As the I-94 construction project between St. Paul and Minneapolis disrupts commuters, Minnesota drivers face significant delays and frustration. In a recent column, the author expressed concern over the ongoing traffic nightmare, attributing the woes to the shutdown of a crucial portion of the interstate. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has been forced to close the westbound lanes, causing backups and long delays on one of the busiest highways in the state.

"MnDOT understands how challenging travel has been for motorists using this 2½-mile section of I-94 in Minneapolis," said Ryan Wilson, a spokesperson for the department. He explained that the closure was necessary to repair multiple bridges, which will ultimately lead to longer-lasting and higher-quality repairs. "Improving multiple bridges in the same project leads to more efficient work consolidated in one year instead of spreading over several construction seasons," Wilson added. However, the project will take about 30 weeks to complete, leading some to question the timeline.

While the long-term improvements are essential, the disruptions are creating a ripple effect. Local businesses, especially in St. Paul, are seeing fewer visitors due to the detours. The closure is particularly tough for commuters who face longer travel times, adding hours to their week. "That’s time that could be spent with family or friends instead of getting exhausted — literally — in a car," the columnist writes, highlighting the toll on workers.

Despite MnDOT's reassurances, including working six days a week for extended hours, the construction seems to be progressing slowly. "Things have looked mighty quiet to me at twilight," the columnist notes, suggesting that the project could be completed faster with round-the-clock shifts. Wilson responded that efficiency drops with overnight work, but the columnist points out that other states, like California and Illinois, manage similar projects overnight without such issues.

As more construction projects across the metro area are set to begin this summer, the author questions whether there is a better way to handle roadwork in Minnesota. With multiple roads closed simultaneously, the city’s gridlock during the summer months seems to be an ongoing, unavoidable situation. The columnist urges MnDOT to rethink its approach to construction, asking: "Why not devote more of MnDOT’s resources to fewer projects at a time to finish them more quickly before moving onto other ones?"

In conclusion, while the infrastructure work is necessary, the author argues that there must be a way to alleviate the annual summer gridlock. "To revitalize downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, encourage in-person work, and make our communities more livable and accessible, we need to do better than the perpetual summer gridlock Minnesotans are told just to tolerate."

Originally reported by Andy Brehm in Star Tribune.