New I-35 Lane Restriction + Related Ramp Closure Coming In Duluth

The Twin Ports Interchange Project is a massive undertaking and as progress continues to be made, Northland motorists will continue to face new restrictions throughout the area.

This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that there will soon be new lane restrictions in place as well as a related ramp closure.

According to MnDOT, beginning Monday, August 14 at 6:00 a.m., crews will place traffic in a two-way, single-lane configuration on the northbound side of I-35. These two-way, single-lane restrictions will occur between Garfield Avenue and 27th Avenue West and they are expected to remain in place through Saturday, August 19, at 2:00 p.m.

MnDOT says that in addition, the southbound off-ramp to 27th Avenue West will also close during this timeframe.

The Twin Ports Interchange Project, a $435 million undertaking that will reconstruct the I-35/I-535/Hwy 53 interchange, looks to improve safety by:

Providing a new conventional design
Relocating all exits and entrances to the right side of the roadway
Improving merging sight distance and eliminating merge conflicts
Eliminating weaving problems near the interchange
Providing lane continuity for through I-35 traffic

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The video below shows what the freeway will look like when completed from a motorist’s view heading north on I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange area, then heading to southbound I-35 from I-535, or the Blatnik Bridge, through the Twin Ports Interchange area.

Whenever road construction projects are taking place in the Northland, motorists are urged to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destination. MnDOT urges motorists to be attentive at all times, drive with caution, and slow down in work zones where workers are present. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule-permitting and subject to change.

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