Fingers Crossed: Eastbound I-94 at Lowry Tunnel Opens 5am Thursday!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 6:54AM
Fingers crossed: Eastbound I-94 at Lowry Tunnel opens 5 a.m. Thursday!
Weather permitting, MnDOT plans to reopen all six lanes of the Lowry Tunnel by 5 a.m. Thursday, August 31. This is about 10 days ahead of schedule.
To get the tunnel back to its three-lanes in each direction configuration by 5 a.m. Thu, Aug. 31, we will need some overnight closures on I-94 near the tunnel:
• Both directions of I-94 will close at the tunnel from 10 p.m. Tue, Aug. 29 until 5 a.m. Wed, Aug. 30. Motorists should take Hennepin and Lyndale Ave. as the detour. Note: When the lanes reopen Wednesday, three lanes will be open in the eastbound tunnel and two in the westbound tunnel.
• Then at 10 p.m. Wed, Aug. 30, westbound I-94 will close until 5 a.m. Thu, Aug. 31. When this closure ends, all the traffic will be back to normal in the tunnel with three lanes traveling in each direction, including truck traffic. There will be no more restriction on trucks going through the tunnel. The speed limit of 40 mph will also be lifted and traffic will be able to resume the posted speed limit.
One additional closure of I-94 at the Lowry Tunnel will be required this week:
• Westbound I-94 will close at the Lowry Tunnel at 10 p.m. Thu, Aug. 31 until 5 a.m. Fri, Sept. 1, for some work inside the tunnel.
In September, additional lane closures will be needed inside the tunnel so crews can finish some work.
The following ramps will also reopen Thursday morning (8/31):
• Northbound I-35W to westbound I-94
• Hwy 55 to eastbound I-94
• Fourth Ave. to westbound I-94
Reminder: The ramp from eastbound I-394 to eastbound I-94 reopened today with one lane going through the tunnel. That will remain open during the overnight closure Tuesday.
More about this project: mndot.gov/metro/projects/i94brooklyncntr/
