The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has announced upcoming overnight closures of Highway 169 due to the replacement of the 36th Avenue bridge. This development is poised to affect commuters beginning Thursday, Aug. 22. According to the latest update from the agency, the closures are part of an ongoing project to enhance road infrastructure in the area.
Commuters should be aware that southbound Highway 169 will see closures from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Aug. 22, between I-394 and I-694 to facilitate beam setting over southbound lanes. MnDOT has laid out detour routes directing traffic to westbound I-94, southbound I-494, and then back to eastbound I-394. Similarly, northbound Highway 169 will undergo closures from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 through to the early hours of Saturday for the same construction activity. Here, the detour will route vehicles via westbound I-394, to northbound I-494, and then eastbound I-94.
In addition, MnDOT specified that the 36th Avenue pedestrian bridge will be completely inaccessible from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly starting Sunday, Aug. 25 through to Thursday, Aug. 29. This will likely impact local foot traffic and may require pedestrians to seek alternative routes during those hours.
Further closures are scheduled for 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, Aug. 25 to Tuesday, Aug. 27 for the southbound lanes at the 36th Avenue bridge, where traffic will be constrained to one lane and detoured using the ramps at 36th Avenue west of the bridge. Similarly, northbound lanes will experience closures at the bridge from 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 until 5 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, following a comparable traffic pattern for the detour. MnDOT reminds travelers that these plans are subject to shifts due to weather and scheduling factors.
Those interested in staying informed about the project's progression or seeking additional information can visit MnDOT's project web page and sign up for email updates. The timely completion of this infrastructure work continues to be critical in ensuring that the lifeblood of this community—its roads and highways—remains safe and efficient for all who traverse it.
