Public Hearing: Final Layout for Project 1 of the I-494 Corridor Vision Implementation Plan

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is in the process of developing Project 1 of the I-494 Corridor Vision Implementation Plan. This project is the first of four phases that will construct managed lanes from Highway 169 to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. MnDOT has asked the City of Edina to approve the proposed final layout. Project 1 triggers the statutory municipal consent process because it adds capacity to the trunk highway system. This process is intended to give municipalities an additional opportunity to provide formal input on the project design. Per state law, the City is required to conduct a public hearing on the proposed final layout as part of this process.

To address congestion in the southwest segment of I-494, MnDOT has been working with Cities of Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and Eden Prairie, the I-494 Corridor Coalition, and the I-35W Solutions Alliance to develop a vision for how the freeway can increase capacity and better serve the growing multimodal needs of the community. The full I-494 vision cannot be built all at once due to funding limitations and construction impacts. Instead, the nine proposed elements of the vision will be implemented in four phases of construction. Project 1 will include the following elements:

  • Construction of a new turbine northbound-to-westbound ramp at the I-35W/I-494 interchange
  • Construction of E-ZPass lanes between Highway 100 and I-35W in both directions
  • Bridge replacement and access reconfiguration at Nicollet, Portland and 12th Avenues
  • Construction of a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge near Chicago Avenue

The project will also include replacement of existing pavement, drainage, construction of retaining walls, sidewalks, bike lanes, signing, lighting and traffic management. Project 1 is being developed for letting in April 2023 as a design-build project.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is in the process of developing Project 1 of the I-494 Corridor Vision Implementation Plan. This project is the first of four phases that will construct managed lanes from Highway 169 to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. MnDOT has asked the City of Edina to approve the proposed final layout. Project 1 triggers the statutory municipal consent process because it adds capacity to the trunk highway system. This process is intended to give municipalities an additional opportunity to provide formal input on the project design. Per state law, the City is required to conduct a public hearing on the proposed final layout as part of this process.

To address congestion in the southwest segment of I-494, MnDOT has been working with Cities of Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and Eden Prairie, the I-494 Corridor Coalition, and the I-35W Solutions Alliance to develop a vision for how the freeway can increase capacity and better serve the growing multimodal needs of the community. The full I-494 vision cannot be built all at once due to funding limitations and construction impacts. Instead, the nine proposed elements of the vision will be implemented in four phases of construction. Project 1 will include the following elements:

  • Construction of a new turbine northbound-to-westbound ramp at the I-35W/I-494 interchange
  • Construction of E-ZPass lanes between Highway 100 and I-35W in both directions
  • Bridge replacement and access reconfiguration at Nicollet, Portland and 12th Avenues
  • Construction of a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge near Chicago Avenue

The project will also include replacement of existing pavement, drainage, construction of retaining walls, sidewalks, bike lanes, signing, lighting and traffic management. Project 1 is being developed for letting in April 2023 as a design-build project.

  • Comments closed December 13th at noon. A decision on this item is scheduled to be on the City Council agenda Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

    Public hearings allow the public to provide feedback on specific topics. There are several ways for individuals to submit their public hearing comments. All comments are valued and treated equally regardless of the way they are submitted. Individuals only need to participate using one method. 

    If you have any difficulties with participating, contact Community Engagement Coordinator, MJ Lamon at MLamon@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0360.

    Information submitted on the Public Hearing Comment Form, including your name and address, are published in the meeting packet for the meeting date the decision is scheduled to be made. Meeting "packets" are document prepared by staff to provide the City Council or Commission with information they need for specific agenda items. These documents are available for print, published on the City's website and maintained in a permanent electronic record.

    Submit your comments below using the Public Hearing Comment Form

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Page last updated: 13 Dec 2021, 11:50 AM