MINNEAPOLIS -- More closures are on the way for Interstate 94, which could create traffic issues with both Mother's Day and the fishing opener this weekend.
I-94 will close from 10 p.m. Friday, May 11 until 5 a.m. Monday, May 14 between Highway 55 and Interstate 35W. In addition, Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue between Dunwoody Boulevard and Oak Grove Street, near Loring Park, will be closed during the same timeframe.
If that wasn't enough, construction continues on westbound I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100, which will cause more congestion to other highways.
The closures are needed in order to repair and paint the pedestrian bridge over I-94 (the Irene Hixon Whitey Bridge) which will continue into August. During the weekend closure, crews will also clean the Lowry Tunnel.
The closures are weather permitting.
MnDOT officials also closed two highway ramps on Monday morning:
- Eastbound I-394 to westbound I-94
- Northbound Lyndale Avenue South to westbound I-94
The ramps are expected to be closed for about two months.
Here are the detours for all closures, according to MnDOT:
• For eastbound I-94 or westbound I-394 detour from I-94, motorists can take westbound Hwy 55 to Hwy 100, and then take northbound Hwy 100 to the eastbound I-94 detour or take southbound Hwy 100 to I-394
• For the eastbound I-94 detour from I-394, motorists can take northbound Hwy 100, before the I-394/I-94 junction, to eastbound Interstate 694, to southbound I-35W and then to southbound Highway 280 to I-94.
• For the eastbound I-94 detour from I-694/I-94, motorists can take eastbound I-694, to southbound I-35W and then to southbound Hwy 280 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour, motorists can go northbound on Hwy 280, before the I-94/I-35W junction, to northbound I-35W and then to westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour from northbound I-35W, motorists can continue on northbound I-35W and then to westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour from southbound I-35W, motorists can take southbound I-35W, to westbound Highway 62, to northbound Hwy 100, and then will need to go eastbound on I-694 to the East River Road exit loops to access westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For northbound Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue, motorists can go eastbound on Franklin Avenue to northbound First Avenue South and continue on Marquette Avenue, and then to take a left onto 11th Street South to Hennepin Avenue, or continue on 11th Street South and then take a left on Glenwood Avenue to Lyndale Avenue.
• For southbound Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue from I-94, motorist can take a left onto Hennepin Avenue, then a right on 12th Street South and then take a right onto LaSalle Avenue to westbound Franklin Avenue to Lyndale Avenue, or continue on Franklin Avenue to Hennepin Avenue.
For more information, visit the MnDOT website here.
