35W-94 Construction: Closures, Detours You Need To Know About

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — As always, Minnesota's summer will feature many big, disruptive construction projects. None will be quite as massive, however, as the one taking over Interstate 35W and Interstate 94 in Minneapolis.

The project — which is expected to last through fall 2021 — will update I-35W infrastructure as the highway's daily traffic continues to climb.

Average daily traffic

• I-35W in 2013: 198,500
• I-35W in 2038: projected to be 257,700
• I-94 in 2013: 243,000 vehicles
• I-94 in 2038: projected to be 288,500

Do the Zipper Merge

When you encounter a construction zone where a lane will be closed, perform the zipper merge. A zipper merge occurs when motorists use both lanes of traffic until reaching the defined merge area, and then alternate in a "zipper" fashion into the open lane.

Here is a complete list of the closures and detours schedule for summer 2018:

Upcoming

7 p.m. Fri, May 4 to 5 a.m. Mon, May 7

• Portland Ave. will be closed from 15th St. to 31st St.
  • Detour: Chicago Ave.
  • Note: There will be no parking in place. Expect some construction noise throughout the daytime and nighttime.

Mon, May 7 through mid-July

• 4th Ave. will be closed between 12th St. and 14th St.

Ramp closures

Mon, May 7 through mid-July

• 12th St to SB I-35W will be closed to single occupancy vehicles
  • Detour: Marquette Ave. to 10th St. to 4th Ave.

Mid-June through fall 2018

• Access to downtown from NB I-35W to 11th St/5th Ave. S/E. Grant St. will be closed
  • Detour: 3rd St. (exit 17C)
  • Note: When access into downtown reopens from NB I-35W, there will only be one northbound lane available to allow for ongoing construction in the area. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown.

Mid-June through fall 2021

• Access out of downtown (from 12th St./4th Ave.) to SB I-35W will be closed
  • Detour: 3rd Ave. in downtown to 4th St.

Bridge closures

March 2 through early August

• 38th St. bridge is closed over I-35W
  • EB detour: Nicollet Ave. to 36th St. to 3rd Ave. S
  • WB detour: 3rd Ave. S to 35th St. to Nicollet Ave.
  • Bicycle Detour: 1st Ave. S (NB)/Blaisdell Ave. (SB) to 40th St. pedestrian bridge to 3rd Ave. S
  • Pedestrian detour: 1st Ave. S to 40th St. pedestrian bridge to 3rd Ave. S
  • View map for all 38th St. bridge detours (PDF)

Sept. 18, 2017 through summer 2018

• The Franklin Ave. bridge is closed over I-35W
  • WB Detour: Portland Ave. to 26th St. to 3rd Ave.
  • EB Detour: Nicollet Ave. to 28th St. to Park Ave.
  • Pedestrian Detour: Use 24th St. pedestrian bridge
  • View map for all Franklin Ave. bridge detours (PDF)

Lane closures

April 13 through mid-June

• The left lane on NB I-35W is closed from 26th St. into downtown Minneapolis

Ramp closures

April 23 to mid-June

• WB I-94 to 11th St. will be closed
  • Detour: Hennepin Ave. to 12th St. (PDF)

March 2 through fall 2021

• 36th St. to SB I-35W is closed
  • Detour: Portland Ave. to 46th St. (PDF)

Aug. 24, 2017 through fall 2021

• 5th Ave. S to NB I-35W is closed
  • Detour: Franklin Ave. to Cedar Ave. to Hwy 55 (PDF)

Aug. 24, 2017 through 2018

• 5th Ave. S to EB I-94 is closed
  • Detour: Franklin Ave. to Park Ave. to 6th St. (PDF)

Additional closures

March 2 to early August

• Intersections of Stevens Ave. and Second Ave. S between 37th St. and 38th St. are closed
  • Access Routes map (PDF)

Image via Minnesota Department of Transportation