Drivers who use the Portland Avenue bridge to cross I-94 in Minneapolis will once again have to find an alternate route.

The bridge closed Wednesday morning so crews could get started on some "unanticipated utility work," the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

Motorists will be directed to use Chicago Avenue to cross I-94.

It was not immediately clear how long the bridge would be closed. "We will let you know when it when we have more definitive information. It could be a few days. It could be a week or longer," said spokesman David Aeikens.

During the closure, the bridge will remain open to bicyclists and pedestrians as well as emergency vehicles.

The closure comes after the bridge had been closed for several weeks during September and October as MnDOT removed a pier and rebuilt a portion of the bridge to accommodate a new auxiliary lane that MnDOT will put in to carry traffic from eastbound I-94 down to Lake Street.

In an update to another closure, MnDOT now says the 31st Street ramp to southbound I-35W will now open on Nov. 14.

In Bloomington, the 86th Street bridge over I-35W is scheduled to open by 6 a.m. Saturday, The 82nd Street bridge will remain one lane in each direction until Dec. 1.

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