I-94 to fully close in downtown St. Paul Jan. 16–18
MnDOT will close Interstate 94 in both directions through downtown St. Paul from Friday, Jan. 16, to Sunday, Jan. 18, for bridge and roadway work, with signed detours routing traffic around the core. The shutdown will affect a key east–west freeway used by commuters and regional travelers, and drivers are being urged to plan alternate routes and expect delays throughout the weekend.
📌 Key Facts
- MnDOT is closing I-94 in both directions through downtown St. Paul from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18.
- The closure is for planned construction/maintenance work on the freeway and associated structures.
- Detours will be posted, and motorists are advised to avoid the area and allow extra travel time.
📊 Relevant Data
The Kellogg/3rd Street bridge in St. Paul, built in 1982, has been structurally deficient since 2014, leading to restrictions to three traffic lanes and prompting its replacement.
Third Street Kellogg Bridge Bonding Proposal — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
The Kellogg/3rd Street bridge carries an average daily traffic of 14,400 vehicles when operating at full four-lane capacity.
Third Street Kellogg Bridge Bonding Proposal — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
The total cost for the Kellogg/3rd Street bridge replacement project is $92.4 million, with reconstruction providing a 75-year service life and multimodal facilities.
Third Street Kellogg Bridge Bonding Proposal — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
I-94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul carries between 100,000 and 150,000 vehicles per day, making closures significantly impactful on regional traffic.
Rethinking I-94 traffic modeling and questioning the status quo — MinnPost
The construction of I-94 in the 1960s displaced thousands of residents and businesses in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, which was predominantly Black, contributing to long-term community division.
Interstate 94 in Minnesota — Wikipedia
Ninety-four percent of the I-94 project corridor in Minneapolis and St. Paul is identified as an area of concern for environmental justice, often indicating higher proportions of minority and low-income populations.
Minneapolis/St. Paul | Interstate 94 — Congress for the New Urbanism
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