I-694 project delayed a day
A planned resurfacing project on Interstate 694 near the Mississippi River is being delayed by a day.
Commuters who use the road between Arden Hills and Brooklyn Center were expected to face congestion and major delays starting this morning. But the Minnesota Department of Transportation said equipment broke down last night, and planners decided to delay the start of the project.
"During the process of moving the barriers and starting the re-striping, the equipment broke down that is used to move the barrier," said Kent Barnard. "It's very labor intensive to move."
He said that the agency expects repairs to be ready today, and that the delay won't continue.
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"We are planning to get out there tonight at 7 p.m. and finish what we started last night," said Barnard. "We are going to get all that concrete barrier moved on both east bound and west bound between East River Road and Highway 100 and we should be back in business on Tuesday morning."
Traffic will be reduced to a two lanes during the day and a single lane at night. The project runs from Interstate 35W on the east end to Highway 100 on the west end. The construction work includes concrete repair, drainage improvements and bridge deck replacements. The$21 million dollar project is expected to continue through early November.
Ramps and loops in that stretch of highway will also be closed intermittently for up to 10 days at a time.
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