Interstate 494 is closed in both directions across a major south metro segment through early Monday, July 20, 2026. The closure runs between Highway 100 and Highway 77, crossing Edina, Bloomington, and Richfield and affecting approaches to Interstate 35W, local hotels, shopping districts, and some trips toward Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation scheduled the shutdown from 10 PM Friday, July 17, until 5 AM Monday. This is planned construction rather than an emergency closure, but MnDOT says the schedule remains tentative and weather dependent, making a live traffic check important before any time sensitive departure.
- Closed segment: I-494 in both directions between Highway 100 and Highway 77.
- Closure window: 10 PM Friday, July 17, through 5 AM Monday, July 20.
- Official detour: Highway 100, Highway 62, and Highway 77.
- Local access: MnDOT says access to businesses and residences will remain available during construction.
- Nearby ramp closure: The Portland Avenue ramp to westbound I-494 is closed through 5 AM Monday.
- Live check: Use 511 Minnesota before departure because traffic impacts can change.
What is closed on I-494
MnDOT’s current I-494 project page lists a complete closure in both directions between Highway 100 and Highway 77. That span includes the I-35W interchange and removes a central portion of the beltway that normally connects western suburbs, Bloomington, Richfield, and the airport side of the metro.
The official detour uses Highway 100, Highway 62, and Highway 77. For an eastbound trip, that generally means leaving I-494 at Highway 100, traveling north to Highway 62, then using Highway 77 to return toward the airport side, while a westbound trip follows the same system in the opposite sequence.
FOX 9 reporting independently confirms the closure limits, dates, and official detour. It also places the shutdown within the larger I-494 construction program, which includes new ramps at the I-35W interchange and work intended to improve safety and traffic flow.
The detour is a regional route, not a promise of normal travel time. It concentrates displaced traffic on Highway 62 and the Highway 100 and Highway 77 approaches, so travelers should expect merging pressure near each interchange and should avoid using a schedule based on a normal weekend drive.
Nearby closures can change a local approach
The full interstate shutdown is the largest restriction, but it is not the only one around the work zone. MnDOT lists the Portland Avenue ramp to westbound I-494 as closed from 7 PM Thursday through 5 AM Monday, with American Boulevard to Penn Avenue as the detour.
Several local streets near I-494 also have longer construction closures. West 78th Street is closed between Computer Avenue and Johnson Avenue through July, while East 78th Street has multiple closed sections north of the interstate and Twelfth Avenue and Nicollet Avenue remain closed across or near the corridor.
Those local restrictions matter for hotel arrivals and restaurant, retail, or residential access because a navigation app may find the regional detour correctly but still target a closed local crossing. MnDOT says access to businesses and residences will be maintained, but the final open approach may differ from the usual entrance route.
American Boulevard has lane reductions in parts of Bloomington and Edina, including one lane in each direction between Lyndale and Portland avenues. A traveler leaving the regional detour for a local destination should therefore refresh directions after passing the closure, rather than assuming American Boulevard will move at its normal pace.
How the closure affects airport trips
Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport is east of Highway 77, outside the closed segment. The terminals remain accessible, but trips approaching from Edina, Eden Prairie, the western suburbs, or points reached through Highway 100 may normally use the section of I-494 that is unavailable this weekend.
An airport traveler coming from the west should check whether the route crosses I-494 between Highway 100 and Highway 77. If it does, the official detour through Highway 62 may add both distance and exposure to congestion, and the practical buffer should cover the detour before the traveler reaches the terminal area.
Travelers coming from downtown Minneapolis or from the east may not need the closed segment at all. The useful test is not simply whether a trip is going to MSP, but whether the selected approach depends on I-494 west of Highway 77 or on one of the affected local roads in Bloomington and Richfield.
For a flight, rental car return, prepaid shuttle, or timed hotel pickup, confirm the route with 511 Minnesota and then compare the result with the airline or transport provider’s required arrival time. Live conditions can reveal whether Highway 62 is moving acceptably or whether a different open approach is more practical.
What road travelers should do before leaving
Start by identifying the direction and the exact interchange where the trip would enter the closed corridor. Both directions are unavailable, so reversing the trip does not eliminate the problem, but a destination west of Highway 100 or east of Highway 77 may allow the driver to stay entirely outside the closure.
Next, choose the official detour before reaching the final open exit. Waiting for a navigation app to react at the closure can place a vehicle in a queue with other drivers making the same late decision, so Highway 100, Highway 62, and Highway 77 should be the baseline for comparison.
Road travelers staying outside the urban core should also check their campground or lodging approach. Deep Arrival’s Minneapolis RV parks and campgrounds guide includes properties around the wider metro, but the closure and 511 conditions should determine the actual arrival route during this window.
Finally, check again shortly before departure. MnDOT notes that its project page is not updated overnight or during the weekend and directs motorists to 511 Minnesota for current impacts because a crash, construction adjustment, weather change, or early reopening can change which open route is fastest.
Why I-494 is under construction
The closure belongs to the I-494 Edina to Richfield program, a multiyear effort addressing the interstate from East Bush Lake Road to 12th Avenue North. Work includes pavement reconstruction, bridge replacement and repair, utility changes, new pedestrian infrastructure, and a reconfigured I-35W interchange.
MnDOT says the current project is scheduled through fall 2026 and represents the first part of a broader airport to Highway 169 plan. A second project is expected to begin in 2027, adding E-ZPass lanes, rebuilding interchanges, restoring pavement, and improving drainage along additional sections of the corridor.
The agency lists the cost of the 2023 to 2026 construction at $377 million. The immediate traveler issue is the weekend closure, but the larger program explains why nearby ramps, bridges, and local crossings can carry separate restrictions even after the full interstate segment reopens Monday morning.
I-494 closure decision matrix
| If your trip involves | Planning move | Final check |
|---|---|---|
| Eastbound I-494 from the western suburbs | Leave at Highway 100 and use Highway 62 toward Highway 77 | Check 511 for delay at the Highway 100 and Highway 62 connection |
| Westbound I-494 from the airport side | Use Highway 77 to Highway 62, then Highway 100 toward I-494 | Confirm the final open exit for the destination west of the closure |
| An MSP flight or rental car return | Add a detour buffer before the normal airport arrival allowance | Verify that the selected route does not use closed I-494 west of Highway 77 |
| A Bloomington or Richfield hotel arrival | Check both the regional detour and the last local street approach | Look for closures on 78th Street, Nicollet Avenue, and 12th Avenue |
| A trip after 5 AM Monday | Do not assume the interstate has reopened until live conditions confirm it | Refresh 511 Minnesota before entering the corridor |
- The closure covers both directions: Travelers cannot solve it by switching from eastbound to westbound I-494.
- The detour uses three highways: Highway 100, Highway 62, and Highway 77 form the official bypass.
- Airport access remains open: MSP is outside the closed segment, but western approaches may require the detour.
- Local streets have separate restrictions: Hotel and business access remains available, though the normal approach may not.
- Monday reopening needs confirmation: Weather and construction conditions can change the stated 5 AM end time.
Where is I-494 closed this weekend?
I-494 is closed in both directions between Highway 100 and Highway 77 through the south metro area, including the I-35W interchange.
When is I-494 scheduled to reopen?
MnDOT schedules the closure to end at 5 AM Monday, July 20, 2026. The agency says traffic impacts are tentative and weather dependent, so motorists should confirm the reopening through 511 Minnesota.
What is the official I-494 detour?
The official detour uses Highway 100, Highway 62, and Highway 77. The direction and sequence depend on whether the trip is moving east or west around the closed segment.
Can travelers still reach Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport?
Yes. MSP is east of Highway 77 and remains accessible, but trips approaching from the west may need the official detour and extra time before reaching the terminal area.
Will local businesses and hotels remain accessible?
MnDOT says local access to businesses and residences will be maintained. Travelers should still check the final street approach because several nearby roads and ramps have separate construction closures.
