Update on I-494 construction

From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, through Friday, April 21, Highway 7 will have one lane closed in each direction at Interstate Highway 494 for work on the bridge.

Baker Road remains closed to complete work on the bridge. Drivers should continue to use Shady Oak Road as an alternate route during the closure. Weather permitting, Baker should reopen to vehicle traffic in about one more week, though bicycles and pedestrians can use it now.  

The Hennepin County bike trail will remain closed until June while work continues on the bridge and trail repairs are completed. The area under the bridge is muddy and will require some time to dry out before the repairs can begin.

The Orchard Road bridge is closed for about two more weeks as work continues paving curbs, sidewalks and the bridge approach panels. Pedestrian traffic will be allowed.

I-494 will be closed in both directions on April 22-23, weather permitting, for setting bridge beams at Highway 7. All I-494 traffic will be detoured to Highway 169 at Highway 62 and I-394.

Excelsior Boulevard will be closed in both directions for at least 30 days beginning on Monday, May 1. This is necessary to ensure that the concrete poured for the remaining half of the bridge deck cures properly. Vibrations caused by traffic crossing over the bridge would affect the curing process. This was not necessary for the first half of the bridge because it was not tied in yet with the open travel lanes. Part of this work will include connecting both halves of the new bridge. Pedestrian traffic will be allowed during the closure.

Check the project hotline and Web site at http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/gcinc/494/ for more updates on the project.