Eastern Metro
Fringe
This page covers I-94 from
the I-494/694 interchange in Woodbury to WI 35 in Hudson, WI.
This section includes a roughly 4.5 mile duplex with MN 95.
Total length of this section is approximately 10.1 miles.
Description
This "eastern gateway" to the Twin Cities
metro was the last section of I-94 to
be completed in Minnesota, in the mid 1980s. Following
the old routing of US 12, this stretch of I-94 connects the Twin
Cities to Wisconsin and the Chicago area. While going
through primarily rural area, there are numerous bedroom
communities sprouting up, especially on the Wisconsin side of the
St. Croix River. Additionally, Woodbury (along the south side of I-94
on the western portion of this segment) is one of the fastest-growing
communities in Minnesota.
Roadway
Configuration
Average Daily Traffic Counts
| Location |
1980 |
1982 |
1984 |
1986 |
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
| E of I-494/694 |
35,300 |
37,000 |
33,500 |
40,000 |
49,900 |
56,000 |
59,000 |
75,000 |
| E of CSAH 13 |
27,900 |
29,400 |
32,600 |
35,500 |
43,000 |
50,000 |
52,000 |
62,000 |
| E of CSAH 19 |
27,200 |
28,700 |
31,800 |
35,000 |
40,600 |
47,000 |
49,500 |
57,000 |
| E of MN 95 SOUTH/CSAH 15 |
25,500 |
28,500 |
32,500 |
34,300 |
38,000 |
42,000 |
45,500 |
51,000 |
| St. Croix River Bridge |
25,500 |
29,000 |
34,000 |
34,000 |
40,400 |
44,000 |
50,000 |
53,000 |
| Location |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2002 |
2004 |
2006 |
10-yr
'96-'06
Change |
| E of I-494/694 |
82,000 |
94,000 |
100,000 |
110,000 |
105,000 |
110,000 |
+34% |
| E of CSAH 13 |
66,000 |
76,000 |
79,000 |
86,000 |
89,000 |
96,000 |
+45% |
| E of CSAH 19 |
59,000 |
67,000 |
71,000 |
77,000 |
81,000 |
81,000 |
+37% |
| E of MN 95 SOUTH/CSAH 15 |
53,000 |
61,000 |
66,000 |
71,000 |
77,000 |
77,000 |
+45% |
| St. Croix River Bridge |
55,000 |
63,000 |
69,000 |
77,000 |
82,000 |
82,000 |
+49% |
Includes US 12 counts along same routing from prior to 1986.
Click
HERE for the Exit
List
Speed Limit
- 65 MPH throughout, except 55 MPH at the westernmost end near I-494/694
History
- Early 1958: BPR gives MHD authorization to proceed with I-94
planning.
- 1958-1964: Three alternatives considered for I-94, including the
then-existing US 12 route and a parallel routing 1/2 mile to the south.
- 1960: Alternative 1, using then-existing US 12, was
supported and approved by BPR.
- ca. 1965: A 4th alternative, along a parallel routing 1/2 mile
north of existing US 12, was proposed and considered.
- May, 1965: Location Public Hearing conducted on Alternative 4.
- August, 1965: BPR revises earlier decision and approves
Alternative 4 for the I-94 alignment.
- 1965-1970: Design studies conducted for Alternative 4.
- 1967: Initial right-of-way acquisition begins.
- Fall, 1970: Metropolitan Council and Minnesota State Planning
Agency give approval for Alternative 4.
- October, 1970: Initial construction begins with a new bridge over
the St. Croix River.
- 1971-1972: Additional construction projects at the St. Croix
River, including rehab of the existing bridge, approaches for the new
bridge, and temporary bypasses to be used for I-94 construction.
- January 28, 1971: Final approval for I-94's alignment along
Alternative 4 given by FHWA.
- July, 1971: MHD submits a "Re-evaluation of Environmental
Consequences", concurred by FHWA, which results in additional median width
for future lanes/transit and addition of a bicycle trail.
- Ca. spring, 1973: Initial bids for I-94 construction taken.
- June, 1973: Several citizens present concerns about the project
and request the project to be stopped so an EIS can be prepared.
- July, 1973: The Minnesota Highway Commissioner stops the project
and announces that a restudy will be undertaken.
- August, 1973 to July, 1975: A restudy of the I-94 project is
undertaken by a Management Committee representing the communities and
local/state agencies involved.
- July, 1975: A report of recommendations is submitted to the
Minnesota Highway Commissioner, including a recommended alignment similar to
Alternative 4 (the northern alternative).
- Ca. early 1976: Draft EIS completed.
- Ca. early 1980s: Final EIS completed. Instead of the
northern alternative, a routing along then-existing US 12 (as originally
approved by BPR 20 years prior) is approved.
- Ca. 1984: completed near MN 95 North and the St. Croix River.
- Ca. 1985: completed between I-494/694 and MN 95 North.
- Ca. 1995: Eastbound bridge over the St. Croix River replaced with
a new wider structure.
- Ca. 2004: Westbound bridge across the St. Croix River redecked and
widened.
Future Plans
- Metro District's long-range plan identifies the need for 8 lanes between
I-494/694 and MN 95 South, but does not identify any funding to implement
it.
Froggie Suggests
- Add flyover ramps from SB I-694 to EB I-94 and from WB I-94 to SB I-494.
- Widen to 8 through lanes between I-494/694 and MN 95 South.
Images (click on a thumbnail for a larger view)
 |
This 1975 map, from the Study Report on Uncompleted
Interstate Segments in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, shows the
two alignments that were considered at the time, the "northern
alignment" (Alternative 4 from the earlier studies), and the
"existing US 12 alignment". |
Links
Page last modified
12 May, 2008