A series of Interstate 35 ramps in Owatonna will open and close on Tuesday as the two-year construction project moves closer to completion, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The ramps opening will be:

Northbound I-35 on-ramp (Exit 41) at the interchange with Steele County Road 25 (W. Bridge Street)

Northbound I-35 exit/off-ramp (Exit 42A and B) at the interchange with Steele County Road 2 (Hoffman Drive), old Highway 14

The ramps closing will be:

Northbound I-35 exit/off-ramp (Exit 41) at Steele County Road 25 (West Bridge Street) for reconstruction of the concrete pavement

Northbound I-35 on-ramp from old Highway 14 (CR 2/Hoffman Drive) for removal and reconstruction of the concrete pavement on ramp and acceleration lane

The ramp closures are expected to continue until late October.

Additionally, traffic lanes will change on Tuesday. Southbound traffic will remain in its current lanes and be restricted to single lane traffic through the work zone. However, northbound traffic will no longer be head-to-head with southbound.

Northbound traffic will be moved over to its reconstruction lanes, but will be restricted to single lane traffic, but no head-to-head with southbound.

The $19.1 million project is taking place over two years to replace the concrete I-35 roadways through Owatonna, as well as replace bridges and include additional safety features on the corridor. The project with prime contractor Mathiowetz Construction began the second year of construction in April and is expected to be complete this fall.

Because of the traffic volumes on I-35, traffic backups and delays occur during weekend travel periods through this construction workzone, so motorists should adjust their travel plans to account for delays.

MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never  enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.