Brace yourselves, commuters: Eastbound Highway 55 is shutting down this weekend. Starting at the stroke of 10 p.m. on Friday, May 3, those driving on Highway 55 will need to seek alternative routes as a section of this thoroughfare from County Road 101, at the Plymouth/Medina border, to Rockford Road in Plymouth, is set to close, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced. Don't plan on breezing through until 5 a.m. Monday, May 6, as the highway will remain off-limits to motorists.

The stretch is getting a break from the traffic to allow workers to lay down some pipework, an essential part of MnDOT’s Highway 55 pavement improvement project. While this may cause a wrinkle in weekend travel plans, the intersection of Highway 55 and Rockford Road, also known as County Road 9/County Road 24, will stay open, sparing local travelers at least some inconvenience.

For those looking to circumvent the roadwork, MnDOT has mapped out a detour. By heading north on County Road 101 at the Plymouth/Medina border, then going east on County Road 10 before taking the southbound route on I-494, travelers can bypass the closed section and continue toward their destinations.

Local drivers in need of more specific alternative routes can take a gander at the detour map (PDF) provided by the authorities. It details the paths around the construction zone, ensuring residents can make it to their doorsteps without too much of a hassle. For up-to-the-minute details and to receive project email updates, interested parties can visit MnDOT's project webpage, paving the way for a smoother journey through the orange barrels and construction signs.