Long stretch of Interstate 494 will be closed this weekend

If you’re driving in the southern Twin Cities metro area this weekend, you may want to allow some extra time to reach your destination.

A long stretch of Interstate 494 in Bloomington will be closed in both directions from Friday night through early Monday.

What’s closed?

The closure affects I-494 between Highway 77 on the east — near the Mall of America and the Twin Cities airport — and Highway 100 on the west.

When is it closed?

Ramp closures along that stretch of the busy freeway start at 8 p.m. Friday, with the full closure starting at 10 p.m. It runs through 5 a.m. Monday.

Where will traffic be detoured?

The posted detour will send traffic north to Highway 62, the Crosstown. That could mean traffic delays along that freeway through the weekend. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging drivers to use caution in the area.

Why is I-494 closed?

MnDOT said the closure will allow crews to demolish the Portland Avenue bridge over the freeway, and also finish work on a pedestrian bridge across I-494 near Chicago Avenue.

The work is part of a larger, multi-year, project costing more than $375 million to make improvements along that stretch of I-494, including adding E-ZPass lanes and repairing or replacing other bridges and ramps.

Another closure of that same stretch of freeway is planned for next weekend, June 6-9.