“We looked at what traffic might do and came up with ideas to help,” said MnDOT spokesman Kent Barnard.
Over the next three construction seasons, MnDOT will spend $208 million to put a MnPass lane in the center of I-35W from County Road C in Roseville to Lexington Avenue in Blaine. The agency also will rebuild bridges at County Roads C and I, repave entrance ramps at several interchanges and put up noise walls at seven locations.
During that time, more than 136,000 motorists who use the freeway each day will have fewer travel lanes available, and roads that run parallel to the freeway will probably pick up the slack. MnDOT predicts up to 5,000 drivers on the northern end of the project will leave the freeway and use local roads that are within 2 miles of I-35W. Those numbers are expected to jump to between 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles on the southern end of the project, putting extra pressure on local roads in places such as Mounds View, New Brighton and Roseville.
I -35W Repairs and additions from Roseville to Blaine. Completion in 2021.
I-94 Freeway from Maple Grove to Clearwater under repair. Completion in 2021.
Other projects Resurfacing I-35 in Forest Lake, rebuilding the freeway in downtown Minneapolis and replacing the bridge over the Minnesota River in Bloomington.
Drivers will get help from MnDOT, which this week launched a new website called www.dot.state.mn.us/knowyourroute. The site provides real-time road and traffic and construction reports about state roads and highways across the Twin Cities and the state.
MnDOT will announce its 2019 construction projects next week, but the agency has already revealed plans for several other large projects this summer. Among them are three others that will affect traffic on the I-35W and I-35 corridor. Those include resurfacing I-35 in Forest Lake, rebuilding the freeway in downtown Minneapolis and replacing the bridge over the Minnesota River in Bloomington. For drivers, that means orange cones, lane closures and backups along the 35-mile journey from the south metro to the far north metro.
Construction on I-94 will also hamper the getaway to cabin country. A 37-mile segment of the freeway from Maple Grove to Clearwater will be under repair until 2021 as MnDOT adds travel lanes, rebuild bridges and resurfaces deteriorating pavement.
Motorists will be eased into the I-35W North MnPass construction project.
From Sunday to April 7, lane closures will be limited to overnights in the areas of County Road E2 and Interstate 694 and between the southern junction of Hwy. 10 and County Road J. Crews will be paving temporary lanes that will be needed starting in mid-April, Barnard said.
The real pinch will come around April 8 when northbound I-35W will be down to two lanes from County Road C in Roseville to Mounds View Boulevard, also known as County Road 10, in Mounds View. Even more lane closures will kick in by late April and early May when traffic in both directions will be down to two lanes with narrow 11-foot widths most of the way between County Road C and Sunset Avenue in Lino Lakes.
“There will be short-term pain for long-term gain,” Trudgeon said.
Jennifer Fink, director of New Brighton’s Parks and Recreation Department, says there may be an upside.This week's FIFA.com women's club review focuses on the latest action in Europe and Australia. In Germany, Turbine Potsdam responded impressively to their painful cup exit, while FC Zurich continue to dominate the scene in Switzerland. Meanwhile in Australia, Sydney FC missed the chance to go top after being held by current league leaders Canberra United.
Germany: Potsdam win at a canter
Following their bitter 5-1 German Cup defeat at the hands of 1. FFC Frankfurt, Turbine Potsdam bounced back in the penultimate round of Women's Bundesliga fixtures before the winter break with a 7-0 success against 1. FC Lok Leipzig. Anja Mittag, Yuki Nagasato (both 2), Genoveva Anonman, Antonia Goransson and Kristin Demann were all on target for Bernd Schroder's side, who extended their lead over FCR 2001 Duisburg at the top of the standings to four points.
A day earlier, the clash between chasing Duisburg and Frankfurt ended 1-1, meaning both sides missed the chance to close the gap on the leaders. VfL Wolfsburg will spend the winter break in third after celebrating a 2-0 win against SG Essen-Schonebeck. Martin Muller settled the contest early on with goals in the fifth and eighth minute respectively. Meanwhile Bayer Leverkusen suffered their tenth defeat in 11 games and continue to languish at the bottom with just three points to their name. Bayer lost 3-0 against Bad Neuenahr, with German international Celia Okoyino da Mbabi hitting a hat-trick for the visitors.
Top three: Turbine Potsdam (30 points), FCR 2001 Duisburg (26), VfL Wolfsburg (25)
Switzerland: Zurich lead the way over Christmas
FC Zurich remain the measure of all things in the Swiss Nationalliga A. In their final game before the winter break, FCZ won 4-0 away to third-placed FC Basel, increasing their lead over SC Kriens at the top to seven points. Inka Grings scored twice for the visitors, with Manuel Zurcher and Barbara Beutler netting further strikes. SC Kriens, meanwhile, fell further off the pace following a 1-0 defeat to FC St. Gallen. At the bottom, FC Schlieren overcame SC Schwyz 4-0 to move off the foot of the table and BSC YB Frauen thrashed Grasshoppers 6-0. The campaign resumes on 18 February.
The top three: FC Zurich (40), SC Kriens (33), FC Basel (25)
France: Juvisy keep Lyon at arm's length
There was no change at the Division 1 Feminin summit as FCF Juvisy, Olympique Lyon and Montpellier HSC all registered victories to finish 2011 on a high. Juvisy beat FC Vendenheim 3-1 to ensure they will hibernate in top spot over the winter. Lyon remain in hot pursuit after another convincing victory, this time a 6-1 hammering of FCF Henin-Beaumont. Eugenie Le Sommer, Wendie Renard and Lara Dickenmann all netted twice for the reigning UEFA Women's Champions League titleholders. Meanwhile Montpellier won 4-0 at home against FF Yzeure. At the other end of the standings, AS Muretaine and ASJ Soyaux swapped places after Soyaux beat their relegation rivals 2-1. The action continues on 8 January when Lyon take on fellow title hopefuls Montpellier.
The top three: FCF Juvisy (43), Olympique Lyon (42), Montpellier HSC (41)
Australia: Canberra continue to set the pace
The highly-anticipated clash in the Australian W-League between title rivals Canberra United and Sydney FC ended in a goalless draw. It was only the second time league leaders Canberra have dropped points this season and proved enough to keep second-placed Sydney at bay for the time being. Brisbane Roar took full advantage of that result with a 2-0 success against Adelaide United, a result which moves them level on points with Sydney, who keep their noses in ahead thanks to their superior goal difference. Melbourne Victory consolidated their position in fourth with a 4-0 victory against Perth Glory.
The top three: Canberra United (17 points), Sydney FC (14), Brisbane Roar (14)The open-roof, white Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi had its debut in St. Peter's Square June 3 during Pope Francis' weekly general audience.
The vehicle sits lower than the typical popemobiles, which had higher ground clearance or a raised bed to offer crowds maximum visibility of the Pope, who stands or sits in the back.
Pope Francis rode in two types of South Korean-made open popemobiles during his visit to South Korea last year: a Kia Carnival and a Hyundai Santa Fe. Apparently, the Pope's security detail liked the Hyundai's narrower body, according to a source familiar with the situation, because it allowed guards to stay alongside the car even when it is making a tight turn or travelling down a narrow lane.
The car has two seats up front and three seats in the back; the rear-seat passengers — including the Pope — descend from a side door that has a retractable step.
World carmakers have been donating luxury or high-end utility vehicles to the Vatican to be used by the Pope since 1909 — not long after the advent of the first "modern" automobiles.
Hyundai did play an April Fool's joke on the motor world in 2009 when it announced in a press release the launch of a new eco-friendly i10 city car model that looked like a white popemobile; the license plate read: V47ICAN. Specially tailored for "global leaders," the spoof vehicle met tough recycling and sustainability standards by making the armoured exterior out of "fully organic material