Travel plans this weekend on Highway 169 just got less complicated for commuters. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has canceled the previously scheduled weekend daytime closures meant for the 36th Avenue bridge painting on Oct. 26-27.
In an update that trades paint for pavement, work crews will now focus on surface finish repairs on the bridge during this time. Starting at 4 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, drivers should expect southbound Highway 169 to be downscaled to one lane between Rockford Road and Medicine Lake Road until 2 p.m. Similarly, on Sunday morning, MnDOT plans to squeeze northbound Highway 169 traffic into a single lane in the same stretch, also from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These scheduling adjustments come as a minor relief for residents familiar with the delays often associated with roadwork. However, it's important to note that lane closures and roadwork schedules are subject to change, especially given the whims of weather. MnDOT advises that all lane closures are weather dependent, and may shift if inclement weather rolls in.
For those interested in staying on top of travel updates, more details can be found on MnDOT's project webpage. The agency encourages motorists to sign up for project email updates directly through the aforementioned link, ensuring that the latest roadway changes won't catch any driver unawares.
