View source for Interstate 494

{{short description|Highway in Minnesota}}
{{About|the beltway around portions of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota|other uses|Interstate 494 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = MN
| type = I
| route = 494
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-lat=44.966|frame-long=-93.226|zoom=9|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 494}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-494 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 42.94
| length_ref = <ref>{{cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |access-date=December 23, 2022 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref>
| established = 1985{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 94
| direction_a = North
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=MN|I|94|I|694|US|52}} in [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]]
| junction = {{Plainlist|
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|394|US|12}} in [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|212|MN|5}} in [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|169}} in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|35W}} in Bloomington/[[Richfield, Minnesota|Richfield]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|MN|5}} in Bloomington
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|35E}} in [[Mendota Heights, Minnesota|Mendota Heights]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|52}} in [[Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota|Inver Grove Heights]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|10|US|61}} in [[Newport, Minnesota|Newport]]
}}
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=MN|I|94|I|694|US|12}} in [[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]]/[[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]]
| counties = [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington]], [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]], [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]], [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]]
| previous_type = I
| next_type = I
| previous_route = 394
| next_route = 535
}}
[[File:I-494 Bloomington Richfield at 2nd Ave.jpg|thumb|Pedestrian bridge on I-494 near Lyndale Avenue in Bloomington/Richfield]]
'''Interstate&nbsp;494''' ('''I-494''') is an [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] making up part of a [[beltway]] of [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]], circling through the southern and western portions of the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] metropolitan area in [[Minnesota]]. The {{Convert|42.94|mi|km|adj=on}} road is coupled with [[Interstate 694|I-694]] (which circles the northern edge of the Twin Cities metro area) at each end and composes more than half of the major beltway of the region. I-694/I-494 also act as loop routes for [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]] and [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]].

The speed limit on I-494 is {{Convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Interstate Highways outside of the loop in Minnesota may be signed as high as {{Convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Most highways inside the loop are signed at speeds of {{Convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} or lower, though a few exceptions were added in September 2005, allowing speeds of up to {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in some places. Those roads had been signed at {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} or higher up until the [[1973 oil crisis]].

==Route description==
{{expand section|date=October 2020}}
The exit numbering of I-494 is unusual in that it begins at the [[Minnesota River]] heading westbound (between [[Eagan, Minnesota|Eagan]] and [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]]) and continues [[clockwise]] around the entire beltway, continuing clockwise onto [[Interstate 694|I-694]]. The last exit east of the Minnesota River is exit&nbsp;71 to Pilot Knob Road. The first exit west of the river is exit&nbsp;1A, which grants access to eastbound [[Minnesota State Highway 5]] (MN&nbsp;5) and [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]]. The most significant landmark on the length of I-494 is [[Mall of America]], just south of the intersection of I-494 and [[Minnesota State Highway 77|MN&nbsp;77]].

Legally, the route of I-494 is defined as part of unmarked [[Legislative route (Minnesota)|legislative route]]&nbsp;393 in Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(5).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sec. 161.12 MN Statutes |url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/161.12 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=[[Minnesota Legislature]]}}</ref> I-494 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.

==History==
Construction on I-494 first began in the late 1950s, and it was finally completed in 1985. With the most recent expansion completed in November 2016 in [[Plymouth, Minnesota|Plymouth]], I-494 is now at least three lanes in each direction for its entire route.

A major reconstruction/widening project of I-494 was completed in late 2006 between [[U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota|US Highway&nbsp;212]] (US&nbsp;212)/[[Minnesota State Highway 5|MN&nbsp;5]] in [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]] and Carlson Parkway at [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]]–Plymouth. There were plans for up to six lanes in each direction for parts of I-494 in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], but the majority of the city only sees four lanes and sees five in only two spots: eastbound at the East Bush Lake Road exit and further eastbound at the point where I-494 and MN&nbsp;5 separate from each other.

Expansion of the [[Wakota Bridge]] between [[Newport, Minnesota|Newport]] and [[South St. Paul, Minnesota|South St. Paul]] over the [[Mississippi River]] was completed in mid-2010. The bridge is named so because it connects [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington]] and [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]] counties. Near the end of this effort, I-494 was widened from two to three lanes in each direction between Lake Road and I-94 in [[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]].

===Traffic===
Since its opening, I-494 has been subjected to numerous traffic problems, both eastbound and westbound. Vehicles eastbound usually start to slow down at the [[U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota|US&nbsp;169]] interchange in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]] and continues to slow at the interchange with [[Minnesota State Highway 100|MN&nbsp;100]], at the Bloomington–[[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]] city line. However, traffic is the worst at the interchange for [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]], which is located at the Bloomington–Richfield city line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/eng/i-35wi-494-interchange-improvements |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093644/https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/eng/i-35wi-494-interchange-improvements |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |title=I-35W/I-494 Interchange Improvements {{!}} City of Bloomington MN}}</ref> Currently, information about the study is on the City of Bloomington's website,<ref>{{cite web |title=I-494 and I-35W Study |url=https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494and35winterchange/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016163757/https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494and35winterchange/index.html |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2022 |website=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]]}}</ref> with more information starting to come from the [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] (MnDOT).<ref>{{cite web |title=I-494: Airport to Hwy 169 virtual open house |url=https://www.494openhouse.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128222751/https://www.494openhouse.com/ |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |access-date=December 23, 2022 |publisher=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]]}}</ref> The plan is scoped between US&nbsp;169 to the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]]. The road sees over 500,000&nbsp;passengers per day, with it being congested for more than 30&nbsp;percent of the day. So far, MnDOT has determined to add [[E-ZPass Minnesota]] lanes eastbound from [[France Avenue]] to [[Minnesota State Highway 77|MN&nbsp;77]] and westbound from MN&nbsp;77 to I-35W. They also plan to construct a turbine-style ramp for northbound I-35W from westbound I-494. In an effort to reduce congestion on the highway and on exits as well, MnDOT is planning to close all ramps at [[Nicollet Avenue]] and 12th Avenue and construct a full-access interchange at County State-Aid Highway&nbsp;35 (CSAH&nbsp;35; Portland Avenue), with two onramps and two offramps to replace the ramps.<ref>{{cite web |title=6. Changes to Access — I-494: Airport to Hwy 169 |url=https://www.494openhouse.com/changestoaccess |publisher=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]]}}{{dead link|date=December 2022}}</ref> Problems have been addressed throughout the entire corridor, with all the highways being included. Construction for the [[Metro Orange Line (Minnesota)|Metro Orange Line]] tunnel began in 2019 and is still currently underway. The rest of the corridor is still being studied, with plans for construction to begin between 2022 and 2024.{{Update after|2024}}

==494 Corridor Commission==
The '''494 Corridor Commission''', also known as '''494 Commuter Services''', is a [[nonprofit organization]] aimed at reducing traffic congestion along the southwest section of the I-494 corridor. In 1988, the cities of [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]], [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]], [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]], and [[Richfield, Minnesota|Richfield]] joined to address traffic congestion and work toward improving I-494. The organization's mission is to promote economic growth and regional prosperity through improved transportation options along the highway, such as [[carpool]]ing and [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|bus]] transit. The organization's board of directors consists of representatives from each of the five member cities, [[Minnesota Department of Transportation|MnDOT]], the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)|Metropolitan Council]], and the private business community.<ref name="494commission">{{cite web|title=494 Corridor Commission - Who We Are|url=http://www.494corridor.org/whoweareNEW.html|access-date=January 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607141529/http://www.494corridor.org/whoweareNEW.html|archive-date=June 7, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{jcttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name=MnDOT>{{MnDOT logpoint|year=2014|pages=54-61|accessdate=July 6, 2015}}</ref>}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Washington
|cspan=5
|location=Oakdale
|mile=58.158
|mspan=2
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|694|dir1=north}}
|notes=Continuation beyond I-94
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Oakdale
|location2=Woodbury
|mile=none
|exit=58
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|US|12|noshield2=yes|city1=St. Paul|location2=[[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 58A (west) and 58B (east); I-94 exit 249
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Woodbury
|lspan=3
|mile=58.999
|exit=58C
|road=Tamarack Road
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=59.852
|exit=59
|road={{Jctname|state=MN|CSAH|16|county1=Washington|name1=Valley Creek Road}}
|notes=Formerly [[Minnesota State Highway 120|MN 120]]
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=60.690
|exit=60
|road= {{Jctname|state=MN|CSAH|25|county1=Washington|dir1=north|name1=Lake Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|county1=Ramsey<!--MnDOT lists these exit ramps as partially in Ramsey Co.-->
|county2=Washington
|location1=Maplewood
|location2=Newport
|mile=63.177
|mspan=2
|exit=63A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|10|US|61|CSAH|18|GRR|National| dir1=west|dir2=north|county3=Washington|name3=Bailey Road|dir3=east|dir4=north|city1=St. Paul}}
|notes=Bailey Road not signed eastbound; eastern end of Great River Road overlap
}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Washington
|cspan=2
|location=Newport
|lspan=2
|mile=none
|exit=63B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|10|dir1=east|US|61|dir2=south|city1=Hastings}}
|notes=Westbound access to US 10 west/US 61 north via exit 63A}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=63.408
|exit=63C
|road={{Jctname|state=MN|CSAH|38|county1=Washington|dir1=south|name1=Maxwell Avenue}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Dakota
|cspan=9
|location=South St. Paul
|lspan=4
|mile=63.995
|bridge=[[Wakota Bridge]] over the [[Mississippi River]]
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=64.204
|exit=64A
|road=Hardman Avenue
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=64.646
|exit=64B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|56|GRR|National|name1=Concord Street|county1=Dakota|dir2=south}}
|notes=Formerly [[Minnesota State Highway 156|MN&nbsp;156]]; previously [[Minnesota State Highway 56|MN&nbsp;56]]; western end of Great River Road overlap
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=65.125
|mile2=65.251
|exit=65
|road=5th Avenue, 7th Avenue
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Inver Grove Heights
|lspan=2
|mile=66.148
|exit=66
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|52|city1=St. Paul|city2=Rochester}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=66.391
|mile2=67.170
|exit=67
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|3|MN|62|dab2=Hennepin–Dakota Counties|name1=Robert Street}}
|notes=MN 62 is not accessible eastbound. Instead, traffic must exit to MN 3 and go north to gain access
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Eagan
|location2=Mendota Heights
|lspan=3
|mile=70.049
|exit=69
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|149|to2=to|MN|55|name1=Dodd Road}}
|notes=MN 55 crosses I-494 west of I-35E, but with no direct access
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=70.815
|exit=70
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|35E|city1=St. Paul|city2=Albert Lea}}
|notes=I-35E exits 99A-B
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=71.906
|exit=71
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|31|county1=Dakota|name1=Pilot Knob Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|county1=Dakota
|county2=Hennepin
|location1=Eagan
|location2=Mendota Heights
|location3=Bloomington
|mile=73.021
|mile2=0.000
|line=yes
|place=[[I-494 Minnesota River Bridge|I-494 Bridge]] over the [[Minnesota River]]
}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Hennepin
|cspan=28
|location=Bloomington
|lspan=3
|mile=1.257
|exit=1A
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|5|dir1=east|location1=[[MSP International Airport|Terminal 1]]|extra=airport}}
|notes=Eastern end of MN 5 overlap
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=1.637
|exit=1B
|road={{jct|extra=airport}} 34th Avenue&nbsp;– [[MSP International Airport|Terminal 2]]
|notes=[[Diverging diamond interchange]]; [[METRO Blue Line]] [[light rail]] runs in the median of 34th Avenue<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/pubworks/engineer/streets/curr_proj/2014301/2014301.htm |title= 34th Avenue/I-494 Interchange: Diverging diamond interchange removes right turn arrows |publisher= [[Bloomington, Minnesota|City of Bloomington]] |access-date= October 17, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019064955/http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/pubworks/engineer/streets/curr_proj/2014301/2014301.htm |archive-date= October 19, 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=2.355
|exit=2A
|road= {{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|1|county1=Hennepin|dir1=south|name1=24th Avenue}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Bloomington
|location2=Richfield
|lspan=6
|mile=2.836
|exit=2
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|77|name1=[[Cedar Avenue]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 2B (north) and 2C (south)
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=3.358
|mile2=3.856
|exit=3
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|35|county1=Hennepin|name1=Portland Avenue|road|12th Avenue}}
|notes=12th Avenue ramps to be removed in the Airport to US-169 Project <br/> Portland Avenue will become full access
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=4.357
|exit=4A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|52|dir1=north|county1=Hennepin|name1=[[Nicollet Avenue]]}}
|notes=To be removed in the Airport to US-169 Project
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=4.854
|exit=4B
|road=[[Lyndale Avenue]]
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=5.343
|exit=5
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|35W|city1=Minneapolis|city2=Albert Lea}}
|notes=Signed as exits 5A (north) and 5B (south); I-35W exits 9A-B
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=5.851
|exit=6A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|32|county1=Hennepin|name1=Penn Avenue}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Bloomington
|lspan=3
|mile=6.875
|exit=6B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|17|county1=Hennepin|name1=France Avenue}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=7.926
|exit=7
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|100|dir1=north|CSAH|34|county2=Hennepin|name2=Normandale Boulevard}}
|notes=Signed as exits 7A (north) and 7B (south)
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=8.521
|exit=8
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|28|county1=Hennepin|name1=E. Bush Lake Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Bloomington
|location2=Eden Prairie
|lspan=2
|mile=10.114
|mspan=2
|exit=10A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|169}}
|notes=Eastbound access to US 169 north via exit 10B
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=10B
|road=Washington Avenue
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Eden Prairie
|lspan=3
|type=incomplete
|mile=11.659
|exit=11A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|61|county1=Hennepin|name1=Flying Cloud Drive|road|Prairie Center Drive}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=11.923
|exit=11
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|212|MN|5|dir2=west}}
|notes=Western end of MN 5 overlap, Signed as 11B (east) and 11C (west) }}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=12.233
|exit=12
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|39|county1=Hennepin|name1=Valley View Road}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Minnetonka
|lspan=4
|mile=13.899
|exit=13
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|62|dab1=Hennepin County|dir1=east|CSAH|62|county2=Hennepin|dir2=west}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=16.267
|exit=16
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|7}}
|notes=Signed as exits 16A (east) and 16B (west)
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=16.970
|exit=17
|road=Minnetonka Boulevard
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=19.513
|exit=19
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|394|dir1=east|US|12|city1=Minneapolis|city2=Wayzata}}
|notes=[[Cloverleaf interchange]]; signed as exits 19A (east) and 19B (west); I-394/US 12 exit 1A-B
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Plymouth
|lspan=4
|mile=20.366
|exit=20
|road=Carlson Parkway
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=21.302
|exit=21
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|6|county1=Hennepin}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=22.272
|exit=22
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|55}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=23.522
|exit=23
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|9|county1=Hennepin|name1=Rockford Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Maple Grove
|lspan=3
|mile=26.203
|exit=26
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|10|county1=Hennepin|name1=Bass Lake Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=27.993
|mspan=2
|exit=27
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|dir1=west|US|52|dir2=west|noshield2=yes|city1=St. Cloud}}
|notes=Northbound left exit and southbound entrance; I-94 exit 216
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|dir1=east|I|694|dir2=east|US|52|dir3=north|noshield3=yes}}
|notes=Beltway continues as I-94/I-694 east/US 52 south
}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Adam Froehlig (November 22, 2003). [http://www.ajfroggie.com/roadpics/mn/i494/index.html Interstate Highway 494.] Interstate 494 in Minnesota. Accessed August 26, 2010.
*[http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-494_mn.html Interstate 494 Minnesota.] Interstate-Guide.com. Accessed May 17, 2005.

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060408075525/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494/ MnDOT: MnDOT I-494 Reconstruction Project - from I-394 to Minnesota River]
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}

{{3di|94}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:94-4}}
[[Category:Interstate 494| ]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Transportation in Washington County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-4]]
[[Category:Transportation in Dakota County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-4]]
[[Category:Transportation in Hennepin County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-4]]
[[Category:Beltways in the United States|494]]