HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 04-26 From east to west metro, new road work will cripple commutes STAR TRIBUNE �c StarTribune
From east to west metro, new road work
will cripple commutes
April 26,2015-7:04 PM
Commuters might want to take a couple extra-strength Excedrin before heading out the door this week.Construction delays
could spawn headaches of the migraine variety.
In the west metro,rivo large projects have already clogged main arteries,sending dnve times skyrocketing along with the
blood pressure of many dnvers.This week,east metro commuters will start feeling the pain.West metro drivers,there's even
more of that coming your way.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is getting back ro building ihe new MnPass express lane on 135E through
Maplewood and St.Paul,and it comes with a host of lane and ramp closures and treffic shifts.Some of them witl be in place
by the time commuters head to the office Monday moming.
This week,crews will be setting up barriers and re-striping lanes that will bring nightly lane closures in both directions of 135E
between Little Canada Road and Maryland Avenue.Lane reductions wiil be in piace from 7 p.m.to 6 a.m.Through
Wednesday,35E will have three lanes open in both directions during peak periods.On Thursday southbound drivers will start
feeling the pinch as traffic gets shifted to the noRhbound lanes and reduced to two lanes.
Starting Monday,drivers won't be able to get onto northbound 35E from Maryland and Roselawn Avenues or from either
direction of Hwy.36.By Friday,more ramp closings will be in place:no access ro southbound 35E from either direction of
Hwy.36 or from southbound 35E to eastbound Hwy.36.Drivers won't be able to get on or off southbound 35E at Roselawn.
That is what drivers have to look forward to until September.
'9t is'travelabie,'we don't want to send the message that they can't go there,"said MnDOT spokeswoman Denise Workcuff.
"If there is another way to get ro their destination,we advise them to consider other routes."
That leaves Hwy,61 or Rice Street as north-south alternates,but be warned that there are lots of treffic lights on those
routes.Drivers couid scoot over to I-694 and then down to I-94.Going that way might keep cars moving,but it could be a
wash if the extra distance wipes out the time savings.
Meanwhile,MnDOT has some ominous news for west metro commuters on Hwy.100:By Wednesday MnDOT is predicting
that southbound dnvers will need 23 to 40 minutes in the mornings and 17 to 38 minutes in the aftemoons to get from 36th
Avenue in Robbinsdale to Exceisior Boulevard.For northbound drivers,trip times between W.70th Street and Cedar Lake
Road are forecast to be 18 to 30 minutes each morning and 22 to 36 minutes in the afternoon.
That lane switcheroo delayed by last Sunday's rain will be put in place ovemight Tuesday and Wednesday.When that
happens,travel in both directions will be squeezed ro two lanes in each direction between Cedar Lake Road and W.36th
Street.
There are not many good alternates:1-494 has construction and Hwy.169 is already over capacity.Come June,a resurfacing
project on 1394 from Hwy.100 to I-94 could further cripple the commute.
"Be patient,leave earlier or leave later,"said Bobbie Dahike,spokeswoman for the Hwy.100 projecL"If you leave at exactly
the same time that you do now,you will be delayed."
Can we just travel by drone?