I-35 North Metro Split   

Traffic impacts

Current

Learn more about this project, including project stages and how to do the zipper merge when travelling through this project area. All traffic impacts are weather dependent and subject to change.

Lane closures

Wed, May 1 through fall 2019

• NB I-35W is reduced to a single lane between one mile south of the I-35W/I-35E split and I-35

April 22 through summer 2019

• Periodic lane closures on I-35 in both directions between Hwy 8 and the I-35W/I-35E split
  • NB I-35 will be reduced to two lanes from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • SB I-35 will be reduced to two lanes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Periodic lane closures on I-35W/I-35E between I-35 and one mile south of the split
  • NB I-35E will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • SB I-35W/I-35E will be reduced to one lane from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Upcoming

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

Lane closures

Summer 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

Ramp closures

Late summer through early fall

• The NB I-35 ramps to/from Hwy 97 are closed
  • NB I-35 to Hwy 97 Ramp Closure Detour: NB I-35, then take the Broadway Ave. exit to SB I-35 to Hwy 97 (PDF)
  • Hwy 97 to NB I-35 Ramp Closure Detour: EB Hwy 97 to NB Hwy 61 to WB Broadway Ave. to NB I-35 (PDF)

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
• Replace the WB Hwy 8 bridge over I-35
• Replace the NB I-35W bridge over SB I-35E
• 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)

2019

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

Completed

• Resurfaced I-35 from Hwy 97 to Hwy 8
• Constructed the north half of new Hwy 97 bridge over I-35
• Embankment work and general site preparation occurred for the new Hwy 8 bridge/ramp
• Began construction of construct the new I-35W bridge over I-35E
• Site preparation, including adding temporary pavement and removing trees and bushes in the construction zone

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.