BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Driving around the Twin Cities could be difficult this weekend with several major closures likely to cause backups in the southwest metro.
One of the major traffic disruptions will be the weekend closure of Interstate 494 in Edina, Bloomington and Richfield, starting Friday, Oct. 11.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the interstate will be closed between Highway 100 and Highway 77 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for "drainage and utility work."
The overall project, which will likely last through fall of 2026, is to add E-ZPass lanes in each direction. Crews will also replace the bridges crossing over I-494 at Portland Avenue, Nicollet Avenue and 12th Avenue, while adding a new pedestrian bridge at Chicago Avenue that will cross over I-494.
It's the first of four major construction projects that are part of the I-494: Airport to Highway 169 strategy.
Several lanes and ramps will also be closed on Interstate 35W in Burnsville starting Friday morning as crews prepare for a construction project to replace the pavement and repair multiple bridges.
According to MnDOT, crews will be working on crossovers for the 2025-26 construction project that will replace pavement on I-35W and improve the bridges at Cliff Road, Highway 13 and the Burnsville Parkway.
MnDOT is warning motorists of the traffic disruptions, which will start at 5 a.m. Friday with the northbound I-35W ramp to eastbound Highway 13 closing. The ramp will remain closed until 11 p.m. Sunday, according to officials. The westbound Highway 13 ramp to northbound I-35W will then be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday through 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18.
Northbound traffic on I-35W will be reduced to one at the Burnsville split to Highway 13 from 8 p.m. Friday to 11 p.m. Sunday.
"MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution, and slow down in work zones where workers are present," officials said in a press release.
