Parts of Interstate 494 closed this weekend in Twin Cities, MnDOT says
If there's one thing Minnesotans can count on seeing, it's orange cones lining the streets as soon as snow clears.
"It's a constant struggle," said Minneapolis resident Lindsey Fine.
Bloomington resident Nicholas Severson echoed Fine's frustration.
"I was disappointed. At the same time, we live in Minnesota," Severson said.
Though frustrations may continue to rise as one of the state's busiest throughfares is offline for upgrades: Interstate 494.
Kent Barnard with the Minnesota Department of Transportation says well over 100,000 drivers use the road every day. Hence, the reason for construction. He says it's time for some much-needed TLC, with the aim of construction to create "smoother road surface and improve accessibility for people out there driving improve traffic flow."
Aesthetics aside, some repairs are crucial, including replacing bridges. That's why both directions of Interstate 494 are shut down between Highways 100 and 77 near Richfield until Monday morning.
Drivers like Fine are in the crosshairs trying to maneuver through.
"These are major roads that we need to use to get to where we are going, and we can't," said Fine.
Detours will be marked, but if you're travelling westbound in I-494 you can use northbound Highway 77 to westbound Highway 62.
Drivers travelling eastbound on I-494 can hop on northbound Highway 100 to eastbound Highway 62.
"That congestion is already terrible, and I feel bad for the people who will deal with that," said Severson.
If you have plans to travel out of state this weekend, know that airport access will also be impacted.
The highway will re-open Monday at 5 a.m.