Drivers, take heart. MnDOT has reopened early the five-mile stretch of westbound Interstate 94 through St. Paul that was to close from Friday night until Monday morning.

And the Snelling Avenue bridge project is ever closer to completion.

The weekend interstate closure allowed Minnesota Department of Transportation crews to pour the north side of the Minnesota 51/Snelling Avenue bridge deck over I-94. MnDOT has been resurfacing Snelling and making improvements to the bridge, including replacing the driving surface and railing.

Next weekend, the interstate will close again, when the south side of the bridge will be poured.

The bridge is expected to reopen by Aug. 22.

At a price tag of $13.2 million, the overall project involves resurfacing Snelling from Selby Avenue north to Pierce Butler Route. It includes updating pedestrian crossings, improving drainage, building Bus Rapid Transit sidewalk platforms for Metro Transit’s new “A” Line, constructing additional sidewalks and boulevards, planting trees, installing medians and adding twin-lantern street lighting.

The roadwork is expected to wrap up in November. The segment of Snelling between I-94 and University Avenue could reopen by the end of the month, as could the westbound I-94 ramp to Snelling. Drivers have been encouraged to use the Lexington Parkway exit.

There’s more information at mndot.gov/metro/projects/snelling falconheights.

Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172. Follow him at twitter.com/FrederickMelo.