MnDOT urges travelers to use caution in work zones over Memorial Day weekend

ST. PAUL, Minn. — As Memorial Day weekend approaches and summer construction roadwork around the state revs up, the Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to use extra caution while driving through highway work zones.

“We will suspend work on many projects during the holiday weekend,” said Sue Mulvihill, deputy commissioner and chief engineer. “However, there are still many work zones around the state where drivers need to plan ahead, pay attention and slow down to make it a safe weekend for everyone.”

Motorists should be prepared for slower moving traffic and use extra caution in highway work zones. Plan ahead, think about alternate routes and go to www.511mn.org before you leave home to get information about road construction and detours.

Highway projects that may affect weekend travel on May 22-25 include:

Twin Cities area

·        Interstate 494 in Plymouth – multiple lane and ramp closures

·        I-35E in St. Paul and Little Canada – lane and ramp closures

·        Highway 100 in St. Louis Park – ramp closures and lane shift

·        Highway 169 in Jordan – single-lane traffic in both directions, County Road 9 access closed, detour

Central Minnesota 

·        I-94 between Rogers and St. Michael – lane shift, narrow lanes and reduced speeds

·        Highway 10 between St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids – all lanes of traffic will be open for the weekend

·        Highway 95 in Cambridge is closed over the Rum River Bridge (check 511 for width and length limits)

·        Highway 25 in Buffalo – detour

West Central Minnesota 

·        Highway 12 between Kerkhoven and Pennock -- detour

·        Highway 14 between Florence and Tyler -- detour

·        Highway 59 in Marshall – short detour

Northern Minnesota   

·        Highway 197 in Bemidji – lane closures, slow traffic

·        Highway 34 between Barnesville and Highway 59 – closed, detour

·        Highway 10 in Detroit Lakes – four lanes of traffic will be open for the weekend

·        Highway 2 (Bong Bridge) between Duluth and Superior - eastbound lanes closed, detour

Southern Minnesota    

·        I-35 Owatonna to Albert Lea – single-lane traffic in both directions, slow traffic

·        Highway 63 south of Spring Valley to Iowa border – closed, detour

·        I-90 between Aldon and Highway 22 - single-lane traffic in both directions, slow traffic

For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit www.mndot.gov/roadwork/current.html. Motorists may also sign up to receive email updates for major projects at www.mndot.gov/emailupdates.

“Drivers face many distractions under the best of conditions – and driving through construction work zones only amplifies distractions with lane changes and other unexpected variations,” said Kristine Hernandez, statewide Toward Zero Deaths coordinator. “Let’s pay attention and make this holiday weekend a safe one for everyone on the road.”

Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths is the state’s cornerstone traffic safety program that uses education, emergency medical and trauma services, enforcement and engineering approaches to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and deaths on Minnesota roads. For more information, visit www.minnesotatzd.org/. 

MnDOT reminds motorists to: 

·        Check www.511mn.org for up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions

·        Don’t use cell phones or text while driving

·        Follow posted speed limits; fines double in work zones

·        Expect delays, especially during peak travel times