Minnesota Department Of Transportation Announces Blatnik Bridge Lane Closure

Recently, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced traffic would be disrupted on the Blatnik Bridge in order to allow crews to complete routine inspections. While those inspections have been completed, motorists will soon find another closure involving the Blatnik Bridge and this involves the Twin Ports Interchange Project.

MnDOT announced that crews working on the Twin Ports Interchange project will close the southbound side of the I-535 Blatnik Bridge for a fairly short period of time. This closure will allow for the I-535 interchange bridge girder and decking placement over the current southbound traffic lanes.

The southbound side of the I-535 Blatnik Bridge will be closed from Tuesday, August 8, at 12:00 p.m. through Thursday, August 10, at 5:00 a.m. During the closure traffic will be detoured to the Highway 2 Bong Bridge.

The Twin Ports Interchange Project, a $435 million undertaking that will reconstruct the I-35/I-535/Hwy 53 interchange, looks to improve safety by:

• Providing a new conventional design
• Relocating all exits and entrances to the right side of the roadway
• Improving merging sight distance and eliminating merge conflicts
• Eliminating weaving problems near the interchange
• Providing lane continuity for through I-35 traffic

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The video below shows what the freeway will look like when completed from a motorist’s view heading north on I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange area, then heading to southbound I-35 from I-535, or the Blatnik Bridge, through the Twin Ports Interchange area.

When road construction projects are taking place, motorists are urged to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destination. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule-permitting and subject to change. MnDOT urges motorists to be attentive at all times, drive with caution, and slow down in work zones where workers are present.