MINNEAPOLIS — MnDOT is recommending that travelers give themselves an extra hour to get to the airport starting in April.
That's because construction on Highway 5 could make the trip to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport a lot longer.
The work will run from April through October, weather permitting, and will include rebuilding Highway 5 and repairing several bridges and ramps between 34th Avenue in Bloomington and Highway 62 near Fort Snelling.
“We want people to make it to the gate in plenty of time, so plan ahead and leave one hour earlier,” Mike Barnes, MnDOT Metro District engineer, said in a news release Tuesday. “We’re doing all we can to limit the disruption to motorists; this would typically be a two-year project but we’re committed to completing it in one construction season.”
Work is expected to begin with the closure of eastbound Highway 5 from April through late July. Then westbound Highway 5 would close from August through October. Ramps near the Highway 5, 55 and 62 interchange will close starting in July.
MnDOT says the project will start after spring break and should be completed before the airport's busy MEA travel weekend in October.
MnDOT has launched a special website at AroundtheAirport.com to help travelers plan ahead for detours. Delta passengers at MSP will also receive the link when checking into a flight online, so they can check on closures and plan their trip.
The Metro Blue Line light rail service will not be affected during construction.
MnDOT says travelers should also be aware of additional road work happening east of the airport during the same April-October time frame, involving work on the interchange at I-494 and 35E.
