News Release

(Roseville, Minn.) — Even though work isn't starting for nearly two months, motorists who regularly travel Interstate 94 and Highway 101 near Rogers are already interested about work scheduled this summer on three bridges in the area. Earlier this spring, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) announced a project to repair and resurface the east and westbound Interstate 94 bridges and the northbound Hwy. 101 bridge spanning the Crow River just west of Rogers .

And although the project will require lane closures and a ramp closure, and will cause substantial delays on the bridges, the lane restrictions will not last very long. When the project begins on Wednesday, July 6, motorists will encounter single lane traffic on both directions of I-94 crossing the Crow River for 12 calendar days. During the same time, the ramp from Hwy. 241 to eastbound I-94 will close.

Once repairs and resurfacing are completed on the inside lanes of the interstate bridges, I-94 will reopen for two lanes of traffic in each direction during work on the outside lanes and shoulder of the bridges through the end of July. The ramp from Hwy. 241 to eastbound I-94 will remain closed for safety reasons until completion of the interstate work at the end of July. During the interstate phase of the project, motorists can use Hwy. 10, Hwy. 12, Hwy. 55 or Hwy. 169 to avoid the construction area.

In addition to the I-94 bridge work, Mn/DOT has scheduled a nearby concrete repair and resurfacing project on one mile of the interstate south of Hwy. 101. The maintenance work will require nightly lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. , Sunday night through Friday morning until early August.

In early August, crews will wrap up their bridge and maintenance work on the interstate and move to the northbound Hwy. 101 bridge. Traffic will then be restricted to a single northbound lane during repairs and resurfacing through late August.

Mn/DOT's construction plan requires work to be completed in late August, although work could be completed sooner. Once the work is completed, the contractor could earn extra money for early completion, but if the project is not completed, the contractor will be charged for each day they do not meet their set deadline.

Concern for the effects of work on traffic using this main route between the Twin Cities, North Dakota and Wisconsin led Mn/DOT to use some innovate contract management, including an A + B contract and substantial incentives or penalties for completion of work. When road construction is bid as an A + B contract, contractors who bid the work submit a proposal that includes both cost and time to complete the project. The successful bidder is chosen based on the amount of their bid and the time they commit to completion.

Other innovate techniques used to lessen traffic congestion during this work include use of a dynamic late merge system and Highway Advisory Radio. The dynamic lane merge system uses traffic monitoring equipment and signs to advise motorists when to merge when approaching a construction zone with a lane closure. During periods of light traffic, drivers are urged to merge sooner into the lane that will remain open. If traffic becomes heavy, drivers are advised to use both lanes and then take turns as they approach the lanes that remain open. Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) provides motorists with more detailed and up-to-date information about road construction prior to the project start and as work is underway. Motorists are urged to tune their radios to 1610 AM near a project area to reach the information.

Mn/DOT reminds motorists to SLOW DOWN in the work zone and NEVER enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones. Please join us in a safety partnership. For statewide traffic, construction and travel information visit www.511mn.org or call 511.

 

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