MONTICELLO (WJON News) -- A long-awaited road construction project in central Minnesota is getting started next week.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will start the three-year expansion of Interstate 94 between Albertville and Monticello. The I-94 Gap project will expand the interstate to six lanes, three in each direction, to close the gap along that corridor.

The work begins Monday by preparing the work zone. Crews will be building wider temporary lanes and median crossovers.

Drivers will encounter periodic lane closures in both directions of travel through this fall. The lane closures will occur during off-peak hours, mainly overnight.

Major construction will take place starting next spring and continue through the fall of 2026.

Traffic will be maintained through the corridor with two lanes of traffic in each direction.

Work includes adding a third lane in each direction, replacing the westbound bridge over County Road 19 in Albertville, widening the bridge over County Road 75 in Monticello, and building two noise walls in the Monticello area.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2026.

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