Maple Grove/Rogers "night construction" (St. Cloud, Elk River: closing, costs)

[theweekend]

The left lane of westbound I-694 and I-94 will also be closed overnights during the weekend. There will also be lane closures along I-94 between Maple Grove and Rogers during the weekend, mostly during overnight and non-rush hours.

What an absolute nightmare scenario traffic-wise after night Twins games. And it's not only during weekends. It's weeknights too. I didn't move an inch for 15 minutes last night as we went down to 1 lane heading N/W on I-94 in Maple Grove. Took me 45 minutes to travel 1 mile from the 94/494/694 intersection. All this for about 10 construction workers working over about a 200 foot stretch of interstate. Fine. The work needs to be done. But how about just closing the whole thing and putting us on detours instead? Especially when they do not have any signs up saying there is construction coming up. All of a sudden it is on you simply because you can see all the taillights/brake lights in front of you. No chance to exit and avoid it. I keep making the same stupid mistake that "maybe this time it won't be so bad" or "maybe it is over...don't see any signs....could be?" ...then from the top of the hill.... "oh sh*&!" What should be an 11:45 bedtime is turning into a 12:45 bedtime.

[theweekend]

Additionally, I am quite certain there has been construction on I-94 at Monticello since the 1980s. What's going on there? Never anyone working. Just some orange signs and cones, and a piece of abandoned heavy equipment. Why are we slowing to 45 mph there? It's insane!

[Kid Cann]

The road construction is just ridiculous here. That's still going on? That stuff would happen every summer since I can remember. I don't know what they do. People in road contstruction must be some the stupidest people in the world. Good job MNDOT. Let's take 7 years to complete a project. If it were China, they'd have an entire city built 'overnight'.

I've just come to the terms that Road Construction people are just idiots. You never seem them working, but for some reason there are always lanes closed with cones for no apparent reason.

I think that projects should be worked on 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. There's no reason a project should stretch on from may to september. Absolutely no reason

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by theweekend

Additionally, I am quite certain there has been construction on I-94 at Monticello since the 1980s. What's going on there? Never anyone working. Just some orange signs and cones, and a piece of abandoned heavy equipment. Why are we slowing to 45 mph there? It's insane!

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING!!!

FOr as along as I can remember, there is ALWAYS construction on I94, ironically one of the busiest cooridors in the metro. And always barrel cones sitting there for no apparent reason.

[Kid Cann]

Because they are construction grunts. If they had any brains they'd be doing something productive rather than being drones for the slow moving hands of the Government.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Kid Cann

The road construction is just ridiculous here. That's still going on? That stuff would happen every summer since I can remember. I don't know what they do. People in road contstruction must be some the stupidest people in the world. Good job MNDOT. Let's take 7 years to complete a project. If it were China, they'd have an entire city built 'overnight'.

I've just come to the terms that Road Construction people are just idiots. You never seem them working, but for some reason there are always lanes closed with cones for no apparent reason.

I think that projects should be worked on 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. There's no reason a project should stretch on from may to september. Absolutely no reason

You think we have it bad, how about a story FROM China:

Worst traffic jam ever? Gridlock spans 60 miles - World news - Asia-Pacific - China - msnbc.com

"A traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles in China has entered its ninth day with no end in sight, state media reported. ..."

That stretch of the highway between Maple Grove and Rogers is ALWAYS bad. I can't think of a time we have gone through there and NOT had stand still traffic. Hopefully this construction will help.

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by golfgal

You think we have it bad, how about a story FROM China:

Worst traffic jam ever? Gridlock spans 60 miles - World news - Asia-Pacific - China - msnbc.com

"A traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles in China has entered its ninth day with no end in sight, state media reported. ..."

That stretch of the highway between Maple Grove and Rogers is ALWAYS bad. I can't think of a time we have gone through there and NOT had stand still traffic. Hopefully this construction will help.

OMG!!!!!!!! I can never complain now!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Yeah, the biggest problem with that is the freeway going from 3 lanes down to 2. In my honest opinion it should be widened from 2 -3 lanes all the way to St. Cloud. It's always dead stop from Monticello to Maple Grove on Sunday nights and it's always jam packed. Even at nights, even on weekends. That area just grew too quick-

Otsego- Not a town in 1990, now nearly 20,000
St. Michael - 2,000 in 1990, now 20,000
Albertville - 1,000 in 1990, now 8,000
Rogers - 500 in 1990, now 8,000
Monticello - 7,000 in 1990, now 15,000
Elk River - 12,000 in 1990, now nearly 25,000

[west336]

^Isn't Rogers a little bigger? I know it's land area is small, but I actually thought they were interested in annexing nearby land.....any word on this?

[Qwerty]

I try to avoid North Metro traffic at all costs