The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to plan ahead before traveling over the July 4 holiday and to use extra care while driving through highway work zones. Flooding in some areas of the state will also affect travel.
AAA predicts a record 39.7 million people will travel by road over the long weekend, which starts Tuesday, July 3, and goes until Sunday, July 8. This is 5.1 percent more motorists on the road than last year.
MnDOT will suspend work on most construction projects on July 4, but motorists may encounter bypasses, lane closures and detours. MnDOT recommends that motorists be prepared for slower moving traffic, think about alternate routes, and call 511 or go to www.511mn.org to get information about road construction detours.
Recent flooding is affecting travel in some areas of the state. Rising water levels from the Minnesota River are causing road closures near Henderson, LeSueur, St. Peter, Sherburn as well as near Shakopee and Chaska in the Twin Cities south metro.
Motorists should check 511 to avoid flooded areas and remember that vehicles can be swept away in only a few inches of moving water. It is unlawful to drive through areas where roads are barricaded.
Highway projects that may affect the July 4 holiday travel include:
Twin Cities
- I-35W@94 Downtown to Crosstown: I-35W north to I-94 west ramp is closed. I-94 east to I-35W south ramp is closed.
- I-94 west from Chicago to Nicollet is reduced to two lanes.
- I-35W north is reduced to three lanes – 43rd Street to I-94 in Minneapolis.
- I-35W south is two lanes – I-94 to 43rd Street in Minneapolis.
- I-35W north to Fifth Avenue, 11th and East Grant streets is closed.
- Highway 41 – is closed between Highway 169 near Shakopee and Chaska Boulevard due to rising water levels.
Central Minnesota
- Highway 10, Elk River bridge – Lane closures, narrow lanes, lane shifts; plan for delays
- Highway 10, Clear Lake to Big Lake – All lanes open June 29; all other days, segments are reduced to single lane; plan for delays
- Highway 4, Lake Henry – Two detours, one for cars and one for large vehicles
- Highways 28, 29, 104 in Glenwood – Highway 104 detour
- I-94, Highway 79 to Highway 114 – Single lane traffic on eastbound lanes, both directions
- I-94, Lake Latoka Bridge Replacement – Single lane traffic on eastbound lanes, both directions
- Highway 28, 29, 104 in Glenwood – Road closed; detour; width limit in effect
- Highway 9, Pomme de Terre – Road closed. Detour in place.
Northern Minnesota
· I-35 Snake River – Single lane in each direction near Pine City
· Superior Street, Duluth (city project) – Detour, delays
· Highway 92, Bagley – Detour in place.
Southern Minnesota
- I-35 south of Owatonna – Single lane in each direction
- Highway 169, St. Peter to Le Sueur – Single lane in each direction
- Highway 71 North from Willmar to New London – Detour
- Highway 14, New Ulm – Detour
- Highway 63 north of Rochester to Highway 60 at Zumbro Falls – Detour
- Highway 14 Mankato - Single lane westbound traffic
MnDOT urges motorists to be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
For a complete list of projects by highway or region, visit www.mndot.gov/roadwork/current.html. Motorists can stay informed about projects and other transportation topics by connecting to MnDOT via social media, as well as by signing up for email updates for major projects at www.mndot.gov/emailupdates.