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Transportation
Andrew Krueger

I-35W closure, heavy traffic to Duluth top weekend traffic woes

Weekend road closures for the weekend of Aug. 9-12
Weekend road closures for the weekend of Aug. 9-12
Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Lane closures on Interstate 494, a full closure of Interstate 35W near downtown Minneapolis and heavy traffic headed north are among the travel headaches Minnesota drivers may face this weekend.

Interstate 35W

A portion of Interstate 35-W in Minneapolis will close from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday so crews can work on resurfacing the freeway.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the closure stretches between Interstate 94 and Highway 280. Traffic will be detoured using those two freeways.

Drivers heading north out of downtown Minneapolis will be able to access I-35W at Washington Avenue.

The resurfacing work is part of a larger project on that stretch of I-35W, including drainage improvements and repairs to 11 freeway ramps. Another weekend closure is planned in September.

Interstate 494

Drivers in the southeast metro will have to contend with lane and ramp closures along Interstate 494 for the third straight weekend.

Starting Friday night, it's westbound traffic that will be down to just one lane between U.S. Highway 52 and Interstate 35E, while traffic heading east will be reduced to two lanes. Those lane closures will last through 5 a.m. Monday as crews resurface the freeway.

Ramps to and from westbound I-494 along that stretch — including at Highway 3 and Dodd Road — also will be closed as crews continue to resurface the freeway. There also will be closures of the ramps from westbound I-494 to Highway 52; westbound I-494 to I-35E, and northbound Highway 52 to westbound I-494/Highway 62.

MnDOT says drivers on that stretch of 494 should prepare for major traffic delays through the weekend.

Heavy traffic heading north

MnDOT is warning drivers to prepare for particularly heavy traffic on Interstate 35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth in the coming days.

The Bayfront Blues Festival takes place in Duluth from Friday through Sunday, and the Festival of Sail Duluth tall ships event will take place Sunday through Tuesday.

MnDOT said the heaviest traffic is expected on Sunday.

Find a complete roundup of road construction and traffic conditions on the 511 website.