Planning to catch the Twin Cities Pride Festival or attend Taylor Swift’s concert in downtown Minneapolis this weekend? If so, prepare for big crowds and crowds.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of people expected to descend on the city, temporary road closures around Loring Park, US Bank Stadium and Target Center will make getting into and around downtown more difficult. And getting home couldn’t be easier, as part of I-35W in Metro South will be closed from Friday night through Monday morning.
“It’s going to be a busy and exciting weekend downtown,” the city of Minneapolis said in an alert Tuesday. “It’s a good idea to know your transportation options and plan ahead.”
Metro Transit said late Monday it would run additional light rail trains and buses on Friday and Saturday after Swift’s performances at U.S. Bank Stadium due to expected high demand, after initially saying it would not be able to provide additional service. About 100 scheduled bus trips will depart from the area around the stadium between 11:30 p.m. and 1:12 a.m., the agency said.
The agency said transit users can purchase a $5 full-day pass valid for unlimited trips until 2 a.m.
SouthWest Transit and MVTA will also operate buses to the concerts.
Those who choose to drive will have to navigate around road closures to access ramps and parking meters, where event prices will be charged.
Routes restricted to motorists on Friday and Saturday nights include 4th Street from Park Avenue to Norm McGrew Place and Chicago Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets in the hours before and after Swift’s concerts.
The 9th Street block between Hennepin and Hawthorne Avenues near the Saloon Bar will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, while Hennepin Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday between Washington Avenue and 16th Street for Pride events. .
Warehouses Live You will take First Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets from 9 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close southbound I-35W between I-494 and I-35E through Bloomington and Burnsville from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The 3rd Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River and the ramps to and from Washington Street, I-394, and Plymouth Avenue over I-94 remain closed due to construction.
The city will restore time signals and deploy traffic control agents to help keep traffic moving, but “the volume of pedestrians, bicycles, and cars in the city center before and after these events means increased congestion.”
The city’s advice is to come early and “take advantage of the extra time to experience all that each area has to offer.”