It’s the final construction season for the 35W@94 project. Take our brief survey to share your thoughts on our community engagement efforts and improvements for this year. We look forward to hearing from you!
STEM education and outreach
MnDOT launched a virtual collection of transportation-related activities and offerings for you to explore. Students and families can download activities or take a virtual tour of the 35W@94 construction project, and teachers can connect with project engineers for virtual classroom presentations or online classroom activities. MnDOT is dedicated to providing high quality activities and initiatives to help promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in schools across Minnesota.
Some of the ramp closures listed below are multi-year closures. This is needed to allow motorists to safely travel through the project area during the reconstruction of I-35W. The number of lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times which makes ramp access to/from I-35W difficult for vehicles.
Access into downtown from NB I-35W is one northbound lane to allow for ongoing construction in the area. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown.
Access into downtown from NB I-35W is one northbound lane to allow for ongoing construction in the area. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown.
Access out of downtown to SB I-35W is one southbound lane to allow for ongoing construction in the area. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown.
This ramp is being fully reconstructed. Once complete, motorists will no longer merge on the right side of WB I-94; instead, motorists will merge on the left side and will have a dedicated lane through the Lowry Tunnel, helping to reduce congestion. The Lyndale Ave./Hennepin Ave. exit will still be accessible from WB I-94.
Prior to the reconstruction of the ramp, there are additional construction activities in the I-35W/I-94 junction that need to happen and have been in full swing since mid-June 2018. Highway lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times and construction of the new ramp piers would not allow traffic to be safely switched around.
The number of southbound lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times while crews work for the three years after the 38th St. bridge reopens. This will make it difficult for vehicles entering from 36th St. to safely merge onto SB I-35W.
Highway work by location
NB I-35W is reduced to three lanes through fall 2021
MnPASS Express Lanes remain open
SB I-35W is reduced to three lanes through fall 2021
Local road work by location
Lake St. intersection closures at 2nd Ave., Clinton Ave. and 5th Ave.
Wed, March 31 through April 2021
Lake St. is undergoing reconstruction through September 2021. For more information, including summary of work, schedule and staging, visit the Lake St. reconstruction website.
31st St. between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. – CLOSED
Tue, April 13 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
31st St. has reduced lanes between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave.
Reduced lanes through fall 2021
Stevens Ave. between the Midtown Greenway and Lake St. – CLOSED
Closed Oct. 22, 2018 through September 2021
About this project
35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown stage 5 map.
Click map for larger version.
Summary of work
Work on 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown will include:
Converting NB I-35W Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane between 46th St. and 26th St. to a permanent MnPASS Lane
Constructing a new MnPASS lane on SB I-35W from 26th St. to 46th St.
Constructing Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit Station at Lake St.
Improving access from I-35W to the Lake Street Business District by constructing two new exit ramps (NB I-35W to 28th St. and SB I-35W to Lake St.
Upgrading accessibility by improving pedestrian accommodations with pedestrian curb ramps and sidewalk upgrades.
Rehabilitating pavement and bridges on I-35W from 46th St. to 11th Ave., Hwy 65 from 26th St. to 15th St., and I-94 from Nicollet Ave. to Park Ave.
Constructing new and rehabilitating existing noise barriers throughout the project limits.
When you encounter a construction zone where a lane will be closed, perform the zipper merge. A zipper merge occurs when motorists use both lanes of traffic until reaching the defined merge area, and then alternate in a "zipper" fashion into the open lane.
