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Highway 7 in Minnetonka closes, forcing travelers to detour

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, October 16th 2025 at 9:48 GMT by KSTP-TV
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I will try to fetch the content.Minnetonka’s Highway 7 Closure Forces Drivers to Take a Major Detour – What You Need to Know

On Wednesday morning, drivers traveling along Minnesota’s Highway 7 in Minnetonka were abruptly met with a closed roadway and a flurry of detour signs. The sudden shutdown, which began at 8:45 a.m. and is expected to remain in place until early next week, has forced commuters, delivery trucks, and daily travelers to reroute through a patchwork of county roads, interstate exits, and local streets. The closure has sparked a scramble for alternate routes, raised questions about safety, and highlighted the importance of timely traffic updates from state officials and local media.

Why Did Highway 7 Shut Down?

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MDOT) issued a brief statement indicating that the closure was due to a “critical structural assessment” of a bridge that carries the northbound lane of Highway 7 over the Minnesota River. Preliminary inspections revealed that the bridge’s concrete deck has sustained damage beyond what can be managed under normal maintenance protocols. MDOT’s spokesperson, Karen Jansen, said, “We have found that the integrity of the structure is compromised, and for the safety of all motorists, the lane must be closed until a full repair plan can be implemented.”

The closure also coincides with a planned renovation of the nearby interchange at Exit 22, which will require a significant reduction in traffic volume to accommodate construction equipment and worker safety. The combination of bridge concerns and interchange upgrades has made a temporary lane closure the safest and most practical solution.

The Detour Map

The detour involves a complex series of maneuvers that, for the first time in many years, forces drivers to use County Road 48 (also known as “The Corridor”), a stretch of Route 169, and a few segments of the 80 mi I‑94 East–West corridor. According to the detour plan:

• From the north side of the closed segment, motorists should turn right onto County Road 48, which runs parallel to the highway for approximately 5 mi. This road has seen a significant increase in traffic, and local businesses have reported a surge in passing vehicles.

• At the intersection with Route 169, drivers should continue on 169 south for roughly 3 mi until reaching the exit onto I‑94 East. This portion of the route is now under a “heavy traffic” warning, as the sudden influx is expected to cause congestion during peak hours.

• Take I‑94 East toward the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, exit at I‑35W/US 52, and then turn onto 2nd Street South, which reconnects with County Road 48 north of the original Highway 7 lane. This final stretch allows motorists to re-enter the original route south of the closure.

MDOT has placed temporary signage at every major junction, and the Minnesota Traffic Management Center has deployed traffic cameras along the detour corridor to monitor congestion. If any section of the detour becomes too congested, the center will issue updates and recommend alternative routes, such as using the adjacent Highway 55 or rerouting through the smaller County Road 12.

The Human Toll

The closure has already been felt across the region. Local commuters have expressed frustration over increased travel times, with some citing up to an extra 30 minutes during rush hour. Delivery companies are scrambling to adjust schedules. A spokesperson for a regional logistics firm told the newsroom that “our trucks now have to detour through County Road 48, which is a significant detour from the main freight corridor.”

In addition to the time delays, the detour has highlighted safety concerns. “The detour roads were not designed for the volume of traffic they’re currently carrying,” said local resident Maya Lopez, who commutes from Minneapolis to Minnetonka daily. “It’s a tight corridor, and the signage is still being updated.”

Official Response

MDOT has pledged that a full structural analysis will be completed within the next 48 hours. The agency has opened a temporary lane on the southbound side of the bridge while the northbound lane remains closed. If the southbound lane can support the traffic load, it will serve as a temporary “single lane” corridor, reducing the need for the detour for some travelers.

The agency also announced a new “traffic alert system” that will push notifications to drivers via the MDOT app and local radio stations. This system will provide real-time updates on lane closures, traffic speeds, and alternate routes.

Looking Ahead

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is working on a long‑term repair plan for the damaged bridge. While a temporary repair using a steel overlay is being considered for the immediate future, the agency indicated that a full replacement is likely in the pipeline. “We are exploring all options,” said Jansen. “The goal is to minimize the impact on daily commuters while ensuring structural safety.”

The detour will remain in effect until the repair plan is finalized, which MDOT estimates could take up to two weeks. In the interim, the agency encourages motorists to plan ahead, check the MDOT traffic app, and allow extra travel time.

Additional Resources

For real‑time updates, MDOT has posted the detour details on their website, which includes a live map and traffic camera feed. Local news outlets, including the Minneapolis Star‑Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press, have provided ongoing coverage of the situation. If you are a Minnetonka resident, you can also sign up for email alerts from the city’s official website to receive direct information about traffic changes and road construction.

By staying informed and adjusting routes early, drivers can mitigate the inconvenience of the Highway 7 closure and help keep traffic flowing smoothly through Minnesota’s busy corridor.