I-35 North Metro Split   

Traffic impacts

• Learn more about this project, including project stages and how to do the zipper merge when travelling through this project area

Note: All traffic impacts are weather dependent and subject to change.

Current

Lane closures

Wed, Aug. 15 through fall

• SB I-35 will be reduced to two lanes between Hwy 8 and Hwy 97
  • Notes:
    • Ramps at Hwy 97 and Broadway Ave. will remain open
    • NB I-35 is open to three lanes
      

Rest Area closure

7 a.m. Wed, Aug. 15 through Mid-October

• The Forest Lake rest area from SB I-35 is closed.
  • The two closest rest areas for southbound I-35 travelers are the General Andrews Rest Area, 77 miles to the north, or the New Market rest area, 58 miles to the south.

Upcoming

Details on upcoming traffic impacts will be provided as they become available.

Future

Spring 2019 through summer 2019

• Long-term I-35 lane closures will occur between the I-35W/I-35E split and Hwy 97
• I-35W and I-35E may be reduced to a single lane at times, just south of the split
• The NB I-35 ramps to and from Hwy 97 will close for approximately one month

Summer 2019 through fall 2019

• Long-term I-35 lane closures will continue between the I-35W/I-35E split and Hwy 97
• I-35W and I-35E may continue to be reduced to a single lane at times, just south of the split
• The ramps from Hwy 97 to SB I-35 will close for approximately one month
• The ramp from SB I-35 to Hwy 97 will remain open

About this project

Six miles of I-35 from just south of the I-35 split to a half mile north of Hwy 8 at the Chisago/Washington county line will be resurfaced. Road resurfacing helps to preserve and extend the use of the pavement. The work will also include replacing three bridges.

Summary of work

• Resurface existing pavement
• Replace the Hwy 97 bridge over I-35 with a diverging diamond interchange for better traffic flow and improved safety
• Update crosswalks at Hwy 97 to meet modern accessibility standards
• Replace the flyover ramp from WB Hwy 8 to SB I-35 with a loop ramp
• Drainage improvements

Schedule

Project staging

• Stage 1: Spring to Summer 2018 (PDF)
• Stage 2: Summer to Fall 2018 (PDF)
• Stage 3: Spring to Summer 2019 (PDF)
• Stage 4: Summer to Fall 2019 (PDF)

Fall 2017

• Site preparation, including adding temporary pavement and removing trees and bushes in the construction zone

2018

• Resurface I-35 from Hwy 97 to Hwy 8
• Construct the north half of new Hwy 97 bridge over I-35
• Embankment work and general site preparation for the new Hwy 8 bridge/ramp
• Construct the new I-35W bridge over I-35E (bridge will open to traffic in 2019)

2019

• Resurface I-35 from the I-35W/I-35E split to Hwy 97
• Resurface I-35W just south of the split
• Construct the new Hwy 8 ramp/bridge over I-35
• Resurface I-35E just south of the split
• Construct the south half of new Hwy 97 bridge over I-35 and reconstruct all ramps at the interchange

Do the Zipper Merge

When you encounter a construction zone where a lane will be closed, perform the zipper merge. A zipper merge occurs when motorists use both lanes of traffic until reaching the defined merge area, and then alternate in a "zipper" fashion into the open lane.