Commuter Services

Outreach program of I-494 Corridor Commission

Home - Construction Updates

35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown

Aug. 21, 2017 through fall 2021

Traffic impacts

Learn more about this project, including project staging, and how to move through the project area, including how to do the zipper merge.

April 2019 Project Updates

For a list of upcoming traffic impacts, see theUpcoming section.

Bridges by location

24th Street Pedestrian Bridge

Ramps by location

Some of the ramp closures listed below are multi-year closures. This is needed to allow motorists to safely travel through the project area during the reconstruction of I-35W. The number of lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times which makes ramp access to/from I-35W difficult for vehicles.

To Downtown: Northbound I-35W to 11 Street/Grant Street

Access into downtown from NB I-35W is one northbound lane to allow for ongoing construction in the area. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown.

Routes into downtown

Northbound I-35W to 5th Ave

Access from NB I-35W to 5th Ave. S – OPEN
  • Watch for temporary ramp closures through fall 2021.
  • Detour: NB I-35W to 11th St./Grant St. (PDF)

    • Routes into downtown

    From Downtown: 12th Street to southbound I-35W

    I-35W/I-94 Interchange: Eastbound I-94 to southbound I-35W

    I-35W/I-94 Interchange: Northbound I-35W to westbound I-94

    Closed May 18, 2018 through fall 2021

    This ramp is being fully reconstructed. Once complete, motorists will no longer merge on the right side of WB I-94; instead, motorists will merge on the left side and will have a dedicated lane through the Lowry Tunnel, helping to reduce congestion. The Lyndale Ave./Hennepin Ave. exit will still be accessible from WB I-94.

    Prior to the reconstruction of the ramp, there are additional construction activities in the I-35W/I-94 junction that need to happen and have been in full swing since mid-June 2018. Highway lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times and construction of the new ramp piers would not allow traffic to be safely switched around.

    Fifth Avenue ramps

    5th Ave. ramp to NB I-35W – CLOSED

    31st Street ramps

    35th Street ramps

    SB I-35W to 35th St. ramp – CLOSED
    35th St. to NB I-35W ramp – CLOSED

    36th Street ramps

    36th St. to SB I-35W ramp – CLOSED
    • Closed March 2, 2018 through fall 2021
      • Detour:Portland Ave. to 46th St. (PDF)
      • The number of southbound lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times while crews work for the three years after the 38th St. bridge reopens. This will make it difficult for vehicles entering from 36th St. to safely merge onto SB I-35W.

    46th Street ramps

    SB I-35W to 46th St. ramp
    • Watch for periodic short-term closures through fall 2020

    Highway work by location

    I-35W: Northbound from 43rd to Downtown Minneapolis

    NB I-35W between 40th St and 42nd St - LANE REDUCTIONS
    • Reduced to a single lane from 10 p.m. Sat, Dec. 7 to 8 a.m. Sun, Dec. 8

    I-35W: Sounthbound from Downtown Minneapolis to 43rd Street

    NB I-35W is reduced to three lanes through fall 2021
    • MnPASS Express Lanes remain open

    I-35W: Southbound from Downtown Minneapolis to 43rd Street

    SB I-35W is reduced to three lanes through fall 2021

    Local road work by location

    Second Avenue

    Second Ave. in both directions between 31st St. and Lake St. – CLOSED
    • Closed Mon, Sept. Jan. 6 through Fri, Jan. 31

      • SB Second Ave. between 40th St. and 42nd St. – CLOSED

      • Closed Mon, Aug. 19 through January 2020

      *This closure is part of the I-35W drainage improvement project.

      Lake Street

      Lake St. between Nicollet Ave. and 2nd Ave. – LANE REDUCTIONS
      • Mon, Aug. 26 through Spring 2020

          31st Street

          31st St. has reduced lanes between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave.
          • Reduced lanes through fall 2021

          Stevens Avenue

          Stevens Ave. between the Midtown Greenway and Lake St. – CLOSED
          • Closed Oct. 22, 2018 through September 2020
          Stevens Ave. between Lake St. and 35th St. – LANE REDUCTIONS
          • December 2019 through early January 2020

          Trail and sidewalk impacts

          Winter 2019

          Sidewalks are closed on the following roads:
          • South side of Lake St. between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S
          • South side of 31st St. between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S
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    I-494: Airport to Highway 169

    Bloomington, Richfield, Edina, Eden Prairie in Hennepin County http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494-airport-hwy169/
    2022-2023: Estimated construction start date
    494 construction image

    About this project

    MnDOT staff and its partners are working to provide environmental documentation and preliminary and final engineering reconstruction of the I-494 freeway that travels through the cities of Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Edina.

    In 2018, Corridors of Commerce, a state road improvement grant program, awarded the project $134 million to introduce MnPASS lanes from EB France Ave. to Hwy 77 and from WB Hwy 77 to I-35W. An additional $70 million was awarded to construct a directional ramp for NB I-35W to WB I-494 traffic.

    The current stage of the project is looking at the entire freeway from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Hwy 169 to determine the size of the project and begin the environmental review process. The proposed project is envisioned to improve the capacity of the interstate and dramatically improve the reliability of the average rush-hour trip.

    Summary of work

    • Provide a transit advantage to increase the number of people who can be efficiently moved through the area
    • Improve the reliability of the average rush-hour trip
    • Improve safety
    • Restore pavement to preserve infrastructure and provide a smoother ride
    • Improve drainage systems to reduce localized flooding and reduce run-off into the Minnesota River
    • Preserve existing bridges

    Schedule
    • Environmental review process: Summer 2018 through Fall 2019
    • Construction start date: 2022-2023 (estimate)
      •    • Some work might be done earlier to reduce traffic impacts

    Project Timelines

    Traffic impacts

    Current
    • The current stage of the project does not involve construction and no traffic impacts are anticipated.
    Future
    • An extensive review of current and planned construction projects surrounding the corridor is being conducted to minimize impacts once construction begins in 2022 or 2023.

    I-35W Minnesota River Bridge

    Bloomington, Burnsville http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i35wbloomington/index.html

    Aug. 20, 2018 to Nov. 2021

    Traffic impacts

    Note: The I-35W Minnesota River Bridge will remain open to three lanes of traffic (one MnPASS lane) during peak travel times in both directions for the duration of the project.

    Current

    If you live near Minnesota River Bridge you may hear noise beginning in early April as crews work to remove pavement on both sides of the river. Note: 106th St. and Lyndale Ave. may see delays as a considerable amount of truck traffic will be entering and exiting the project area.

    Lane closures

    March 25 through fall 2021; 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily
    • I-35W will have alternating lane closures in both directions between Cliff Rd. in Burnsville and 106th St. in Bloomington
    • Note: After 10 p.m. I-35W may be reduced to a single lane
    February through fall 2020
    • 106th St. is reduced to a single lane in both directions between Verdi Rd. and Lyndale Ave. S.
    Oct. 18, 2018 through summer 2021
    • SB I-35W reduced from four lanes to three between 106th St. and Cliff Rd.

    Ramp closures

    Oct. 18, 2018 through summer 2021

    Trail/sidewalk closures

    Through fall 2020
    • The sidewalks on the south side of 106th St. between Verdi Rd. and Lyndale Ave. S. may be fully or partially closed for utility and/or construction work. Please follow the posted detour during any closures.
    • Detour: Use sidewalk on the north side of 106th St. (PDF)
    Mon. through Fri.; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
    • Minnesota River Bottoms Trails west of the I-35W River Bridge in the construction area is closed (Saturdays will be make up-days in case of rain).
    • Trail conditions

      For more information about trail conditions, visit the Dakota County website.

    Upcoming

    Information about upcoming traffic impacts will be posted as details become available.

    		 494 construction image

    I-494

    Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494invergroveheights/

    494 construction image
     

    Schedule

    • Minnesota River to Hardman Ave: July 2019 through fall 2020
    • Complete: Blaine Ave. to Hardman Ave: August 2018 through fall 2019

    Location

    • I-494 between Blaine Ave. and Hardman Ave.
    • I-494 between the Minnesota River and Hardman Ave.

    Benefits

    • Improve traffic flow and safety
    • Extend pavement life
    • Drainage improvements

    Traffic Impacts

    Current

    If you live near I-494 you may hear noise as crews work to remove pavement and set barrier throughout the project area.

    Upcoming

    Information about upcoming closures will be provided as details become available. All traffic impacts are tentative and weather dependent.

    Hwy 62 and Hwy 212 - Completed

    Eden Prairie to Edina http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy62/index.html
    494 construction image

    Complete: July 9, 2018 through June 14, 2019

    About this project

    Summary of work

    • Resurfaced highway
    • Pedestrian crossing improvements
    • All ramps repaired

    Location

    • Hwy 62 from just east of I-494 in Eden Prairie to Tracy Ave. in Edina

    Benefits

    • Restores pavement
    • Provides smoother ride
    • Extends pavement life
    • ADA ramps and Pedestrian and Bike access improvements
    • Watch for single lane closures in both directions of Hwy 62 during the day and overnight between I-494 and Hwy 100

    I-94 - Completed

    This project has been completed

    Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center Click here for more details

    Schedule: Construction: Mar. 20, 2017, into summer 2018, weather permitting

    Location: I-94 between Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis and Shingle Creek Pkwy in Brooklyn Center

    Benefits:Smoother road surface
    Longer lasting bridges and pavement
    Improved drainage
    Reduced damage to freight goods in transport

    Summary of work

    Repaired Whitney pedestrian bridge
    Resurfaced nine miles of pavement on I-94 between Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis and Shingle Creek Pkwy in Brooklyn Center
    Repaired 50 bridges on or over I-94
    Reconstructed WB I-94 bridge deck over Hwy 252 in Brooklyn Center
    Repaired tile in (I-94) Lowry and Portland Ave. tunnels
    Replaced guardrail
    Improved drainage and concrete barrier in areas
    Repaired all entrance and exit ramps
    Project work completed in 2017:

    Resurfaced nine miles of pavement on I-94 between Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis and Shingle Creek Pkwy in Brooklyn Center
    Repaired 48 bridges on or over I-94
    Reconstructed WB I-94 bridge deck over Hwy 252 in Brooklyn Center
    Repaired tile in (I-94) Lowry and Portland Ave. tunnels
    Replaced guardrail
    Improved drainage and concrete barrier in areas
    Repaired all entrance and exit ramps

    Hwy 169 Improvement Project - Completed

    Project completed: Jan. 23 through Oct. 31, 2017

    About this Project - Click here for more details
    Summary of work
    Work on Hwy 169 included:

    • Replacing the Hwy 169 bridge over Nine Mile Creek in Hopkins, Minnetonka and Edina. The bridge was replaced with a causeway, which is a raised road across a low or wet ground. Bridge conditions require that it be replaced by 2020.
    • Reconstructing more than six miles of pavement on Hwy 169 between Hwy 55 and just north of Hwy 62
    • Constructing acceleration and deceleration lanes on Hwy 169 at Cedar Lake Rd.
    • Removing access to and from southbound Hwy 169 at 16th St. in St. Louis Park
    • SB Hwy 169 ramps to and from 16th St. closed permanently
    • Repairing noise walls
    • Replacing concrete barrier
    • Improving pedestrian accessibility

     

    		 494 construction image

    I-494 Rehabilitation - Completed

    Plymouth Click here for more details

    This project has been completed

    Location: I-494 between I-394 and I-694 (Fish Lake Interchange)

    Benefits: Smoother road surface
    Extends bridge life
    Lessens congestion during peak hours

    I-494 Improvement Projects - Completed

    Edina, Bloomington, Richfield

    This project has been completed

    Project Benefits

    • Improved ride quality for motorists will be increased
    • Improved traffic flow
    • Reduced maintenance needs from replacing guard rail with concrete median barrier
    • Future opportunities to match local development goals for the area due to replacement of the Xerxes Avenue Bridge

    Hwy 169 Bloomington Ferry Bridge Improvement - Completed

    Shakopee, Bloomington, Eden Prairie (July through August 2013)

    This project has been completed

    Summary of work

    • Improve Hwy 13/101 weaving concerns
    • Replace strip seal joints on Bloomington Ferry Bridge
    • Shoulder work in both directions
    • Drainage repair where needed

    Location

    • Hwy 169 between Hwy 101 (Shakopee) and Pioneer Trail (Bloomington, Eden Prairie)
    Click here for more information

    TH 169/I-494 Interchange - Completed

    This project was completed in late 2012.
    http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/169/index.html

     

    View of Completed Interchange
    494-169 Image

     

    Project Benefits

    Improved safety and mobility by converting this expressway to a freeway. This work included:

    • Reconstructing the interchange with six connections
    • Removing traffic signals
    • Connecting the north and south frontage roads under Hwy 169
    • Building noise walls
    • Constructing drainage and water quality facilities