Be prepared for more highway closures this weekend.
"Tonight, what we're doing is we're going to be closing eastbound I-494 between Highway 100 highway 77 and then westbound I494 between I-35W and Highway 100, and that closure is going to last through 5:00 a.m. Monday morning," says MnDOT's Jesse Johnson.
Crews will be doing drainage work along the highway.
"If you're traveling on westbound, you can take northbound 35W to westbound Highway 62 to southbound Highway 100," explains Johnson. "And then that will take you back on the westbound 494. If you're traveling on eastbound I-494 you can take northbound Highway 100 to eastbound Highway 62, to southbound Highway 77."
Travelers heading to MSP Airport this weekend are encouraged to plan ahead and allow a little extra time. As usual, plan to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight and that trip might take a little longer thanks to detours.
That work and those closures will begin Friday night at 10:00 p.m. That is just the beginning however. The area is also getting a $377 million makeover the next two years.
"We're actually constructing easy pass lanes on 494 from Highway 100 to I-35W in each direction," explained Johnson. "We're also adding a new ramp at the I-35W and I-494 interchange. We're also going to be placing the Portland Avenue Bridge, Nicollet Avenue Bridge and 12th Avenue Bridge."
They will also add a pedestrian bridge at Chicago Avenue crossing over 494.
Road closures
10 p.m. Fri, Oct. 11 through 5 a.m. Mon, Oct. 14
WB I-494 is closed between I-35W and Hwy 100
Detour: NB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to SB Hwy 100 to WB I-494 (PNG)
EB I-494 is closed between Hwy 100 and Hwy 77
Detour: NB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to SB Hwy 77 to EB I-494 (PNG)