Drivers in the west metro and downtown Minneapolis should prepare for a full weekend closure of eastbound I-394. MnDOT says the shutdown is needed for major bridge repair work, and anyone heading into the city from the west should expect detours and extra travel time. Here’s what is closing, why it matters, and what to know before the weekend begins.
Where the weekend closure will happen
Eastbound I-394 will close between Highway 100 and downtown Minneapolis beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21. MnDOT says the shutdown is scheduled to start after the Friday morning rush hour to reduce immediate disruption for commuters.
The closure affects one of the main routes into downtown from the west. For many drivers, that stretch serves as a direct link for work trips, errands, and weekend plans, so the timing is important to keep in mind before heading out.
The agency notes that construction schedules can still shift if weather or field conditions change.
Why crews need the road closed
MnDOT says the closure will allow crews to safely and efficiently replace bridge joints on the eastbound I-394 ramp to eastbound I-94. That work is a key part of the weekend plan and requires space that would be difficult to manage with live traffic moving through the area.
At the same time, crews will paint the Penn Avenue bridge beams over I-394 and complete other needed repairs in the work zone. Grouping several tasks into one closure helps the department make progress while avoiding a longer series of smaller disruptions.
Officials say the goal is to keep the repair project moving toward completion this fall.
The detour drivers will follow
During the closure, eastbound traffic will be detoured to northbound Highway 169 and then to eastbound I-94. Drivers who regularly use I-394 to reach downtown Minneapolis should expect a different route than usual and should leave extra time for trips.
Even a clearly marked detour can add pressure to nearby roads, especially when weekend travel overlaps with events, shopping, or airport-related traffic. MnDOT is encouraging people to plan ahead rather than wait until they are already near the closure.
Checking conditions before leaving home may help avoid last-minute surprises and backups along the alternate route.
One direction stays open
While eastbound I-394 will be closed, westbound I-394 will remain fully open to traffic through the weekend. MnDOT specifically noted that the westbound side will stay available for people leaving work or events in downtown Minneapolis.
That distinction matters because directional closures can cause confusion, especially in busy corridors with multiple ramps and downtown connections. Drivers heading out of the city to the west should still be able to use the normal westbound route.
Anyone traveling in the opposite direction, though, should not assume partial access will be available and should follow the posted detour instead.
Part of a much larger bridge project
This weekend’s work is not a stand-alone repair. MnDOT says it is part of a broader project to repair and restore more than 30 bridges across I-94 and I-394, a major effort in one of the Twin Cities’ most heavily traveled freeway systems.
That larger context helps explain why drivers have seen recurring construction activity in the corridor. Bridge work often has to be staged carefully, with short windows for tasks that require lane reductions, ramp closures, or complete directional shutdowns.
The current closure is one step in that longer process as the agency works to finish the essential repair project this fall.
More weekend closures are still ahead
MnDOT is already warning that additional directional weekend closures on I-394 and I-94 are expected as the project moves closer to completion. Those future shutdowns have not all been announced yet, but the agency says drivers should be ready for more temporary impacts.
That means this weekend is likely not the last time travel patterns will change in the corridor. People who routinely drive between the west metro and downtown may want to keep a close eye on upcoming notices over the next several weeks.
For regular users of these roads, staying informed could be the easiest way to avoid sudden route changes and delays.
Nearby west metro construction also matters
MnDOT says several nearby projects are also underway, which could shape travel choices beyond the I-394 closure itself. The agency highlighted work on I-394 in St. Louis Park at Louisiana Avenue and Xenia Avenue/Park Place Boulevard, Highway 12 in Wayzata and Minnetonka, and I-394 at Plymouth Road and Ridgedale Drive.
For drivers, that wider map of roadwork matters because alternate routes are not always wide open. A detour may be manageable on its own, but nearby construction can create extra slowdowns if more vehicles are funneled onto the same roads.
Checking the broader west metro travel picture may be just as important as knowing the main closure hours.
How to prepare before heading out
MnDOT is urging drivers to use caution, slow down in work zones, and stay alert around crews. The agency also recommends checking 511 for real-time traffic updates and planning for additional travel time before heading to a destination.
For most people, the practical takeaway is simple: expect the eastbound route into downtown Minneapolis from Highway 100 to be unavailable for the weekend. If a trip is flexible, leaving earlier, choosing a different route, or delaying travel could make the drive less stressful.
With weather-dependent construction, it also makes sense to check for updates more than once as the weekend gets underway.
