Latest news with #511mn.org
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Interstate 494 closure slated for this weekend in Bloomington-Richfield area
Both directions of Interstate 494 between Minnesota highways 100 and 77 will be closed Friday, May 30, through Monday morning, June 2, for bridge work, state transportation officials said. Before the freeway is shut down at 10 p.m. Friday, all ramps along the route will close at 8 p.m. The freeway will open again at 5 a.m. Monday. The closure is due to construction of a pedestrian bridge over I-494 near Chicago Avenue and the removal of the Portland Avenue bridge for reconstruction, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Motorists will be directed to Minnesota 62 via 100 and 77 as a detour. For more information about this project or to sign up for email updates, visit the project website: For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit Shooter gets 33½-year prison term for killing St. Paul man after Edina birthday dinner St. Anthony: 3-year-old hospitalized with reported accidental gunshot wound to head Robbinsdale park homicide victim ID'd as North St. Paul woman Former Tartan band director admits to sexually assaulting DeLaSalle student Drunken driver who plowed into Park Tavern bar patio, killing 2, pleads guilty to murder
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Highway 52 lane closures for bridge cleaning begin May 18 in Rochester
May 13—ROCHESTER — The Minnesota Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will begin cleaning bridges on Sunday evening, May 18, 2025, on U.S. Highway 52 in Rochester. There will be overnight lane closures as work takes place from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. beginning the evening of May 18 through the morning of May 22. During that work, sand, debris and other material that accumulated during winter are swept up before crews use fresh water in high pressure pumps to spray down the gutter lines and joints of the bridges, according to a statement from MnDOT. Motorists can expect brief traffic delays with lane closures. Flaggers directing traffic will be in some of the areas and there will be short-term ramp closures in the Civic Center Drive area during the overnight hours. MnDOT's three bridge maintenance crews in southeast Minnesota flush more than 400 bridges during this spring maintenance effort, MnDOT said. MnDOT will clean 25 bridges during this effort. Work will take place on Highway 52 from 55th Street Northwest to the Highway 52/63 interchange in south Rochester, as well as on Highway 63 north of 40th Street and on Olmsted County Road 22 over Highway 14 West. The work includes bridges over Highway 52 at 55th Street Northwest, 41st Street Northwest, 37th Street Northwest, 19th Street Northwest, Second Street Southwest, Sixth Street Southwest, Highway 14 East and 16th Street Southwest. Work will also take place on Highway 63 near Stewartville. Motorists may encounter lane closures or lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, equipment and other unexpected obstacles when driving near or through work zones. MnDOT advises motorists to: * Find up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions at * Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. * Go hands-free and minimize other distractions. * Follow posted speed limits; the fine for speeding in a work zone is $300. * Avoid making lane changes within work zones.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EDITORIAL: As construction ramps up, keep safety in mind
Apr. 22—The deeper we get into spring and edge closer to summer, construction will start ramping up throughout the state of Minnesota, both on our state roads and on our locally maintained roads as well. In Austin alone, we're currently in year two of the three-year bridge reconstruction with detours remaining in place for the Fourth Avenue NW bridge, and construction expected to start soon on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 above the Cedar River and at Sixth Street NW. In town, the City of Austin will begin its own multi-year project to replace the Oakland Avenue West and First Avenue West one ways. And that's not even mentioning yet the yearly maintenance of county roads. With so much work centered in and around Austin set to begin or have begun, it's worth reminding people to take it slow and carefully around work zones. Every time the Minnesota Department of Transportation engages media and the public with a press release on upcoming projects, the department includes a list of safety tips when driving through construction zones: —Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300. —Drive undistracted. Avoid using phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio — even eating — while in work zones. —Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work. —Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at or download the free 511mn app at Google Play or the App Store. —Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. —Do the zipper merge. —Avoid making unnecessary lane changes. —Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones. —Expect work zones to constantly change. Day to day you could experience lane shifts, closures, narrower lanes, moving workers and vehicles. Construction zones, by their very nature, are congested and busy at almost every turn, drawing the driver's attention in a multitude of directions at any given time. Lanes are sometimes condensed down to a smaller number of lanes or squeezed as crews work on any given project. Trucks and equipment are moving in and out of work zones and workers themselves are walking alongside active areas of construction. Construction crews do what they can to minimize the opportunities for accidents, but the very nature of the work can make this difficult, so it becomes important for drivers to take their own precautions when driving through these areas. It only takes a singular drop in attention for something terrible to happen to both motorists and construction workers alike. Choose safety and lean in on caution when driving through these work zones so we call get to where we're going safely.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
MnDOT announces 2025 state construction projects
More than 180 construction projects will take place on Minnesota roads and bridges this year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced. One major project will require closures this weekend in Minneapolis as MnDOT performs maintenance and repair work on five bridges over and near the Mississippi River. Eastbound Interstate 94 will be closed between 11th Avenue South and Franklin Avenue Southeast from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. The ramp from northbound I-35W to eastbound I-94 also will be closed. Meanwhile, several lanes of westbound I-94 will be closed at various times over the weekend in the same 11th Avenue to Franklin Avenue segment. Find out more about ongoing ramp and lane closures in the I-94 Minneapolis project area at Here are some other significant projects planned for 2025, according to MnDOT: Minnesota 5 and U.S. 61 in St. Paul and Maplewood: Reconstruction. I-94 and I-35E in St. Paul: Repairing 11 bridges including the John Ireland bridge. I-35W in Burnsville: Resurfacing and repairing or replacing three bridges. I-494 between Edina and Richfield: Replacing or repairing bridges over the Minnesota River. I-394 and I-94 in Minneapolis: Repairing 34 bridges and ramps. U.S. 10 in Coon Rapids: Adding a third lane in each direction. I-35 Hinckley Bridge: Completing a three-year replacement project. Visit for the statewide view of the 2025 construction season's projects. The site includes interactive maps linking to more detailed construction project websites, full project lists and other information. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store. Letters: Yet again, the same old DFL argument for higher taxes St. Paul resident federally indicted in MS-13 gang-related murder in Florida Como Park Zoo visitors witness birth of baby sloth Inver Grove Heights man cited for damaging Easter display outside Capitol Como Planetarium to celebrate 50 years at April 17 'star party'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Winter storm warning and advisory in central Minnesota extended until early Thursday
Apr. 2—CHANHASSEN — The has extended the current winter storm warning and the winter weather advisory in western and central Minnesota until 1 a.m. Thursday, April 3. Phase two of the April Fools spring storm brought widespread rain and snow to the region. Areas along the west and northern sides of the system will see renewed strength in snowfall, with the potential favoring western and central Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. There is also potential for minor ice accumulations from sunrise through midday in western Minnesota as mid-level warmer air continues to wrap around the system. The winter storm warning has been expanded to include Stevens and Pope counties in addition to Douglas, Todd, and Morrison counties due to the greatest potential for seeing additional snowfall exceeding 4 to 6 inches and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph are possible. The winter weather advisory has been expanded to include Benton, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Mille Lacs, Stearns, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties. There will be a sharp cutoff in snow totals south of where the heaviest snowfall sets up. There is also potential for minor ice accumulations up to a glaze. Rain and snow, possibly mixed with sleet, is expected by 4 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a chance of snow after 5 p.m. with wind gusts up to 30 mph. All drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling. Drivers can call 5-1-1 or visit for road conditions. Watch for weather-related announcements throughout the day at these Forum Communications websites: * West Central Tribune, Willmar: * Alexandria Echo Press: * St. Cloud Live: Gusty winds are also expected across southern Minnesota throughout the day.
