BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Drivers who pass through Bloomington will have a slower commute for the next six months, as a significant construction project will reduce Interstate 494 to two lanes near the Mall of America and MSP Airport.
The lane reduction stretches approximately three miles from 24th Avenue in Bloomington to Pilot Knob Road near Eagan. The closure is scheduled to end on Nov. 1.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) reduced the eastbound side down to 2 lanes in late April, but the closing of westbound lanes - which started early Thursday – is expected to cause more delays for drivers.
MnDOT says a 2022 traffic study showed more than 90,000 vehicles cross over the 43-year-old 494 bridge every day. The ultimate goal of the project, MnDOT says, is to repair the bridge - while also fixing the pavement and improving the drainage and lighting.
The project also includes lane closures from Pilot Knob Road to 24th Avenue in Bloomington, as well as periodic ramp closures in the area.
Phase 1 of the project will last until October. Phase 2 of the project will include lane closures on the eastbound side of the 494 bridge starting in May of 2025.
“Next year, the closures will switch as work switches to the other side,” MnDOT spokesman Jesse Johnson says.
The construction project is expected to impact travelers at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) this summer, as well.
An MSP spokesman says the travelers should plan ahead and allow for extra travel time this year, especially travelers who are flying out of terminal two.
It could also impact shoppers at the Mall of America this year.
As a result, Mall of America sent KARE 11 the following statement:
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 are anticipating high traffic this summer and we look forward to welcoming our guests.
For more information on the project and its impacts over the next six months, check out a dedicated page on the MnDOT website.
The I-494 project is just one of many that will unfold over the spring and summer on interstates, highways and county roads across Minnesota. For real-time travel information before you take off, get the latest traffic information by visiting Minnesota 511.
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