If AAA's predictions are correct, the roads leading out of the metro might be more crowded than those in town as throngs head to the lakes, cabins and places to enjoy the season's first long holiday weekend. Nationwide, AAA projects 39.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home Thursday through Monday.
The mass exodus might help alleviate congestion on Twin Cities roads, which will be busiest around sporting events: Twins games Friday night followed by matinees Saturday through Monday at Target Field, a Lynx game at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the Saints games Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday at 5 p.m. at CHS Field in St. Paul, and a Minnesota United game at 7 p.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota.
Heads up transit riders: Metro Transit and suburban agencies will operate on a holiday schedule on Monday. Northbound Blue Line trains will be delayed between 10 and 15 minutes from 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday due to maintenance.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority will run fewer express trips on routes 460, 465, 470, 475, 477 and 480 on Friday. That will be a weekly thing through Labor Day.
Orange cones continue to line myriad road construction zones. Here is where you'll find some of the big ones:
I-94 in Minneapolis and St. Paul
1. I-94 from St. Paul to Maplewood: Two lanes open in each direction between Century Avenue and Mounds Boulevard; temporary lane and ramp closures. Ramps to westbound 94 at Mounds Boulevard and Hwy. 61 are closed until June 16. White Bear Avenue is closed from the south end of the I-94 interchange up to Minnehaha Avenue.
2. I-94 from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center: Two lanes open in each direction between I-694 and Hwy. 55. The ramp from southbound Hwy. 252 to eastbound/southbound I-94 is closed. Traffic is being detoured to Hwy. 100. All westbound I-94 to westbound I-394 traffic will be shifted onto the HOT lanes. There's no access to HOT lanes for eastbound drivers from Hwy. 100 to downtown Minneapolis. The ramp from Dowling Avenue to westbound I-94 is closed.
Minneapolis
3. Cedar and Portland Avenues: Closed between 28th and Lake streets through the summer.
East Metro
4. I-35E: Two lanes open in the area of Shepard Road through Sept. 22.
5. White Bear Avenue in St. Paul: Closed between I-94 and Minnehaha Avenue.
6. Snelling Avenue/Hwy. 51 in Falcon Heights: Single lane in each direction between Como Avenue and Hwy. 36 through October.
7. Hwy. 110 in Mendota Heights: Lane closures between Lexington Avenue and I-494 through June 11.
North Metro
8. I-694 in Shoreview: Eastbound I-694 is restricted to two lanes separated by a concrete median barrier between Hwy. 10 and I-35E. The inside lane carries through traffic and drivers must continue east on I-694. The outside lane allows local ramp access and must continue south on I-35E. Westbound I-694 is reduced to two lanes. Note: The ramp from Rice Street to westbound I-694 is closed for the duration of project, which will last until fall.
9. Hwy. 10 at I-35W in Arden Hills: The ramp from westbound Hwy. 10 to northbound I-35W is closed through late August.
West Metro
10. Hwy. 169 in Edina and St. Louis Park: The Nine Mile Creek bridge is closed between Bren Road and 5th Street/Lincoln Drive and single lane between I-394 and Excelsior Boulevard.The ramp from westbound I-394 to southbound Hwy 169 is closed through October.
South Metro
11. 66th Street in Richfield: Closed to through traffic between Girard and Xerxes Avenues S.
12. 86th Street in Bloomington: The overpass at I-35W is closed through October. Use 90th Street.
13. County Road 42 in Burnsville: The eastbound lanes at the I-35W interchange are closed until June 22.
14. Hwy. 77 in Eagan: One northbound closed between Diffley and Nichols Roads.
