Major I-394 lane, ramp and bridge closures resume Sunday
MnDOT will restart a $67 million reconstruction of I‑394 next Sunday, warning drivers to expect "significant" delays as westbound traffic is squeezed to two lanes between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 in Golden Valley and the E‑ZPass lane is taken out of service. The Penn Avenue bridge over I‑394 will close with detours routed via North and South Wayzata Boulevard across Theodore Wirth Parkway, and the Park Place Boulevard/Xenia Avenue ramp in St. Louis Park will also shut, pushing drivers to use Louisiana Avenue and Wayzata Boulevard instead. MnDOT says there will be sporadic closures in both directions between downtown and Hwy. 100, and later this month I‑394 will be fully closed for a weekend between Hwy. 100 and I‑94, with a detour using Hwy. 169 and I‑694. The work, which began last July, aims to repair bridges, ramps and pavement and improve accessibility and will continue through the fall, meaning prolonged congestion for commuters and freight heading into and out of downtown. Metro travelers are being urged to plan alternate routes, build in extra time, or shift trips off peak hours to avoid getting stuck in backups.
📌 Key Facts
- MnDOT is resuming a $67 million I‑394 construction project next Sunday, focusing on bridges, ramps, pavement and accessibility upgrades.
- Westbound I‑394 will be reduced to two lanes between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100, and the E‑ZPass option on that stretch will be closed.
- The Penn Avenue bridge and the Park Place/Xenia ramp will close with signed detours, and a full weekend shutdown of I‑394 between Hwy. 100 and I‑94 is planned later this month.
📊 Relevant Data
I-394 carries more than 120,000 vehicles per day along the 5-mile segment between downtown Minneapolis and Golden Valley.
Road work ahead: Construction on I-394 resumes later this month — MSN
The I-394 construction project involves repairing 34 bridges and ramps to improve safety and extend the life of the structures.
I-394 lane reductions, ramp closures begin Feb. 22 for bridge, road ... — MnDOT
Construction on I-394 began in 1984, making the highway infrastructure approximately 42 years old as of 2026.
SUPERIOR BLVD., WAYZATA BLVD., HIGHWAY 12, Highway 394 — St. Louis Park Historical Society
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