News Release

(Roseville, Minn.)- Access between westbound Lower Afton Road and southbound Highway 61 will close tomorrow morning due to safety concerns while the construction project at the intersection of Lower Afton Rd. and Hwy. 61 in St. Paul continues.

The single left turn lane from southbound Hwy. 61 to eastbound Lower Afton Rd. was closed to traffic earlier this month for construction of a dual left turn lane.

Work on the turn lanes and new signal system included removing the existing loop detectors in the pavement that detect vehicles and provide a green arrow for protected left turns from the southbound highway to eastbound Lower Afton Rd. With the loop detectors removed, left turning vehicles from southbound Hwy. 61 to eastbound Lower Afton Rd. do not trigger the green arrow. Motorists have been continuing to turn left across the northbound lanes despite signs prohibiting the movement and workers have witnessed several near collisions with northbound motorists. Workers have also reported abusive behavior from motorists who disobey the signs prohibiting left turns.

Motorists traveling from southbound Hwy. 61 to eastbound Lower Afton Rd. should continue south to Carver Ave. and back north to Lower Afton Rd. Traffic from westbound Lower Afton Rd. to southbound Hwy. 61 should travel north on Hwy. 61 to Warner Rd. and then south on Hwy. 61. Both detours are marked.

During the project, motorists will also encounter occasional shoulder and lane closures. All other traffic movements will remain open throughout the work.

Anticipated completion of the project is late June.

For updated traffic and travel information in the Twin Cities metro area and statewide visit www.511mn.org.

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