Road Work Updates

I-494 Project Public Information Meeting – Wednesday, October 13th at 3:30pm

MnDOT’s I-494: Airport to 169 Project is moving towards its first phase of implementation and the City Council will be considering local approval of the Project 1 design in early 2022 with construction expected to start in summer 2023. Informational presentations about Project 1 will be given at 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm at this meeting.

35W South to 494 West ramp closed until Thursday, October 21

The ramp from I-35W south to I-494 west is now closed until Thursday Oct. 21 for ramp and median construction related to the Orange Line BRT Transitway construction. Following this closure, 494 operations in the area should return to normal as the project is nearly complete. Official detour: (three interchange loops) I-35W south to I-494 east to I-35W north to I-494 west.

October 7, 2021 77th Street Underpass Construction Update!

• The temporary bridge superstructure was delivered this week on the East side of the project. The assembly of the superstructure for the temp bridge will take all of next week before traffic can be shifted onto the bridge.
• The Northbound lanes of Highway 77 to Westbound I-494 will be closed starting at 5:00 am on October 16^th so that the temporary bridge can be installed. Please follow any detour signs in the surrounding areas during this time.
• Subcut grading will occur along 77^th St to prepare for the future underpass. Subcutting is a soil correction procedure that removes poor soils in a construction area and replaces it with sand. The sand is spread evenly and compacted to create a proper base for future roadways.
• Dewatering of the soils on the East side of the project continues in preparation for the installation of the temp bridge.
• Additional grading for the 77th St. Underpass, Washington Park, and the future Richfield Parkway is planned to take place the week of October 18^th.
• Prior to the installation of the temporary bridge, reinforced soil slope walls will be completed this week. These walls use horizontal geosynthetic reinforcement to create structurally sound, steep slopes that otherwise would not be possible.