Another weekend, another major Twin Cites freeway closure.
"Well, we're gonna be closing Interstate 94 this weekend between I-35W and Huron Boulevard in Minneapolis," says Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesperson Kent Barnard.
He says they are working the bridge there, and they're encouraging people to use the detour.
"I-35W, Highway 36, I-35E and then back to I-94," Barnard explains.
That's a long way around. He knows its a pain for drivers - but it has to be done.
"Our road closures are on the weekends for a reason," Barnard says. "Because you don't have as much traffic that's going to and from work. There's still some commuter traffic during that time, but I'll tell you one thing, if we don't do this work and get these roads repaired and these bridges repaired, it's gonna be a lot worse."
The closure - again, in both directions - goes from 10:00 p.m. Friday through 5:00 a.m. Monday.
Barnard says despite what it seems like around hte Twin Cities metro area, there are no more major construction projects getting underay this year.
"What you might be seeing is, we do seem to have some more higher profile projects with greater impacts on traffic, more closures," Barnard explains. "You look at Crosstown (Highway) 62. We've got some closures that have been happening on there. We've had closures on Interstate 35W. We've had closures on Highway 10 up in Coon Rapids.
And of course, work on 494 continues in Bloomington.
I-94 in Minneapolis has been down to two lanes between 11th Avenue South and Franklin Avenue Southeast since early April. The $16 million project is expected to be finished in November.
By 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 16, I-94 will reopen and be reduced to two lanes in each direction through mid-August.
The following ramps will remain closed through mid-August:
I-35W northbound to eastbound I-94
South 6th Street to eastbound I-94
Huron Boulevard to eastbound I-94
Eastbound I-94 to Huron Boulevard
Riverside Avenue to eastbound I-94
Cedar Avenue to eastbound I-94