Traffic in the the west metro is going to be challenging this weekend.
Interstate 394 will be closed in both directions between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 while crews remove the Penn Avenue bridge deck.
The closure starts at 10:00 p.m. Friday, with the interstate expected to reopen on Monday morning.
Detours are significant. MnDOT is suggesting drivers use interstate 94 and 694, along with Highway 169, which takes you well north of the 394 corridor.
The work is part of a massive project that will continue through November.
It's being done to make important safety improvements and extending the life of more than 30 bridges and the interstate during a months-long project.
Once the interstate reopens next week, westbound I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 in Golden Valley will still be reduced to two lanes using the E-ZPass lanes through mid-summer.
E-ZPass lanes will operate as regular lanes — no tolls, and no carpool or transit option. The Penn Avenue bridge over I-394 is closed through November, while westbound I-394 ramps to and from Penn Avenue are closed through mid-summer.
Also, westbound I-394 traffic will not be able to exit to Park Place Boulevard/Xenia Avenue, however the westbound exit ramp is still open for motorists coming from northbound and southbound Highway 100.