Highway 36 Work Now Underway

Construction work began Monday on a diamond interchange at Highway 36 and English Street in neighboring Maplewood.

The work will mean traffic detours for Roseville motorists who travel that stretch of road. 

The Roseville office of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said  that construction on the $17.3 million project is expected to occur over the next 75 days.  

During construction, motor vehicle travel in both directions will be closed on Highway 36, from Highway 61 to White Bear Avenue. The full closure of this section of Highway 36 is expected to last about 75 days with the roadway to reopen by Aug.. 31 according to MnDOT officials. 
"The 75-day closure is necessary while crews construct a diamond interchange to replace the signalized intersection at Highway 36 and English Street," MnDOT officials said.  

In addition, both accesses to English Street from Highway 36 will close starting at 4 a.m., Monday (June 10), as crews set up median barriers and build retaining walls for the new interchange ramps.

The transportation department said,  "Highway 36 motorists will bypass the closed segment by using the following detour routes:

 ·         Eastbound Highway 36: Follow I-35E to I-694

·         Westbound Highway 36: Follow I-694 to I-35E

This section of Highway 36 will re-open by 6 a.m., Monday, Aug. 31."

During the closure period, access to local businesses along Highway 36 near English Street will be maintained using the Highway 61 or White Bear Avenue ramp exits.

Besides improving safety, the diamond interchange project will upgrade pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the Highway 36 corridor. 

For more information about the project, check out this website: www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy36maplewood/.

In related news, MnDOT said that construction on the new Keller Lake Bridge spanning Keller Lake on Highway 36 will also begin today (Monday, June 17).

In a press statement, DOT said, "The bridge project includes replacing guardrails, upgrading storm water ponds and pedestrian accessibility.

"Much of the project construction will coincide with the 75-day closure of Highway 36 between Highway 61 and White Bear Avenue. Coordinating the two projects will help lessen traffic impacts in the corridor.

The bridge will remain open throughout the project. In late-June, Highway 36 will be reduced to a single lane between Edgerton Street and Highway 61 as crews construct a temporary crossover for the bridge.

Crews will construct one side of the bridge at a time. All Highway 36 traffic will utilize one side of the structure in a single lane in each direction while crews work on the opposite side.

Construction is expected to be complete by Sept. 28, weather permitting."