As crews begin to relocate utilities and widen the highway on the south side of the construction site, there will be noticeable hammering as they remove the old asphalt, curbs and gutters. Back-up alarms will also be noticeable as trucks are loaded in that area.

Hammering noise will accompany the work on the temporary support structures taking place on both sides of the river.

Potential Light Impacts

Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river as well as in the casting yard. Lights may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Potential Traffic Impacts

13th Avenue South to Be Closed During Hauling Operations – Starting in mid-April, the I-35W Project Team will need to close 13th Avenue South periodically to haul concrete segments from the casting yard exit (at 13th Avenue South and South Second Street) to the river’s edge on the south side of the construction site (using the entrance at 13th Avenue South and West River Parkway). During hauling operations, 13th Avenue South will be closed for up to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day.

Crews will need to transport up to six segments a day, at a rate of approximately one segment every two hours. Hauling will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. seven days a week, for approximately five weeks. The Project Team hopes to be done hauling all of the segments from the casting yard by about June 1.

Flaggers will be present while hauling is in progress, and traffic attendants will be posted at all driveways along the haul route.

Street Closures Needed at 14th Avenue South and First Street South – For the next month or so, 14th Avenue South and First Street South (near the Seven Corners Apartments) will be closed to allow utility relocation and widening of I-35W northbound, as mentioned above. Access to the parking ramp will be maintained during this time period. On-site parking on Second Street South and 14th Avenue is restricted to allow two-way traffic along Second Street South from 19th Avenue to the closure.

10^th Avenue Bike Lane Closed – The bike lane on the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed until further notice from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturdays–when the weekly Sidewalk Talks are in progress–to ensure the safety of everyone using the bridge. The City of Minneapolis has posted signs noting the restriction at each end of the bridge. Bikes and pedestrians are urged to use the lane on the east side of the bridge between 11 a.m. and noon.

Truck Traffic – Trucks will be departing from the construction site regularly during daylight hours. Truck traffic is likely on the following routes: on Second Street Southeast east to 11^th Avenue Southeast; west on Second Street Southeast to Sixth Avenue Southeast, north on Sixth Avenue and then east on University Avenue; on First Street South and 19^th Avenue South; from Bluff Street south on 13^th Avenue South, west on Second Street South then west on 11^th Avenue South.

Twins Home Opener – Plan Ahead – The Minnesota Twins home opener is scheduled for Monday, March 31, and to ease traffic congestion, the Twins strongly urge fans to utilize public transportation when possible. If you are planning to drive to the game, or anywhere else downtown, you can use the links below to plan your route:

http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/35wbridge/traffic.html

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