This is the schematic drawing of the design of the future intersection of 494 and 169. North is at the top of this drawing.
This project was included as part of the Highway 169 projects that were authorized by the State Legislature in 2003. It is a major project, and a major improvement to this very busy intersection. The project will make this interchange a full access freeway interchange. The project includes a new bridge for Washington Avenue. The bridge will connect Washington Avenue to West 78th Street on the south side of 494. The project also includes the extension of Viking Drive into Edina and West 78th Street into Bloomington. Both of these connections will be in tunnels that go under 169. In the end, I think it will have the look and feel of the interchange of Cedar Avenue and 494 near the Mall of America.
We’ve been spending some effort on this project recently because there is a fear that it might be pushed back (after being pushed ahead substantially) due to increasing costs on other highway improvements serving the SW metro area. The cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, and Bloomington are working together to make sure this project stays on MnDOT’s priority list. We are meeting with federal and state elected officials to make sure the political support is there for this project. For example, Councilmember Jan Mosman and I delivered letters and met with officials from Congressman Ramstad’s office and Senator Dayton’s office earlier this month when we were in Washington DC.
This is an important project for our region. It looks like we will have to keep advocating for this project until the first shovel is in the ground.
