RICHFIELD, Minn. — And so it begins... again.
Monday marked the unofficial beginning of another busy road construction season, with crews ramping up work on several major projects in the Twin Cities metro.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation:
- Crews will close I-35W in both directions overnight Monday at the I-35W/I-494 interchange in Bloomington and Richfield through 5 am Tuesday. During that closure – and in the months that follow – crews are constructing E-Z Pass lanes from Hwy. 100 to I-35W in each direction and adding a new ramp at the interchange.
- Crews are also replacing several bridges in the area and adding a pedestrian bridge.
- Also on Monday, Crews started paving, improving access and the stormwater system and updating trails and a signal along Hwy. 55 between Old Rockford Road in Plymouth and General Mills Blvd. in Golden Valley.
- And on Wednesday, crews will close the ramps to and from Hwy. 55/Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis as they begin a project to make that area more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.
And while those projects could create short-term pain, MNDOT spokesperson Jesse Johnson encourages drivers to remember the potential for long-term gain.
“It is a lot of traffic, a lot of cars moving through that interchange,” Johnson said about the 494/35W project, before adding: “We want to make sure that people can move safely and efficiently and also reduce congestion and make improvements in the process.”
Meantime, local business are bracing for what that process means for their customers and their bottom line.
Ruby Nails paints a picture of excellent customer service
Walk into Richfield’s Ruby Nails salon, and you’ll experience the salon’s commitment to customer service.
“Like family,” Mai Doan says about her approach to working with loyal customers.
But Doan recognizes even the most loyal customer may find the construction delays challenging. That’s why she – and her team of stylists – say they’ll do their best to communicate to their customers potential delays and alternate routes. The salon is even committed to offering a “construction discount.”
“I hope with my customer service and with our service here people will come back and help us out,” she said.
To learn more about construction projects throughout Minnesota, just go to: 511mn.org.
You can also receive specific information about the 494/35W project here. And you find out the latest about the Hwy. 55 Plymouth and Golden Valley project here.
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