Eastbound I-394 Closes Into Downtown Minneapolis for Weekend Bridge Painting as Major Project Nears Completion

The closure began Friday night and is scheduled to continue until early Monday. MnDOT says the work is part of a bridge rehabilitation project expected to finish in November.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. | October 17, 2026

Motorists traveling toward downtown Minneapolis on Interstate 394 face a weekend closure as crews complete bridge painting associated with a major rehabilitation project involving more than 30 bridges along the I-394 and I-94 corridors.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed eastbound I-394 between Interstate 94 and downtown Minneapolis beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, October 16.

The closure is scheduled to remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, October 19.

MnDOT said Interstate 94 will remain open during the work, although drivers should anticipate changes to their usual downtown access routes.

The closure also affects exit ramps at Third Avenue, Fourth Street, North Sixth Street and North 12th Street.

Motorists are being directed to consult the project's official detour maps and the state's 511 travel information system before beginning their trips.

Why the highway is closing

The weekend closure will allow crews to paint bridges safely as part of the larger rehabilitation project.

Bridge painting is a maintenance activity that helps protect structural components from corrosion and environmental deterioration. The work can require traffic restrictions when crews need access to areas near or above active travel lanes.

MnDOT said the painting requires relatively warm and dry conditions.

The agency emphasized that the construction schedule and traffic impacts remain weather dependent. Changes are possible if conditions do not permit the work to proceed as planned.

The project involves repairs to more than 30 bridges carrying portions of I-394 and I-94. The weekend work represents one component of that broader rehabilitation effort.

Downtown access will be affected

The closure is particularly relevant to drivers who ordinarily use eastbound I-394 to enter downtown Minneapolis.

The affected section provides access to downtown streets, employment centers, businesses, entertainment destinations and connections with other parts of the highway network.

The closure of the Third Avenue, Fourth Street, North Sixth Street and North 12th Street exits will require some drivers to use alternative routes.

MnDOT has made detour maps available through its project website.

Drivers should rely on those official routes rather than assume that every nearby ramp or street will provide a suitable alternative.

Traffic patterns may change as motorists divert from the closed section. Additional travel time is possible, particularly during periods when many people are entering or leaving downtown.

The agency has not published a single travel-time estimate for all affected journeys.

Final scheduled weekend closure, but not the end of construction

MnDOT describes the October 16 through October 19 shutdown as the final scheduled weekend closure of I-394 for the project.

That does not mean every construction activity or traffic restriction will end Monday morning.

The agency expects the overall rehabilitation project to be completed in November, and occasional overnight directional closures of I-394 may still occur after this weekend.

This distinction matters for commuters and other regular highway users who may otherwise assume that the reopening Monday marks the conclusion of all remaining work.

The current schedule indicates that the project is approaching completion, but some traffic impacts remain possible.

MnDOT reports progress toward November completion

Tim Nelson, MnDOT Metro District's director of construction, surveys and materials, said the work has been progressing and remains on schedule for completion in November.

He identified the weekend closure as an important project milestone because it is the final scheduled weekend shutdown of I-394.

The agency's statement indicates that the remaining work is expected to proceed without another full weekend closure of the same kind, although overnight restrictions may still be necessary.

The final completion date remains subject to the progress of construction and conditions affecting the remaining work.

Safety precautions for drivers

MnDOT is urging motorists to slow down, remain attentive and exercise caution near construction areas.

Work zones can involve altered lane patterns, reduced visibility, construction vehicles and workers operating close to traffic.

Drivers should follow posted signs and avoid making abrupt lane changes when approaching closures or detours.

Motorists unfamiliar with downtown Minneapolis may benefit from reviewing the detour before leaving rather than depending entirely on last-minute navigation instructions.

The state's 511 system provides updated road information that can help drivers respond to changes in the construction schedule or traffic conditions.

What happens next

The current eastbound I-394 closure is scheduled to end at 5 a.m. Monday, October 19.

If weather and construction conditions allow the work to proceed as planned, the highway should reopen according to that schedule.

MnDOT expects the broader bridge rehabilitation project to finish in November.

Until then, motorists should continue monitoring official notices for occasional overnight closures and other remaining construction impacts.

Project information and detour maps are available through MnDOT, with real-time road conditions provided by Minnesota 511.

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