![Orlando Lopez, Cesar Lutfi and Daniel Oristanio (from left to right) build a ramp outside of the U.S. Bank Stadium for the X Games, on Sunday. ] COURTNEY PEDROZA • courtney.pedroza@startribune.com Sunday, July 9, 2017; X Games; Building ramps; U.S. Bank Stadium](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QQXOQ4FREW7DBT3UQZSYATNKHU.jpg?&w=1080)
As skateboarders and BMX bikers roll at this weekend's X Games at U.S. Bank Stadium, let's hope traffic in downtown Minneapolis does, too.
Motorists - many from out of town - will have to steer around large crowds and street closures in the vicinity of the stadium, including 4th Street, a key exit route for drivers heading for southbound I-35W, westbound I-94 and eastbound Hiawatha Avenue, so expect a ripple effect elsewhere downtown.
Transportation experts suggest taking transit, biking and parking at ramps on the west end of downtown and walking to the games are suggested to avoid getting caught in bottlenecks.
Highland Fest running Friday through Sunday will bring traffic to Ford Parkway and adjoining streets while Saints games home Friday through Sunday at CHS Field and a Lynx game Sunday will make downtown St. Paul busier than normal on a weekend.
X Games street closures:
- Chicago Avenue, 4th to 6th streets.
- 4th Street from Park Avenue to the U.S. Bank stadium loading dock.
- Park and Portland avenues from 4th to 5th streets.
Here is where you could find traffic tie-ups elsewhere:
Interstate 94 in Minneapolis and St. Paul
1. I-94 from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center: All vehicles over 9,000 pounds are prohibited from the Lowry Hill Tunnel which is reduced to two lanes in each direction with traffic sharing the eastbound lanes. The ramps from westbound 94 to westbound 394 and Hwy. 55 and from northbound I-35W to westbound I-94 are closed. Lane restrictions between I-35W and Hwy. 252/Shingle Creek Parkway.
