MnDOT urges travelers to use caution in work zones during July Fourth holiday

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to use extra caution while driving through highway work zones during the July Fourth holiday.

“We suspend work on many projects during the Fourth of July holiday,” said Mike Barnes, MnDOT’s Operations director. “However, there are still many work zones around the state that will affect travel during the holiday. We ask drivers to pay attention in work zones and plan ahead.”

Highway projects that may affect travel during the July Fourth holiday include:

Northern Minnesota

· I-35 – lane closures between Scanlon and Duluth

· Hwy 10 – lane closures between Moorhead and Detroit Lakes

· I-94 – lane closures between Highway 34 in Barnsville and Clay County 10 near Downer

· Highway 59 – detour near Plummer and a lane bypass near Erskine

Central Minnesota

· Highway 371 – lanes narrow in Nisswa, businesses are accessible

· Highway 15 – lane shifts in Sartell

· I-94 – all lanes will be open in the Clearwater to St. Cloud project during the holiday

Southern Minnesota

· Highway 12 – lane closures from Litchfield to Darwin

· Highway 16 – detour between Spring Valley and Preston

- detour between Preston and Lanesboro

- detour between Lanesboro and Rushford

· Highway 44 – detour between Canton and Mabel

· I-90 – lane closures in Austin area

· Highway 169 – detour between I-90 and County Road 52

· Highway 23 – detour between I-90 and Jasper

Twin Cities Metro area

· Interstate 35E – single-lane traffic in each direction between the split in Burnsville and Cliff Road.

· Highway 52 Lafayette bridge - Vehicle length restrictions remain in effect; no vehicles longer than 35 feet allowed

· I-694 - Lane width reductions and lane shifts between Lexington Avenue and I-35W

- Lane closure between Highway 47 and Highway 100

· Highway 10 diagonal closed between I-694 and I-35W

For the duration of the Fourth of July holiday, and the remainder of the construction season, MnDOT urges drivers to:

Stay alert, especially at night.

Obey posted speed limits. Fines may double for violations in work zones.

Expect work zones to constantly change. Day to day, you could experience lane shifts, closures or moving workers and vehicles.

Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

Don’t make unnecessary lane changes.

Stay off cell phones and mobile devices.

Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

Move over one lane, if possible, or reduce speed for stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles, including ambulance, fire, law enforcement or maintenance and construction vehicles.