The summer construction season is now in full swing, and that means crews will be working around the clock to press toward a fall completion date for the Interstate 94 project between Rogers and St. Michael.
The goal is to have all six lanes open before the leaves drop off trees in 2015. With bridge deck work and a complete lane revamp (on the eastbound side) left to go, workers definitely need to put the pedal to the medal to get the project in on time.
That means lane closures are coming for drivers. MnDOT announced Friday that, as traffic shifts from one side of the roadway to the other, evening closures are going to be needed.
Here’s the update:
“Almost daily traffic changes are about to resume within the work zone on I-94 between Hwy 101 in Rogers and Minnesota Highway 241 St. Michael.
You should expect overnight lane closures on both directions of Interstate 94 almost every night for the next several weeks. The closures will occur on eastbound I-94 after 7 p.m., and on westbound I-94 after 8 p.m.
A bit of fair warning: These closures will take place within the work zone’s “tunnel” (the area with a concrete barrier on each side of the lanes). Drivers are asked to slow down, leave enough room for others to make their lane changes, and generally just use your very best driving skills as you navigate the work zone. Also, be certain to set aside your cell phone, that hamburger, fiddling with your radio, or whatever else might result in distracted driving, or a potential ticket.
The nightly lane closures are needed while crews prepare to close the existing eastbound lanes for reconstruction, and temporarily switch traffic from the eastbound side of the road to the westbound side of the road. That major change will happen later in July.”
Get more information
If you have friends or family who may be interested in this project or future traffic changes, please forward them this story and encourage them to sign up for email updates.
To download maps or get more detailed information on this project, visit the project’s website on MnDOT.
Information on Minnesota’s work zone speeding law can also be found online. And to get real-time traffic info, including a view of current traffic speeds and traffic cams for this project, visit the Minnesota 511 site.