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 leaving home to get information about road construction and detours.

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

 

Southern Minnesota     

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

 

Expect delays

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

I-90 between Alden and Highway 22 – single-lane traffic in both directions, slow traffic

Highway 14 at Highway 42 in Eyota – closed, detour

 

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 — detoured

Highway 14 between Florence and Tyler — detoured

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

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