Ramp Closure Spells Traffic Nightmare for Area Drivers

Construction on the intersection of Highway 169 and Interstate 494 took a dramatic step forward Tuesday morning with the month-long closure of a heavily trafficked route. 

The ramp from southbound 169 to westbound 494 closed at 6 a.m. Tuesday so construction crews could begin work on a new bridge spanning 494 at Washington Avenue.

The ramp is scheduled to open in early Sept. but the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) did not confirm a date.

Other work at the site includes frontage road reconstruction, including roundabouts, a flyover ramp from westbound I-494 to southbound 169 and traffic signal removal.

According to MnDOT, the additional work is scheduled to be completed by November. 

MnDOT also expects a complete closure of Hwy 169 at some point during the summer but no further details were available.  

A list of detours for the 169/494 project can be found on the MnDOT website.