Get ready for some winter roadwork and plenty of detours when you're out and about this weekend in the Twin Cities metro.
Already underway are ramp closures near I-494 between Bloomington and Richfield. Crews are replacing two bridges. The work there is designed to improve safety and relieve traffic congestion.
Crews will permanently close the eastbound I-494 ramp to Nicollet Avenue and Nicollet Avenue ramp to westbound I-494.
MnDOT is closing these remaining Nicollet ramps to address congestion and safety concerns due to nearby I-494 at Lyndale, Portland and 12th avenues being too close together.
“Traffic levels on I-494 today are quite a bit higher than they were when this stretch of freeway and those ramps were originally designed,” said Greg Asche, I-494 Design Build Project Manager. “These improvements will give drivers more room to merge safely and upgrade key I-494 bridges to better serve people walking, biking and driving.”
Then, beginning Friday at 10:00 p.m. the stretch between 35W and Highway 77 will be closed in both directions until Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. The closure will allow crews to safely remove the Nicollet Avenue bridge and the pedestrian bridge at 12th Avenue.
Motorists will be detoured via I-35W, Highway 62, Highway 77 and I-494.
394 work to resume this weekend
On Sunday, the massive road project on Interstate 394 begins again. MnDOT is upgrading 34 bridges.
Motorists who travel on westbound 394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 in Golden Valley should expect delays, especially during afternoon rush hours.
“The I-394 work will have long-term benefits for businesses, residents and motorists by improving safety and making it easier for everyone to get around,” said Tim Nelson, Director of Construction, Surveys and Materials at MnDOT Metro District. “This work is important, but it is a significant project that will result in delays starting in late February, especially for travelers heading west from downtown Minneapolis. We encourage people to plan ahead, consider using alternative transportation options and be patient as crews work to make important upgrades to bridges and roadways.”
Westbound I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 in Golden Valley will be reduced to two lanes using the E-ZPass lanes through mid-summer 2026. E-ZPass lanes will operate as regular lanes — no tolls, and no carpool or transit option.
There are some significant, long-term closures to be aware of:
- The Penn Avenue bridge over I-394 will be closed through fall 2026.
- Westbound I-394 ramps to and from Penn Avenue will be closed through mid-summer 2026.
- 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.
- Downtown Minneapolis traffic entering westbound I-394 will be reduced to one lane through mid-summer 2026.
- Westbound I-94 entrance ramp to westbound I-394 will be reduced to one lane through mid-summer 2026.
- Eastbound I-94 entrance ramp to westbound I-394 will be closed through mid-summer 2026.
- Intermittent, overnight lane closures on I-394 in both directions between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100.
- Intermittent, overnight lane closures on I-94 in both directions between the Lowry Hill Tunnel and Highway 55.
To top things off, next weekend, 394 will shutdown entirely in both directions, which will create a significantly longer detour. It will close rom 10:00 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27 to 5:00 a.m., Monday March 2, due to the demolition of the Penn Avenue bridge deck, which will be rebuilt as part of this project.
Both of these projects are expected to be completed in the fall.