MnDOT: Continued I-35E Lane Closures This Week in Mendota Heights, Lilydale

Northbound Interstate 35E through Mendota Heights and Lilydale did not open fully for rush hour Monday morning because of the rainy weekend, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

“After fighting weather for a large part of the weekend, we had to keep sections of northbound I-35E reduced to a single lane into Monday morning's rush hour,” said engineer Sheila Kauppi in a statement released Monday.

Pavement markings still needed to dry before traffic could be allowed back in the lanes. “Opening lanes before the paint cured sufficiently would have caused spray damage to vehicles and affected safety,” said Kauppi.

 MnDOT is repaving approximately 5.25 miles of Interstate 35E. The project is scheduled to be completed in November.

Upcoming Scheduled I-35E Closures:

• Two lane closures during rush hours are scheduled—southbound I-35E will be reduced to a single lane between Highway 5/West Seventh Street and Highway 13 from 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20. The road will reopen to accommodate the evening rush hour, and close again from 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 to 3 p.m. Wed., Sept. 21. (These extended lane closures are needed to allow the new concrete adequate time to cure before it can carry traffic.)
• Southbound I-35E is scheduled to close between Highway 13 and Highway I-494 from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 through 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26. (Details outlining the detour will be made available by Wednesday, Sept. 21.)
• Southbound I-35E is also scheduled to close between Interstate 494 and Lone Oak Road from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3. (Details outlining the detour will be made available by Wednesday, Sept. 28.)