I-94 in St. Paul closed Oct. 10 weekend for bridge replacement project
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that westbound I-94 between I-35E and Dale St. and eastbound I-94 between Highway 280 and University Ave. E in St. Paul will be closed starting 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13. This work is a part of ongoing work to repair nine bridges over I-94 and I-35E in St. Paul .
Weekend traffic on westbound I-94 will be directed from northbound I-35E to westbound Highway 36 to southbound Highway 280. Traffic on eastbound I-94 will be directed to northbound Highway 280 to eastbound Highway 36 to southbound I-35E.
This closure is a part of the careful disassembly and rebuilding of the John Ireland Blvd. bridge over I-94 between Kellogg Blvd. and Rice St. in St. Paul. People near the bridge will likely hear construction noise, such as jack hammering and piledriving, between the construction hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Bridge work began on Oct. 6 and is anticipated to finish in August 2026.
Constructed in 1967, the John Ireland Blvd. bridge was in safe condition, but a focused structural repair is necessary to ensure it remains safe for travelers based on modern weight limits. The bridge is being rebuilt within the same footprint as the existing bridge, and other safety and cosmetic changes will be made as well, including sidewalk repairs, updates to existing bike and pedestrian facilities, accessibility updates, and railing replacements.
All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule dependent and subject to change. The department encourages people traveling in and around downtown St. Paul to plan ahead and review closures, especially for high-traffic events. MnDOT also urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution and slow down in work zones where workers are present.
This project requires additional periodic weekend closures of I-94 and partial bridge closures to ensure proper maintenance of bridges along the interstates. For more information about this project work or to sign up for email updates, visit the project website at mndot.gov/metro/projects/johnirelandbridge.
For updated road condition information, visit www.511mn.org.
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