I-394 project in and around Minneapolis delayed until July 10

A repaving and repair project on Interstate 394 that was supposed to have started Monday has been pushed off for a month.

MnDOT officials said work that was to have shut down the westbound lanes of I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Hwy. 100 will now begin the evening of July 10. Work on the eastbound lanes will begin once work on the westbound lanes is complete, said spokeswoman Bobbie Dahlke.

The work was postponed because the contractor could not meet the requirement that lanes on I-394 be closed for no more than 14 days.

"The contractor had to reschedule resources needed to complete the job in the allotted time and had to reschedule the project," Dahlke said.

In the meantime, MnDOT will start removing the bituminous surface during overnight hours, so motorists could see lane closures leading up to the July 10 closure.

This week, MnDOT will begin upgrades to Wayzata Blvd. that will result in delays and short-term lane closures, but the road will be open while crews are working, officials said.

The current schedule calls for westbound lanes to be closed July 10 to July 31. Eastbound lanes will close July 31 to Aug. 14.

Traffic will be routed onto the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane between Hwy. 100 and downtown Minneapolis. Drivers will be able to use the HOT lane without paying a toll or qualifying as a carpool as far as Louisiana Avenue. The HOT lane rules will be in effect west of Louisiana Avenue, Dahlke said.

Also, MnDOT announced Friday that the Lyndale Avenue bridge over Dunwoody Blvd. will close on July 13 for two months.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768