| Bloomington, Edina, and Eden Prairie Minnesota Department of Transportation cut down on congestion on a busy interchange, ensuring the continued growth of the local and regional economy while getting commuters to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in a reliable manner with its Highway 169/I-494 Interchange Reconstruction Project.The project, which had been deemed too expensive for years, broke ground after MnDOT got creative, requesting federal approval for a change in the proposed design in the interchange, which would cut up to $40 million in project costs. The project was then redesigned, balancing its objectives for the interchange while maximizing a return on investment at a cost of $128 million, significantly under budget. The flexible design resulted in removing stoplights to increase traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve safety for all drivers. |
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America's Transportation Awards 
As a resident who travels this interchange nearly every day, I can speak to the absolutely huge impact this has had on the quality of life of so many citizens. This interchange was the result of disagreement by local city managers back in its original construction. MNDOT’s leadership in creating a cost effective approach to removing unnecessary controlled intersection signals has given the entire Southwest Metro a benefit. As the gateway to entertainment, recreation, and travel to the middle of the country, this intersection is the nexus of regional and national commerce and recreation travel.
I love that 169 and 494 were improved. I have one concern though… Who didn’t realize that having five lanes of traffic combine to two lanes, in the matter of a half mile curve in the road, wouldn’t be a good idea? Seriously, you spend $128 million to fix most traffic problems but you leave everyone heading home from work stuck in traffic. Who failed to realize that the Anderson lakes parkway exit lane should have been an actual lane that extend past the the Anderson lakes parkway on ramp to 169 south or even to pioneer trail. In my mind that would of relieved traffic problems heading south significantly. It would have been easier on travellers to have had that third lane extended past Anderson lakes, since it was already near the construction area, so that when plans are made to make 169 south three lanes to the bloomington ferry bridge. You would have been half way done already and it wouldn’t have been another significant construction project. I voted for this project as a success because it needed to be done 10 years ago, not because of it’s ingenuity and “cheapness”.