It's only February, but the first major road construction-related closing is on tap for the weekend as part of Interstate 35W south of downtown Minneapolis will shut down Friday night to Saturday morning.
The northbound lanes of I-35W between Crosstown Hwy. 62 and Interstate 94 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will move a large crane and drill into the area between 40th and 42nd streets where six underground tanks will be installed this summer as part of a $68 million drainage improvement project, said spokesman David Aeikens.
Drivers will be detoured to westbound Hwy. 62, northbound Hwy 100 and eastbound I-394 during the closure.
The return of road work comes as springlike weather returns to the Twin Cities. Thursday's bitter cold will be replaced Friday with sunny skies and a high near 40 degrees, the National Weather Service said. Mild conditions will continue through the weekend.
