Westbound I-94 closure in St. Paul: Bridge work set for April 17-20

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Drivers in St. Paul should prepare for potential delays on I-94 as crews work to finish bridge repairs this weekend, causing detours.

Westbound I-94 closure set for April 17 weekend

What we know:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will close westbound Interstate 94 between Marion Street and Interstate 35E starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 17, through 5 a.m. on Monday, April 20, as part of the ongoing reconstruction of the John Ireland Boulevard bridge.

Traffic will be detoured via northbound I-35E, Highway 36 and southbound Highway 280. Motorists should be prepared for heavier traffic on southbound Highway 280, which will stay open while work continues on the northbound side between I-94 and Highway 36.

MnDOT says all construction activities depend on weather and scheduling.

Additional closures and detours for drivers

Timeline:

Several other closures are planned while crews place beams for the new bridge, including: 

• 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 15 through 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 – southbound John Ireland Boulevard between Martin Luther King Boulevard and 12th Street.
• 5 a.m. Thursday, April 16 through 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 – northbound John Ireland Boulevard between 12th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard.
• 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, until 10 a.m. on Monday, April 20 – 12th Street between Wabasha Street and Rondo Avenue. Traffic will be detoured via Cedar Street, Martin Luther King Boulevard, University Avenue and Marion Street to westbound I-94.

Why you should care:

MnDOT encourages anyone traveling in and around downtown St. Paul to plan ahead and review all closures, especially with high-traffic summer events ahead.

The ongoing project requires periodic weekend closures of I-94 and partial bridge closures to keep the interstate’s bridges in good shape.

Dig deeper:

For more information about the project, check out MnDOT’s updated project page.