Watch for Possible Weekend Traffic Backups on I-35 Near Faribault

Motorists traveling on Interstate 35 near Faribault should be alert of possible traffic backups through Faribault, especially Friday-Sunday, as construction is underway to resurface 4.6 miles of highway, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The volume of traffic on I-35 coupled with lane closures and ramp detours can cause slowdowns or backups through the work zone that stretches north and south of Faribault. Motorists are urged to be attentive to traffic and warning signs. Temporary rumble strips signal changes as they approach the work zone.

MnDOT has temporary rumble strips placed on I-35 and changeable message signs that activate warning messages when traffic is detected as slowing or stopped to boost driver awareness of the approaching work zone and traffic merge. Motorists will see a digital speed feedback sign to alert motorists of their speeds at the merge point where traffic is moved into a single lane in each direction in the southbound lanes. The first warning sign of construction is 10 miles out from the construction zone and the changeable message signs are placed every mile in the last five miles approaching the traffic merge point to the work zone.

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In 2024, crews will resurface northbound and southbound I-35 and reconstruct ramps at Rice County Road 48, Highway 60 and Highway 21.

In 2023, work included construction of median crossover lanes, resurfacing southbound I-35 between Bagley Avenue/Western Avenue and Rice County Road 48, and rehabilitating the flyover ramp (southbound Lyndale Avenue) from Highland Place to southbound I-35 and the northbound ramp at Highway 21.

Traffic impacts

There will be four different phases of traffic impacts.

Mid-April to May: View map

• I-35 northbound traffic moved into southbound lane. I-35 southbound and northbound traffic will each travel in a single lane, head-to-head, in the I-35 southbound lanes.
• I-35 northbound off ramps to County Road 48 and Highway 60 closed. Traffic will take the Highway 21 off-ramp.
• I-35 northbound on-ramp from Highway 60 closed. Traffic will be directed to take Highway 60 to Highway 21 northbound.

May to July

• I-35 northbound traffic moved into southbound lane. I-35 southbound and northbound traffic will each travel in a single lane, head-to-head, in the I-35 southbound lanes.
• I-35 northbound off-ramps to Highway 21 and Highway 60 closed. Traffic will take the off-ramp to County Road 48.
• I-35 northbound on-ramp from Highway 60 closed. Traffic will be directed to take Highway 60 to Highway 21 northbound.

July to October

• I-35 southbound traffic moved into northbound lane. I-35 southbound and northbound traffic will each travel in a single lane, head-to-head, in the I-35 northbound lanes.
• I-35 southbound on-ramps from Highway 21 and Highway 60 closed. Traffic will be detoured to use the on-ramp from Highway 21/Co. R. 48.
• I-35 southbound off-ramp to Highway 60 closed. Traffic will exit at Highway 21 southbound to Highway 60.

October

• I-35 northbound and southbound will be single lanes while crossovers/emergency pull off are removed and high-tension cable barrier is installed.

To learn more about this project, go to MnDOT’s website where you can also sign up for email and text message updates.

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