MnDOT to close I-94 in downtown Minneapolis this weekend

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close I-94 in both directions from I-35W to Huron Boulevard starting at 10 p. m. Friday, lasting until 5 a. m. Monday, affecting nearly 147,000 daily motorists.

This closure is part of a $7 million project to replace bridge joints and repair the bridge deck over the Mississippi River. Traffic will shift to the north side of the bridge, and the ramp from northbound I-35W to eastbound I-94 will also be closed, likely increasing congestion on I-35W. The official detour for both eastbound and westbound traffic will utilize I-35W, Hwy. 36, and I-35E. Although I-94 will reopen with two lanes in each direction on Monday, the ramp closure will extend until mid-August, alongside other ramp closures.

Bicyclists and pedestrians using the Hiawatha LRT trail will need to find new routes due to a closure that lasts until mid-July. The Minnesota Department of Transportation warns that the weekend closures depend on weather conditions, with rain and thunderstorms expected. Motorists can anticipate additional lane closures in September as work continues after Labor Day.