This "North Loop" was a proposed Interstate which would have created a full loop around downtown Minneapolis, connecting to I-94 and a proposed "Northwest Radial" freeway on the west, and I-35W on the east. Planning on the "North Loop" began as early as the 1940s, with an expressway-style (multilane divided, but with at-grade intersections) proposed at that time. Planning changed in the early 1960s, when the route started being planned as a freeway and was given an Interstate designation of I-335. I-335 received some federal money in the 1970 highway bill to purchase right-of-way and begin construction. The project got as far as completing about 90% of its ROW acquisition, as well as some grading for the interchange at I-35W (the reason for the funky "Evil Knevil-type" ramp NB and the lane drop SB just south of Johnson St). Pressure from public opposition begain mounting in the mid '70s, and the route was eventually cancelled in 1978, with Interstate Substitution money being used for other projects in the area, including parts of I-394, the MN 610 bridge, and the Central Ave/Broadway intersection.
Some folks have made comments in recent years that maybe perhaps it should have been built after all. The biggest reason behind their argument is that it would have helped reduce the pressure on the I-94 Lowry Hill Tunnel. This has been in dispute, and one of the biggest reasons behind its cancellation was the perceived notion that it would NOT help matters at the Lowry Hill Tunnel. Having obtained maps of the original plan, I would have to agree with this opposition. The most utilized "travelsheds" that transit through the Lowry Hill tunnel are I-394 to I-35W traffic, I-94 West to I-35W South traffic, I-394 to I-94 East traffic, and I-94 through traffic (and all vice versas). The proposed I-335 would have created an alternative for ONLY the I-94 West to I-35W South traffic, and that would not have been the most direct way. One serious flaw that limited I-335's potential impact on Lowry Hill Tunnel traffic is that there were no direct connections between WB I-94 and I-335, or vice versa. Adding these connections to the design would have given I-394 to I-35W traffic an alternative to the Tunnel, which would have improved the overall system.
I-335 as planned would have been a 6-lane Interstate-standard freeway with full or partial interchanges at I-94 (partial), Washington Ave (partial to/from east), Marshall Ave/Main St NE (partial to/from west), University Ave/4th St NE (full), Monroe St NE (partial to/from east), and I-35W (full). The highway would have been built to continue west of I-94 as the never-built "Northwest Radial" freeway. Curiously, there were no connections planned between I-335 and MN 65/Central Ave.
Here is a link to the "fictional exit
list" I've created, following the original proposal.
This is a map showing the last-known plan for I-335,
ca. mid-1970s. Earlier proposals had I-335 both above-grade or elevated
and nicking the northeast corner of Nicollet Island.
Links:
Last updated 11/12/00
