Highway 15 ramps to westbound I-90 closing

MANKATO — Motorists are reminded that the westbound Interstate 90 ramps to Highway 15 at Fairmont are expected to close Thursday, Aug. 22, weather permitting, for about three weeks as the concrete paving progresses to the Fairmont area.

Highway 15 motorists that need to access I-90 will be detoured to Martin County Roads 32 and 39 until the westbound interchange work is complete. I-90 bridges at 230th Avenue, 290th Ave (County Road 59) and 345th Ave (County Road 5) are expected to re-open at the end of the month of August. The eastbound lanes are currently carrying both east and westbound traffic as I-90 is being resurfaced.

The 2019-20 project includes resurfacing the sixteen miles of both westbound (2019) and eastbound (2020) interstate lanes with concrete for a long-term fix as well as making improvements at bridges, culverts and drainage pipes. The project also includes adding interchange lighting at County Highways 53 and 1. More information and maps of the traffic impacts can be found at www.mndot.gov/d7/projects/i90fairmontblueearth/. For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

Minneapolis airport lines due to security

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Changes in the configuration of security checkpoint lanes at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport led to long wait times for some travelers.

A remodeling project has shrunk the space at one of the security checkpoints at Terminal 1, so airport and Transportation Security Administration officials made that checkpoint — the south checkpoint — available only to TSA PreCheck travelers.

All other travelers must go through the terminal’s north checkpoint.

The remodeling project is expected to last through mid-December.

Line 3 protesters rally at Enbridge office

BEMIDJI (AP) — Dozens of people rallied outside a Minnesota office of Enbridge Energy to protest the company’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline replacement.

Protesters say six members of their group chained themselves to a gate early Monday at Enbridge’s office in Bemidji, prompting the office to close for the day.

Police Capt. David LaZella said demonstrators left on their own and no arrests were made.

The $2.6 billion replacement pipeline would carry Canadian crude from Alberta across northern Minnesota to Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge says the current Line 3, which was built in the 1960s, is subject to corrosion and cracking.