Weekend Drivers Could Be Impacted By Closures On I-35E, Highway 169
St. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) –Drivers all around the metro area may encounter some delays and detours this weekend, and for St. Paul drivers, it could be a headache that they'll be dealing with for the next couple of months.
Beginning 10 p.m. Friday, both directions of Interstate 35E will shut down between Interstate 94 in St. Paul and Little Canada, Minn.
The closure is part of the I-35E MnPASS Project, which is working to increase the flow of traffic along I-35E. This part of the project will include removing and replacing two bridges, the Arlington Avenue and Wheelock Parkway bridges. The bridges will close at approximately 5 p.m. Friday.
Drivers will be detoured on Interstate 694 and I-94 to bypass the closure.
Both drivers and local business owners may already be experiencing headaches from this construction.
Parkway BP manager, Danielle Olsen, said this closure could be bad for business.
"I feel like we're gonna see a lot of, uh, business loss because of having both bridges shut down. And we've had some road construction, but this is kind of severe," said Olsen.
The roads will reopen on Monday morning, but bridge construction will continue through May.
The project was supposed to start last week, but was delayed due to weather.
Closures related to the I-35E MnPass Project are expected to continue in the area throughout the year.
Drivers southwest of Minneapolis will also be dealing with closures.
Southbound Highway 169 will close overnights March 7-9 in Shakopee, Minn. between County Road 15 and Highway 41.
Detours will be posted.
Click here for a full list of construction projects and updates.