Friday Traffic on 35W

[northa]

Thank you, Thegonagle!

[Thegonagle]

I forgot to mention all the construction on 35W. Yeah, the Mississippi river bridge is out, but there's also the resurfacing, the Crosstown Commons project, and I'm pretty sure that the ramp from eastbound 494 to northbound 35W is closed. (Did Google driving directions mention that?)

You know what? If it was me, I'd definitely cruise the outskirts on 100 north --> 694 east --> 51 south. It's a couple miles longer, more boring, and you might not even notice the river when you cross it, but it's bound to be smooth sailing, relatively speaking.

If you still want to take the "scenic" route over the SE 10th Ave bridge, you'll need to get on 35W at 82nd street because of the ramp closure on 494.

Or maybe just take that route on the way back.

[Thegonagle]

Hope you get this before it's too late...

WARNING: Don't bother with 35W at all! The resurfacing project has made a mess on 35W northbound north of the Mississippi. I was driving in the area, and took a bridge over the freeway. I looked at 35W as I passed over it and it was at a standstill. This was probably at about 3:00 in the afternoon Thursday.

Hope this helps.

[JenLee]

I presently work in West Bloomington and live about a mile from Bethel and work an evening shift, so ave to travel these roads all of the time.

You say your flight time changed? So you will be at the airport (about now I take it?)

Take Highway 5 (also known as OldFort Road and 7th street, depending on where you are) north from the airport, then take Snelling Ave OR Lexington Ave north off of that and just stay on that til you reach County Rd E and turn left.

Yes, you will run into heavy traffic. Lexington would be better than Snelling because of the antique car show at the state fairgrounds this weekend, but Como Park is also on Lexington Ave. Both routes will be scenic; both routes will be backed up in places (Lexingtons' worst spots are Lexington and Larpentuer and Lexington and Co. Rd. B; whereas Snelling will be backed up in the road construction area from Larpenter to Co. Road B). Snelling is wider than Lexington, 2 lanes each direction vs. Lexingtons' 1 lane each way plus turn lane.

Stay off the freeway! The locals will all be on the roads trying to get "Up North" from about 12 noon on Friday because the weather is nice.

I hope you get a chance to see this before you drive to Bethel!