A heads-up this week if you drive on Interstate 394 in the west metro.
Starting Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will re-open all three westbound lanes between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100.
At the same time, they will close the eastbound lanes. That means drivers headed inbound to Minneapolis will be using the EZ Pass lane until November.
"So, if you are heading downtown during rush hour, there's going to be some bottlenecks as folks try to move into those two lanes," MnDOT pokesperson Nathan Bowie says. "And again what's happening is crews are working on the main eastbound bridges that carry 394."
In addition to that switch, there is a separate project to extend auxiliary lanes between Louisiana Avenue and Xenia, and a current City of St. Louis Park project on Cedar Lake Road.
"In St. Louis Park is where we expect to have probably the most longest delays, or biggest impacts for eastbound 394," notes Bowie.
There is also continuing work on Hwy. 12 west of Interstate 494 making for a bumpy summer for those that head to the western suburbs.
"That unfortunately means delays, and obviously some frustration for motorists," Bowie adds. "We're encouraging folks to be patient and most importantly, plan ahead and plan for extra travel for your daily commute."
He says the entire project should be done by November.
Other key I-394 traffic impacts with the July 8 traffic update include:
- Eastbound I-394 ramp to westbound I-94 is closed through November — view detour.
- Cedar Lake Road ramp to eastbound I-394 is closed through November — view detour.
- Xenia Avenue/Park Place Boulevard to eastbound I-394 is closed through November — view detour.
- Penn Avenue ramps to/from westbound I-394 remain closed through November.
- Penn Avenue ramps to/from eastbound I-394 are closed through November.
A snapshot of ramp closures and lane reductions for the summer/fall 394 project.
(Minnesota Department of Transportation)
