New configuration goes into place along I-94 from Maple Grove to St. Michael Tuesday

A new configuration is going into place in the northwest metro Tuesday.

Crews worked on the traffic shift Monday night between Maple Grove and St. Michael and drivers will be dealing with it until late September.

Drivers are probably getting used to seeing the concrete barriers, construction barrels, and lane closures along Interstate 94. The work is all part of a larger $350 million project between Clearwater and Maple Grove.

Drivers heading out on I-94 westbound will need to choose a lane before they reach Interstate 494. The two right lanes allow drivers to exit off the interstate, the left lane serves as the through lane. Last year, a similar configuration was in place on eastbound 94. Many drivers told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that they thought the work zone was confusing.

"Safety is our number one thing, we’re looking at it, we want to keep an eye on it, we want to watch it, we will make changes as necessary," MnDOT’s Dave Aeikens said.

When the work wraps up this fall, drivers will see four lanes in each direction between Higkway 610 in Maple Grove and Highway 101 in Rogers, three lanes in each direction from about St. Michael to Albertville and three lanes in each directions between Highway 25 in Monticello and Highway 24 in Clearwater.

Learn more about the project here.