Repairs along I-494 in Bloomington expected to create traffic delays this weekend

With a nice warm-up this weekend, it’s a good opportunity for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to get more road work done before the end of the 2020 construction season.

If you travel along the Interstate 494 Bloomington stretch, you’ve likely seen the heavy presence of construction crews working near I-35W. The work is part of a future transit project. The Orange Line is a rapid transit bus line that will carry passengers from Burnsville to Minneapolis starting next fall.

MnDOT said repairs need to be made to the shoulder of the roadway near Penn Avenue. This weekend, the westbound side of I-494 will be reduced to two lanes between I-35W and Penn Avenue starting at 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. The ramp from I-494 westbound to Penn Avenue will be closed, too.

Traffic volumes have been increasing along I-494, so this weekend project could create significant backups. Try using Highway 62 or other side roads instead.

Meanwhile, if you’re traveling near downtown Minneapolis on Halloween, MnDOT says I-94 westbound near I-35W will be reduced to two lanes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In Roseville, County Road C will be closed at I-35W in Roseville all weekend long. Crews will shut down the roadway at 10 tonight until 5 a.m. Monday. The detour takes motorists to County Road B2.