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 out of downtown to SB I-35W is only open to buses; it will remain closed for all other vehicles for the duration of the project. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or use transit to travel in/out of downtown. The long-term closure is needed to allow ongoing construction in the area and to maintain effective transit operations on the limited number of available lanes on southbound I-35W. 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 will be in full swing starting in 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.
Once I-35W highway reconstruction work begins this summer, 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 southbound I-35W.
Highway work by location
NB I-35W is reduced to three lanes through fall 2021
MnPASS Express Lanes remain open
Southbound I-35W is reduced to two lanes through fall 2019
Local road work by location
2nd Ave. from 38th St. to 39th St. intersection - OPEN
2nd Ave. from 31st St. to 32nd St. – OPEN
4th Ave. from 18th St. to Franklin Ave. – OPEN
4th Ave. from 22nd St. to 25th St. – CLOSED
Closed June 18, 2018 through spring 2019
Clinton Ave. from 26th St. to 3rd Ave. – CLOSED
Closed Sep. 17, 2018 through spring 2019
Lake St. from Blaisdell Ave. to 5th Ave. – OPEN
31st St. from 1st Ave. to 3rd Ave. S. – CLOSED
Closed Wed, Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Detour: Nicollet Ave., Lake St. and 3rd Ave.
31st St. has reduced lanes from Stevens Ave. to 2nd Ave.
Reduced lanes through fall 2021
Stevens Ave. from 31st St. to 32nd St. – CLOSED
Closed Jan. 14 through late February 2019
Stevens Ave. from the Midtown Greenway to Lake St. – CLOSED
Closed Oct. 22, 2018 through summer 2019
Stevens Ave. from Lake St. to 31st St. – CLOSED
Stevens Ave. from Lake St. to 31st St. will reopen to a single southbound lane in winter 2018 and remain in the reduced lane configuration through summer 2019
Stevens Ave. from 31st St. to 35th St. – CLOSED
Closed Oct. 22, 2018 through summer 2019
Park Ave. from 31st St. and 14th St – OPEN
All lanes of Park Ave. are open to all traffic. It will be striped back to two lanes with larger lanes for bicycles and parking in spring of 2019.
Portland Ave. from 14th St. and Lake St. – OPEN
All lanes of Portland Ave. are open to all traffic. It will be striped back to two lanes with larger lanes for bicycles and parking in spring of 2019.
39th St. and Stevens Ave. intersection – OPEN
39th St. and 1st Ave. intersection – OPEN
39th St. and 3rd Ave. intersection – OPEN
Trail and sidewalk impacts
Sidewalks are closed on the following roads:
4th Ave. between 22nd St. and 25th St.
South side of Lake St. between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S.
South side of 31st St. between Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S.
Intersections of 38th St./Stevens Ave. and 39th St./Stevens Ave.
Intersections of 38th St./2nd Ave. S. and 39th St./2nd Ave. S
About this project
35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown stage 3 map
Click map for larger PDF 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.