ROSEVILLE, Minn. — The newly-built westbound lanes of Highway 36 reopened to traffic around 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nov. 16, between White Bear Avenue and Highway 120 (Century Avenue) in North St. Paul. Earlier that day, traffic was shifted onto a single lane of traffic on the westbound lanes, and the eastbound lanes were restricted to a single lane to allow crews to remove pavement markings. Traffic had been a single lane in each direction on the eastbound lanes. New lane markings on the eastbound roadway were finished and the highway was completely open around 7 p.m. Friday.

Highway 36 was completely closed for reconstruction on May 1 and was reopened to a single lane in each direction on the eastbound lanes on Aug. 31.

The entrance and exit ramps between Highway 36 and McKnight Road also reopened to traffic Friday afternoon.

The four-month full closure of the highway is part of the year-and-a-half reconstruction project. Following an extensive survey of commuters, residents and businesses last winter, a decision was made to close the highway for part of the reconstruction project. Closing the roadway allowed the Minnesota Department of Transportation to save money, improve safety for motorists and the workers and build a higher-quality highway.

The project includes a diamond interchange at Highway 36 and McKnight Road (County Highway 68), a bridge to carry traffic on Margaret Street over Highway 36 and a pedestrian bridge over the highway to enhance safety for users of the Gateway Trail and eliminate some at-grade crossings on the trail.

Additional work in the corridor eliminated six at-grade intersections at Charles St., Margaret St., 1st St., 2nd St., 3rd St. and McKnight Rd. Auxiliary lanes were constructed for east and westbound Highway 36 between White Bear Ave. and McKnight Rd. a new frontage road carries traffic from McKnight Rd. to First Street.

A tunnel for the Gateway Trail was built at Margaret St.

Although the highway is now open to traffic, work continues to build a bridge to carry traffic on Margaret Street over Highway 36. Final completion of the project is slated for the fall of 2008.

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