Changes coming to the I-35 Twin Ports Interchange

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) would like to remind drivers that beginning May 8, there will be changes coming to the I-35 Twin Ports Interchange that will impact traffic. If travelling northbound through the Twin Ports Interchange project, MnDOT says motorists will encounter two-lane, two-way traffic between Monday, May 8, and Friday, May 12.

Crews will be working to set up and pour a portion of the southbound I-35 to southbound I-535 bridge deck over I-35.

MnDOT says the southbound off-ramp to 27th Avenue West will also be closed during this time.

Officials say to remember to use the zipper merge at merge points to reduce traffic backups. A zipper merge occurs when drivers use both lanes of traffic until they reach the defined merge area. Vehicles then alternate in a “sipper” fashion into the open lane. According to MnDOT’s website, most drivers move to the open lane when they see the first “lane closed ahead” sign. This creates backups in traffic, leading to accidents. MnDOT says it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current lane until the point where traffic can orderly take turns merging.

For more information on the Twin Ports Interchange project visit: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/twin-ports-interchange/. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org