Latest news with #MnDOT
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Parts of Interstate 494 will be closed from Friday to Monday, MN DOT says
Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work Section of I-494 in Bloomington closed for weekend road work If there's one thing Minnesotans can count on seeing, its orange cones lining the streets as soon as snow clears. "It's a constant struggle," said Minneapolis resident Lindsey Fine. Bloomington resident Nicholas Severson echoed Fine's frustration saying, "I was disappointed, at the same time we live in Minnesota." Though frustrations may continue to rise as one of the state's busiest throughfares is offline for upgrades: Interstate 494. Kent Barnard with the Minnesota Department of Transportation says well over 100,000 drivers use the road every day. Hence, the reason for construction. It's time for some much-needed TLC. Barnard says construction aims to create "smoother road surface and improve accessibility for people out there driving improve traffic flow." Aesthetics aside, some repairs are crucial. Including, replacing bridges. That's why both directions of Interstate 494 are shut down between Highways 100 and 77 near Richfield from Friday night to Monday morning. Drivers like Fine are in the crosshairs, trying to maneuver through. "These are major roads that we need to use to get to where we are going, and we can't," said Fine. Detours will be marked but if you're travelling westbound in I-494 you can use northbound Highway 77 to westbound Highway 62. Drivers travelling eastbound on I-494 can hop on northbound Highway 100 to eastbound Highway 62. "That congestion is already terrible, and I feel bad for the people who will deal with that," said Severson. If you have plans to travel out of state this weekend, know that airport access will also be impacted. The highway will re-open Monday at 5 a.m.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Forest Lake detours begin as MnDOT undertakes $17M Highway 97 reconstruction project
Both directions of Minnesota 97 between Hornsby Street and Falcon Avenue in Forest Lake will be closed beginning 5 a.m. Monday. The closure will remain in place through late fall, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The work is part of a two-year, $17 million reconstruction of Minnesota 97 between Interstate 35 and U.S. 61 that includes resurfacing the road, constructing a single-lane roundabout at Fenway Avenue and adding turn lanes in specific locations. In addition, a new multi-use trail will be constructed along the south side of Minnesota 97 to provide a safer space for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as a connection to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. A raised median also will be added to divide eastbound and westbound traffic on the two-lane roadway; the median also will serve as an accessible pedestrian crossing. Minnesota 97 will be open to traffic between Falcon Avenue and U.S. 61, and Hornsby Street and all I-35 ramps will remain open, according to a MnDOT news release. Local residential and business access will be maintained throughout construction, although routes will change periodically, the release states. Motorists can bypass the closure using the following detours: Eastbound through traffic can use northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61 Westbound through traffic can use northbound U.S. 61 to westbound U.S. 8 to southbound I-35 Southbound I-35 traffic can access eastbound Minnesota 97 by using Broadway Avenue to northbound I-35 to eastbound U.S. 8 to southbound U.S. 61. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule dependent and subject to change, according to MnDOT. For more information, go to Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes artOPENer Studio Tour hits 19 St. Croix Valley stops Bayport couple found dead in home; natural causes determined Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal Obituary: How a bridge got Mary McComber, mayor of Oak Park Heights, into local politics
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Semi crash at Lowry Hill Tunnel near downtown Minneapolis shuts down Interstate 94
Minnesota transportation officials say a serious crash involving a semi has closed down Interstate 94 at Lowry Hill Tunnel late Friday morning. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the road will be closed in both directions for several hours. Traffic cameras show a mangled semi at the entrance of the tunnel. MnDOT MnDOT says the semi lost its cargo in the crash. Details are limited. This story will be updated. MNDOT
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How do you know where not to drive in downtown Rochester?
May 18—Dear Answer Man: Last week, you wrote about some of the big MnDOT projects going on in Southeast Minnesota this year. But what about the road work being done by the city of Rochester? I was driving downtown last week, and it was like heading down the wrong way in a maze. There are more closed roads and detours than I can figure out. How do I stay ahead of this traffic mess? — Rochester Road Warrior. Dear Road Warrior, I feel your driving rage. Last week, I was trying to navigate downtown Rochester and came upon a closed road even the map app on my phone didn't know existed. In my head, I heard the word "Rerouting." C'est la vie. Answer Man's good friend with the city of Rochester, Communications & Engagement Coordinator Megan Moeller, said, "Downtown is undergoing a significant transformation that will benefit everyone who lives, works and visits our city. We're excited about what's ahead and truly appreciate the public's patience during this period of change." That's Megan shining the apple. Her next line is what we're all thinking: "We understand that navigating construction, especially during the busy warm-weather months, can be challenging." Preach the truth, Megan. But she's right. The city isn't tearing up roads for the fun of it. All this is to make for a more enjoyable experience for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles (including mass transit vehicles) down the, ahem, road. Currently, Answer Man counts eight-and-a-half blocks of completely closed roads in downtown Rochester. That includes a Second Avenue Southwest alleyway between West Center Street and Peace Plaza, two blocks of Second Street Southwest from Fourth Avenue to Sixth Avenue, two blocks-plus of Sixth Avenue Southwest from a bit south of Second Street to West Center Street, roughly two blocks of Peace Garden Drive Southwest from 10th Avenue to Marian Circle, Fifth Street Southwest from Fourth Avenue to Sixth Avenue, and nearly a block from Fourth Avenue Southwest from First Street to Second Street. That doesn't include the roughly dozen blocks of streets reduced to a single lane in each direction and intersections of "periodic closure." Challenging, indeed. You might think, "I bet this is all related to that Link Bus Rapid Transit project, right?" Well, not exactly. Much of this has to do with utility infrastructure for Mayo Clinic projects. The Link transit construction comes later this summer when the amount of roadblocks will make today's number of closed roads look quaint. Mayo Clinic and the city are seeking to collaborate so they don't tear up and repairs streets only to tear them up again for additional work. So, how will you get to your favorite downtown restaurant (shameless plug for downtown dining) or even to a Mayo Clinic appointment? Well, the city of Rochester and Mayo Clinic have created websites to help you see what is closed and what detours might exist. The city's website is , where the city offers printable maps and an online in-depth virtual map that can be viewed. Furthermore, Mayo Clinic offers the Rochester Construction Webpage that is designed to help patients navigate to their appointments and features the latest information on parking and drop-offs, suggested routes, road closures and construction across Mayo Clinic's Rochester downtown and Saint Marys campuses. If you're not a daily or even weekly commuter into and our of downtown, you might want to bookmark both of those websites and refer to them when your plans take you downtown. Now, take a deep breath and realize two things: One, like I said, it'll get worse before it gets better, but, two, it will get better, and access to and through downtown will become smoother for everyone. Send questions to Answer Man at answerman@ .
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Part of I-494 in Inver Grove Heights closing this weekend
The Brief I-494 will close between Blaine Avenue and Babcock Trail in Inver Grove Heights from late Friday night to early Monday morning. Drivers are being rerouted during this closure. Crews will be doing demolition work on the southbound Highway 52 bridge and ramps. INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - A stretch of Interstate 494 (I-494) in Inver Grove Heights is set to close from 10 p.m. on Friday, May 16 until 5 a.m. on Monday, May 19. The closure was initially scheduled for May 8-12 before the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) postponed it. Big picture view MnDOT plans to close I-494 in both directions between Blaine Avenue and Babcock Trail in Inver Grove Heights. This includes all Highway 52 ramps to I-494 for demolition work on the southbound Highway 52 bridge and ramps. MnDOT officials say crews are using the closure to start redecking the bridges and paving ramps on Highway 52 over I-494. Here is where drivers can expect to be detoured. Westbound drivers on I-494 are told to use northbound Highway 52 to Mendota Road to southbound Highway 52 to westbound I-494 as a detour. Eastbound drivers on I-494 may use southbound Highway 52 to eastbound 70th Street to northbound Highway 52 to get back to eastbound I-494. Ramps from westbound I-494 to southbound Highway 52, as well as southbound Highway 52 to eastbound I-494 are closed and are set to reopen after 6 p.m. on Monday, July 21. All I-494 lanes, and two ramps, are set to reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday. What's next MnDOT adds that after May 19, traffic will be "head-to-head" on the northbound Highway 52 bridge between Upper 55th Street and Mendota Road/Southview Boulevard. The westbound I-494 to southbound Highway 52 and southbound Highway 52 to eastbound I-494 ramps will remain closed through July 22. Dig deeper State officials say the work is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 that directs billions of dollars to Minnesota for public improvements, all of which is expected to finish by November 2025. READ MORE: $1 trillion infrastructure bill passes: Here's what Minnesota stands to get More information can be found on the project website. The Source This story used information shared by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
