I-35 Traffic Delays Starting Monday
Cross your fingers as it looks like spring might be almost upon us. A number of things have been held up and that includes highway construction and repair. MNDOT announces that traffic on westbound 14 east of I-35 will be moved into the eastbound 14 lanes south of Owatonna starting Monday, April 23. As a result there will be a detour for those traveling east and wanting to exit onto I-35 north. You will need to take the southbound I-35 ramp to the eastbound 14 ramp to the northbound I-35 ramp. This detour will remain in place until the two Hwy. 14 bridges are replaced and reopened this fall.
Also traffic on southbound I-35 will be stopped for 15 minute periods south of Highway 14 beginning at 8 PM on Monday, April 23. The Minnesota State Patrol will be stopping traffic till 1AM on Tuesday, April 24. This is being done so beams can be set in place on the County 18 bridge across the freeway. At 8PM on the 24th the above will be repeated only it will be for northbound traffic on I-35.
On Friday, April 27 two way traffic will be established in the southbound lanes on I-35 as workers replace the bridges in the northbound lanes. As a result the northbound Straight River Rest Area will be close. The southbound Straight River Rest Area will remain open for southbound traffic.