BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Whenever you see orange, you know road construction isn't far away.
On Interstate 494 in Bloomington, orange cones are everywhere, warning drivers of what's coming this weekend.
"My recommendation is to use our detour route and plan ahead,” MnDOT spokesperson Jesse Johnson says.
MnDOT says starting Friday night at 10, I-494 will be closed to eastbound traffic from Highway 100 to Highway 77.
MnDOT recommends taking the detour at Highway 100, going North to 62 and back down on Highway 77 before rejoining I-494 when the closure ends.
For westbound traffic, the closure on I-494 goes from 35W to Highway 100.
Once again, MnDOT recommends a detour of going up to 62 and then getting back on I-494 after the closure is over.
Michael Schommer with MSP says travelers who have flights this weekend should expect some delays.
He recommends getting to the airport early just in case.
"Generally, that means trying to arrive at the airport no less than two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight,” Schommer says.
A spokesperson with the Mall of America says despite the construction, they still expect to see a lot of visitors this weekend.
The Mall of America released this statement regarding the 494 closure this weekend:
Over the past three decades, we have experienced many road construction projects. We have found a little extra windshield time doesn’t stop our shopping and entertainment enthusiasts from coming to see us. There are multiple access points to the Mall from major roadways making it easy for everyone to get here. We have a lot of exciting events and activations throughout the season, and we look forward to welcoming our guests.
MnDOT says the closure this weekend is just one part of a multi-year effort to reduce congestion on 494.
In the short term yes, drivers will experience some slowdowns, but MnDOT is hoping to build a better commute that should benefit drivers in the long-term.
"It's challenging in the moment, but certainly we will see those benefits when the project is done,” Johnson says.
MnDOT says an almost identical weekend road closure will happen two weeks from now.
The closure will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, and end at 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28.
For more information visit 511mn.org