Lt. Governor Smith, local leaders push to ease traffic congestion at intersection of I-35W and I-494
ST. PAUL, MN - One of the worst traffic jams in America is right here in the Twin Cities. The I-35W/I-494 interchange was designed in the 1950s, and constructed in the 1960s - with very few changes or improvements since. Fifty-three years later, an estimated 290,000 vehicles (nearly one-fifth of all daily traffic in the Twin Cities Metro Area) pass slowly through the severely congested interchange every day. The high density of traffic, spanning at least four lanes of interstate in all four directions, has led the Federal Highway Administration to dub the interchange "the 19th-worst bottleneck in the nation."
After years of study, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) could finally get to work repairing and restructuring the I-35W/I-494 interchange - but only if the Legislature passes Governor Mark Dayton's proposed investments in transportation infrastructure. Governor Dayton's proposal,
outlined in detail last week, would finally provide the funding necessary to make long-overdue improvements at the interchange to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve access to convenient transit alternatives.
"Hundreds of thousands of people drive through this interchange every day on their way to work or school, and back again," said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. "Nearly all of those Minnesotans needlessly waste hours of their time every week stuck inching through bumper-to-bumper traffic. The time for admiring this problem is over. It is time to roll up our sleeves and do something about it."
According to MnDOT, this portion of I-35W (between 90th Street and 76th Street) experiences 3-5 hours of congestion each weekday - meaning it is backed up in bumper-to-bumper traffic 15-25 hours per week. Similarly, this section of I-494 (between Penn Avenue and Lyndale Avenue) experiences over 6 hours of congestion each weekday - or 30 hours per week. Without new efforts to move traffic through the interchange more efficiently, and with an estimated 800,000 new residents expected in the Twin Cities Metro Area by 2040, MnDOT expects the problem will only get worse. But improvements will not be possible without significant new state funding.
Untangling One of the Worst Traffic Jams in America
The intersection of I-35W and I-494 would be eligible for funding under Governor Dayton's transportation proposal up to $75 million to complete the first phase of reconstruction. This funding would begin the construction of a new "turbine interchange" that would more efficiently move traffic through the area, reduce congestion, and improve safety. The turbine design allows for the interchange to be constructed in phases, rather than reconstructing the entire interchange at once. This design will eliminate the short-merge areas from the competing high-volume ramps, make the interchange safer, and provide more capacity through the interchange.
"The sooner we can get started on this project, the better," said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. "If we do nothing, traffic will keep getting worse and the costs of rebuilding this interchange will only grow higher. A half-century of waiting has produced one of the worst traffic jams in the nation. More than 290,000 drivers who idle needlessly at this intersection every day would strongly agree that the time for waiting is over."
The Governor's proposal would also create a new MnPASS lane on either I-494 or Highway 62 to relieve congestion in the area.
MnPASS express lanes - which can be used by buses, carpooling commuters and solo drivers who pay a fee - improve the efficiency of the region's highway and transit systems by providing congestion-free, reliable travel choices for all motorists during peak travel periods. In fact, a dedicated travel lane for buses, carpools, and motorists who are willing to pay a fee can carry twice as many people through a highway corridor during the peak hours than a general-purpose lane.
MnDOT will study these MnPASS alternatives over the coming months to determine whether I-494, Highway 62, or a combination of both is the most effective option. Adding the new MnPASS option would cost an estimated $180 million to $240 million, and would be financed in part by MnPASS fees paid by commuters who use the new lanes.
The Governor's proposal would also improve transit options in the area, taking more cars off the road to reduce congestion, and providing area commuters more convenient transportation alternatives. The proposal includes a new bus rapid transit station with a 500-space park and ride ramp at American Boulevard. The Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route would run along I-35W from Burnsville to downtown Minneapolis. Buses would operate along that route within a fully dedicated right of way to avoid traffic congestion. Engineering for the Orange Line is already underway, and is expected to open in 2019.
"Since the 1970s, this 17-mile stretch of I-35W has been one of the most heavily-traveled bus corridors in the Twin Cities - with 14,000 rides every day," said Adam Duininck, Chair of the Metropolitan Council. "Adding this new Bus Rapid Transit route would move riders in and out of downtown even faster, allowing even more commuters to use this convenient, affordable service. It would improve access to over 162,000 jobs, take more cars off the road, and help reduce traffic congestion in the area."
About Governor Dayton's Transportation Proposal
Governor Dayton has proposed a straightforward, honest solution to fix Minnesota's aging transportation systems. The Governor's plan would invest $6 billion over the next ten years to address the state's highway funding deficit, invest $2.356 billion in local government transportation projects, and provide $2.92 billion for Metro and Greater Minnesota transit systems.
Without these new investments, road and bridge conditions across Minnesota will only continue to get worse. If the state does nothing, by 2025: the number of road miles in poor condition will increase by 75 percent; roughly 640 bridges (1 in 5 bridges statewide) will deteriorate into poor condition; and 40 percent of all state roadways will surpass their useful life. To learn more about Governor Dayton's proposal, click on the links below:
/governor/assets/transportation_county_projects_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114706.pdfList of Projects - Review the list of projects - released today by the Governor and MnDOT - that would be completed over the next ten years if the Governor's transportation proposal is passed
News Release - Read the news release from the Governor's transportation proposal announcement
/governor/assets/transportation_plan_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114708.pdfHow it Works - Read about how the plan would be funded
/governor/assets/transportation_overview_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114700.pdfFact Sheet - Get all the facts on the challenges facing our transportation system, and how the Governor's proposed investments would address those challenges
/governor/assets/transportation_investments_snapshot_tcm1055-114710.pdfLocal Funding Increases - Learn how much funding each city and county would receive under the Governor's transportation proposal
/governor/assets/transportation_maps_tcm1055-114711.pdfMaps - Take a look at the transportation projects that would be funded, by region
