Drivers in the north metro have largely escaped weekend freeway closures this season. But not this time.
MnDOT will close more than 6 miles of westbound Interstate 694 this weekend in what is being called a “mega maintenance” project.
“We are mobilizing every maintenance crew we can get across Metro District to address every pavement, drainage, signing/striping, and bridge maintenance issues we can,” said spokesman Kent Barnard.
From 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, westbound I-694 will be shut down from I-35W to Shingle Creek Parkway, which is just west of Hwy. 100. All eastbound lanes will remain open.
Motorists will be directed to use northbound I-35W to westbound Hwy. 10 and 610 to southbound Hwy. 169 during the closure.
Over the course of about 30 hours, “a large number of workers” will inspect and repair bridge decks, repair and restripe pavement, clean storm drains, remove vegetation and graffiti on walls and bridges, and replace and repair lighting.
The “mega maintenance” project is meant to keep the freeway in good shape until a more extensive repair and resurfacing project listed in MnDOT’s Capital Highway Investment Plan comes up in 2031 and 2032, Barnard said.
The agency has 262 metro area projects listed on the 10-year plan.
