vadnais Heights. The joints allow the pavement to expand and contract with changing temperatures, preventing cracks. The northbound lanes were repaired last weekend.

Now that closure is set for next weekend. If the weather cooperates, the southbound lanes will close at 7 p.m. Friday and reopen by 5 a.m. Oct. 30. During next weekend's closing, motorists will be detoured south on I-35W and then east on I-694.

If next weekend's forecast calls for bad weather, work will again be postponed until the following weekend. North of the Twin Cities, drivers can expect delays on I-94 between Clearwater and Monticello as the freeway will be reduced to a single lane in each direction.

The University of Minnesota's homecoming game against Illinois Saturday afternoon and related festivities will bring street closures and extra traffic around TCF Bank Stadium.

Other traffic generating events will include the Vikings game at noon Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium and World Wrestling Entertainment's "Tables, Ladders & Chairs" event Sunday night at Target Center.

1. Cedar and Portland avenues: Closed between 28th and Lake streets for bridge construction. The Portland Avenue bridge over I-94 is closed until late November. Detour is via Chicago Avenue.

2. 5th Avenue S.: The ramps to northbound I-35W and eastbound I-94 are closed. Fifth Avenue is closed between Franklin Avenue and E. 19th Street.

3. Franklin Avenue S: The bridge over I-35W is closed until spring 2018.

4. I-35W: The northbound MnPass lane is closed from 26th Street into downtown Minneapolis. Lane closures in the vicinity of Franklin Avenue.

5. Hwy. 5 in St. Paul: Both directions at Payne Avenue reduced to two lanes. Payne Avenue is closed between E. 7th Street and Woodward Avenue.

7. I- 694 in Shoreview: Lane closures between Hwy. 10 and Rice Street.

8. Hwy. 10 in Elk River: Intermittent lane closures between Waco and Joplin streets.

9. Rockford Road in Plymouth: Reduced to one lane in each direction on the overpass at I-494.

10. 66th Street in Richfield: Closed to through traffic between Girard and Xerxes avenues S.

11. 86th Street in Bloomington: The overpass at I-35W is closed.