Major Minneapolis Freeways To Close This Weekend: What To Know

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Drivers heading in and out of downtown Minneapolis will need a backup plan this weekend, as crews shut down parts of two major freeways.

Westbound Interstate 394 and eastbound I-94 will be closed in Minneapolis from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Westbound I-394 will be closed between downtown Minneapolis and I-94 so crews can safely paint several bridges. The westbound I-394 entrance ramps from 3rd Avenue, 5th Street, Twins Way and Linden Avenue will also be closed. Detours are posted on the project website.

Eastbound I-94 will be closed between Highway 55 and I-394 so crews can patch, seal and make other repairs to bridge decks. Drivers will be detoured to Highway 55, Highway 100 and I-394.

"We are entering the home stretch of this essential project, which includes repairing and restoring 34 bridges and ramps along I-394 and I-94," said Tim Nelson, director of construction, surveys and materials at MnDOT's Metro District. "Weather permitting, we will only need one final weekend closure of eastbound I-394 after this weekend, as we move toward completing work in November."

The work requires dry and relatively warm conditions, so the closures could change depending on the weather, MnDOT said.

One More Closure Next Weekend

MnDOT plans one final weekend closure for the project. Eastbound I-394 is set to close between I-94 and downtown Minneapolis from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, weather permitting. That closure is also for bridge painting.

Other West Metro Work

Drivers in the west metro should also watch for these MnDOT projects:

I-394 in St. Louis Park at Louisiana Avenue and Xenia Avenue/Park Place Boulevard, through early November
Highway 12 in Wayzata and Minnetonka, through November
I-394 at Plymouth Road and Ridgedale Drive, through November

MnDOT urges drivers to stay alert, use caution and slow down in work zones. Real-time traffic updates are available at 511mn.org.