After getting a look at the Vikings' new stadium last week, fans will get their first look at the team as training camp kicks off in Mankato. But getting there won't be easy. Highway 169 is closed between St. Peter and Mankato, so drivers will have to use Nicollet County Road 13, Hwy. 99 or Hwy 22 as an alternate routes.
For a change, both directions of Hwy. 100 through St. Louis Park will be open. Yes, you read that right. Take advantage as it's only a one-week reprieve as closures will resume next weekend. The big metro area closure is on Interstate 35W through New Brighton and Roseville. The southbound lanes will be shut down from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday between Interstate 694 and Hwy. 36. All ramps to and from southbound I-35W, including I-694, County Road D, Highway 88, County Road C and Highway 36 will close at 9 p.m. and lane closures will kick in at 7 p.m.
Traffic generating events include Twins games Friday through Sunday at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis and the Twenty One Pilots show Friday and the 5 Seconds of Summer tour Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.
If you are heading to the Loring Park Art Festival either Saturday or Sunday, remember Hennepin and Lyndale avenues near the Walker Art Center is under construction.
Here is your guide to this weekend's road construction:
1. I-494 in Plymouth: Traffic between Fish Lake Road in Maple Grove and Hwy. 55 in Plymouth is to two lanes each direction until Nov. 4.
2. Hwy. 100 in St. Louis Park: No full closures, but both directions are reduced to two lanes between 36th Street and I-494. The 77th Street bridge over Hwy. 100 is closed.
3. I-394 in Golden Valley: Overnight lane closures between Hwy 100 and I-494 and rough pavement along that stretch, too.
4. I-35W in Roseville: Southbound lanes will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday between I-694 and Hwy. 36. Watch for lane restrictions near County Roads E2 and H.
5. I-694 in Shoreview: Westbound traffic has two lanes separated by a concrete barrier between I-35E and Lexington Avenue.
6. I-35E in the northeast metro: Intermittent lane closures between County roads 96 and J. County 96 is single lane from Centerville Road to White Bear Parkway.
7. Hwys. 61 and 97 in Forest Lake: No access to eastbound Hwy. 97 from Hwy. 61. Single lane in both directions of Hwy 61 between the north intersection of Hwy 97/Scandia Trail and 202nd Street.
8. Hwy. 8 in Franconia: Closed between the south junction of Hwy. 95 and downtown Taylors Falls.
9. I-94 from St. Paul to Maplewood: The left westbound lane between Mounds Blvd and Century Ave. is permanently closed through early August. The left eastbound lane is closed from 4 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays until Aug. 19.
10. White Bear Avenue in St. Paul: Closed between Beech Street and I-94.
11. I-35E in St. Paul: Intermittent lane closures in near St. Clair Avenue and between I-94 and Maryland Avenue.
12. Hwy. 36 at Lexington Avenue in Roseville: Traffic shifted to a bypass on the south side of Hwy. 36. Ramps at Lexington Avenue are closed.
13. I-35W in Minneapolis: The following bridges over I-35W have lane closures: Westbound Hennepin Avenue, eastbound Broadway Street and northbound Johnson Street.
14. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis: The bridge over the Mississippi River is closed until Labor Day. Nearby: Minnehaha Avenue closed 34th Street to Lake Street. Utility work at 31st Street.
15. Hwy. 5 in St. Paul: Single lane in both directions over the Mississippi River near Fort Snelling for bridge repair.
16. Hwy. 13 in Lilydale: Closed between Wachtler Avenue and Sylvandale Road until Sept. 2.
17. Hwy. 3 in Farmington: Alternating lane closures between Hwy 50 in Farmington and 179th Street.
18. Hwy. 61 in Denmark Township: Occasional lane closures in both directions from just north of Hwy 10 to just south of 127th Street.
