In just over a month, crews will get to work on a $57 million pavement rehabilitation and bridge repair project on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis that promises snarl traffic for much of the summer.

Lane closures, which include shifting motorists in both directions to one side of the Lowry Hill Tunnel for three months this spring and summer — and with narrower lanes, won't go into effect until late April. But once they do, they'll be in place through October on a 9-mile stretch between Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and the Hwy. 252 interchange in Brooklyn Center.

Over the course of six months, MnDOT will repair more than 50 bridges, rebuild the flyover bridge above Hwy. 252 and repave and rehabilitate the freeway that was originally constructed in the 1980s. Ramps at 49th and Dowling avenues and West Broadway will be closed at times.

"There will be [significant] traffic impacts," said MnDOT project manager Marcell Walker, noting the ripple effect will be felt far beyond the I-94 corridor. "We don't want to undersell it."

For more information, you can read my story from earlier this month, or attend a public open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Building, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis.