Open House Set for Huge Interstate 494 Project, Impact to St. Michael Commuters

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is planning a major makeover for Interstate 494 in the northwest suburbs next summer, a project that would impact literally hundreds of St. Michael and Albertville area commuters, according to US Census data. 

Prior to the project's implementation, MnDOT has an open house set for later this month in Plymouth. 

The public is invited to attend the open house onTuesday, Nov. 19, to learn about the rehabilitation project between I-394 and I-94, which is slated to begin in summer 2014.

The open house will be held in the Medicine Lake Room at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth. The open house begins at 4 p.m., with staff from the Minnesota Department of Transportation providing a 30-minute presentation at 6 p.m. with time for questions. Following the project presentation, staff will discuss the noise wall voting process.

The project includes repairing seven miles of concrete pavement and many of the bridges spanning the interstate between Maple Grove and Minnetonka, building a dynamic shoulder between Highway 55 and East Fish Lake Road and potentially building several noise walls.

The project will increase roadway capacity during peak hours, provide a smoother road surface and extend the life of the bridges.

Completion of the project wouldn't be until November 2016, according to MnDOT estimates

Additional information about the project is available on the project website.