Assuming Brooklyn Center goes nuts tomorrow for any reason, would you all expect the unpleasantness to spread as far south and East as the 494 bypass?

My route has me coming up I94 to the 494 bypass, then on to St Cloud.

I stayed in the southern portion of Brooklyn Center several years ago. I’m aware it’s more or less on the other side of town from 494. Don’t have a feel for how far such things spread.

I think you'll be find, 35/494 is a long ways from dowtown MInneapolis/ B.C.

You could take 694 around the east and north part of the metro, although that also skirts the Brooklyn Center/ Brooklyn Park area. If you really want to cut out the NW metro from your route, take 694 to Hwy 10, then take Hwy 10 all the way to St. Cloud. It is a slower highway than 94, but once you get past Elk River it's a really straightforward path.