Minneapolis, MN – As bitter Arctic air sweeps through the Upper Midwest, state officials are warning Minnesota drivers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth to slow down on bridges and overpasses that are freezing faster than surrounding roads amid fresh snowfall.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), bridges freeze first because they lose heat from both the top and bottom, allowing ice to form rapidly even when main roadways remain wet. “It’s a leading cause of early-winter crashes,” the NWS said Friday. “Bridges can be icy hours before other surfaces freeze.”
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has begun brining and salting major corridors including I-35, I-94, and I-494, with crews focusing on elevated spans, interchanges, and river crossings. Drivers are urged to reduce speed before bridges, avoid sharp braking, and maintain a steady pace across icy decks. Black ice — a thin, transparent glaze that forms in subfreezing air — remains a top concern during early morning and late-night commutes.
Motorists can check live road and weather updates via 511mn.org or follow @MnDOTnews for statewide winter alerts.
