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651-234-7509
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1500 County Rd B2 West
Roseville, MN 55113
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Traffic changes on I-35W in Minneapolis to start Sept. 4
Congestion relief project marks progress
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Motorists will encounter traffic changes beginning Sept. 4 as crews near completion of a congestion relief construction project on Interstate 35W. In addition, crews will install innovative lighted striping that delineates the new MnPASS Express Lanes on the freeway from the general traffic.
Traffic changes include:
- All lanes of northbound I-35W from 31st Street to downtown Minneapolis will be open to traffic starting Friday, Sept. 4.
- Traffic on northbound I-35W between 42nd Street and 31st Street will be shifted from the inside to the outside three lanes for approximately three weeks starting Wednesday, Sept. 9. The purpose of the traffic switch is to install lighted striping for the new MnPASS Express Lane on northbound I-35W from 42nd Street to downtown Minneapolis, which is scheduled to open for service on Sept. 30.
- The northbound I-35W exit to 35th Street/36th Street will open on Friday, Sept. 11.
Motorists will continue to experience construction impacts on I-35W in Minneapolis south of 42nd Street through the completion of the Crosstown reconstruction project in 2010.
"The MnPASS Express Lanes design on I-35W north of 42nd Street will be the first of its kind in the country," said Nick Thompson, manager of the Urban Partnership Agreement. "This is a low cost way to add a lane for motorists to use during rush hour."
The MnPASS Express Lanes program offers solo drivers the choice to pay a toll to access the HOV/car pool lanes. Car pools with two or more occupants, motorcycles and transit buses can use the Express Lanes free of charge.
To open a new prepaid MnPASS account in less than 10 minutes, customers can go to www.mnpass.net or call the MnPASS Customer Service Center at 1-866-EZ-RIDE4 (1-866-397-4334). The MnPASS Welcome Kit, which includes easy instructions on how to install the transponder in the vehicle, will arrive by mail within a few days.
New customers who sign up between now and Oct. 31 will receive $25 in free toll credits. As an added benefit, new MnPASS subscribers are also eligible for $20 worth of transit fares with the purchase of a $20 Go-To Card, a Metro Transit pass valid on all regional buses and transit.
The work is part of the ongoing reconstruction of I-35W from Burnsville to downtown Minneapolis that is funded by the Urban Partnership Agreement. The UPA projects will improve traffic flow by reducing congestion on I-35W, Highway 77/Cedar Avenue and in downtown Minneapolis using transit, road pricing, technology and telecommuting.
The UPA is funded by $133.3 million in federal funds and $50.2 million in matching state funds.
For more information about construction on I-35W, go to http://www.dot.state.mn.us. To sign up for regular e-mail updates about construction along I-35W, go to www.mndot.gov, click on the orange “Sign up for Mn/DOT e-mail updates” button and follow instructions to register your e-mail address. Motorists may also call the I-35W/Crosstown Project hotline at 1-866-743-6590 or send an e-mail to crosstown@rranow.com with questions.
For statewide traffic, construction and travel information visit www.511mn.org, call 5-1-1 or log on to www.mndot.gov.
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