News Release

Roseville, Minn— Interstate 494 will be closed and detoured between I-394 and Highway 62 from 10 p.m. Friday, February 18 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 21 for the demolition of two bridges in Minnetonka.

In addition, the Oakland Road bridge will close at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 18 and the Orchard Road bridge, which closed February 14 , will both be demolished during the I-494 closure. Drivers who normally use Oakland Road should use I-394 while the bridge is being rebuilt and drivers who normally use Orchard Road should use Minnetonka Boulevard or Highway 7.

The new Orchard Road bridge and the new Oakland Road bridge are currently scheduled to be completed and opened to traffic by mid-September.

Motorists should try to avoid the area if possible to avoid weekend traffic delays. Motorists are reminded that state law doubles fines for traffic violations in work zones. The State Patrol will be in the area ticketing motorists who disobey traffic laws, including posted speed limits, as they drive through the work zone.

All I-494 traffic will be detoured to I-394, Hwy 169 and Hwy 62 during the closure. (see map).

For daily updates of project information call the I-494 Construction Information Hotline at (952) 908-2929, call the I-494 Stage 2 (Hwy 5 to I-394) Public Information Office at (952) 908-2907, e-mail dan.galvin@gcinc.com or visit the project Web site at projects.dot.state.mn.us/gcinc/494/

Traveler information, including incident reports, is available by calling 511 or logging on to www.511mn.org. Know the Road. Dial up or log on.

####