94, 35W Weekend Closures In Minneapolis: 5 Quick Things To Know

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minneapolitans and motorists traveling through the area this weekend should brace themselves for mores significant closures on Interstate 94 and Interstate 35W. Be sure to check out the upcoming closures before heading out lest you end up in a downtown traffic jam.

Here are the five things every driver should know:

1. Interstate 94 in Minneapolis is scheduled to close from 10 p.m. Friday, May 18 until 5 a.m. Monday, May 21, between Interstate 394 and Interstate 35W.

2. In addition, Hennepin Avenue-Lyndale Avenue between Dunwoody Boulevard and Oak Grove Street, near Loring Park, will be closed during the same time.

3. A full closure is also schedule this weekend for the access to downtown Minneapolis from northbound I-35W to 11th Street/5th Avenue S/East Grant Street, as well as the access out of downtown from 12th Street/4th Avenue to southbound I-35W. The closures are weather permitting.

4. The I-94 and Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue closures are needed to repair the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, the pedestrian bridge over I-94 between the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park. Restoring the bridge’s wooden deck will continue into August.

5. This is the last of the I-94 full closures in May; however, additional I-94 closures will occur this summer.

Want to know more? MnDOT has set the following detours for this weekend’s closures:

• For the eastbound I-94 detour from I-394, motorists can take northbound Highway 100, before the I-394/I-94 junction, to eastbound Interstate 694, to southbound I-35W and then to southbound Highway 280 to I-94.
• For the eastbound I-94 detour from I-694/I-94, motorists can take eastbound I-694, to southbound I-35W and then to southbound Hwy 280 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour, motorists can go northbound on Hwy 280, before the I-94/I-35W junction, to northbound I-35W and then to westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour from northbound I-35W, motorists can continue on northbound I-35W and then to westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For the westbound I-94 detour from southbound I-35W, motorists can take southbound I-35W, to westbound Highway 62, to northbound Highway 100, and then will need to go eastbound on I-694 to the East River Road exit loops to access westbound I-694 to I-94.
• For northbound Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue, motorists can go eastbound on Franklin Avenue to northbound First Avenue South and continue on Marquette Avenue, and then to take a left onto 11th Street South to Hennepin Avenue, or continue on 11th Street South and then take a left on Glenwood Avenue to Lyndale Avenue.
• For southbound Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue from I-94, motorist can take a left onto Hennepin Avenue, then a right on 12th Street South and then take a right onto LaSalle Avenue to westbound Franklin Avenue to Lyndale Avenue, or continue on Franklin Avenue to Hennepin Avenue.
• For northbound I-35W to 11th Street/Fifth Avenue South/East Grant Street, motorists can continue on northbound I-35W and take the Third Street exit to downtown.
• For access to southbound I-35W from 12th Street/4th Avenue, motorists can take Third Avenue to Fourth Street and use the entrance ramp to southbound I-35W.

MnDOT has set the following detours for the ramp closures:

• For westbound I-94 to Highway 55, motorists can take westbound I-394 to northbound Highway 100 to the Highway 55 exit.

• For northbound I-35W to westbound I-94, motorists can take westbound Highway 62 to northbound Highway 100, then take eastbound Highway 55 to I-94.

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