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SUPPORT FOR A STUDY OF THE 1-94/494/694 SYSTEM INTERCHANGE <br />Position: <br />Washington County supports the allocation of funding to the Minnesota Department of Transportation <br />to perform a feasibility study to develop a strategic plan and determine improvements needed to the 1- <br />94/494/694 System Interchange area, to include the system interchange itself, and adjacent <br />interchanges of 1-94 & Radio Drive/Inwood Ave, 1-94 & Century Ave, 1-694 & 10th Street and 1-494 & <br />Tamarack Road. <br />Issue: <br />The 1-94 Corridor in the east metro is a vital link between the Twin Cities to Chicago and the East Coast. <br />This interchange is the second most traveled in the State and due to the outdated cloverleaf design, <br />experiences congestion as vehicles merge and weave across multiple lanes. Additionally, the design <br />does not accommodate the significant amount of freight traffic that uses it. <br />In 2019 MnDOT proposes to implement bridge preservation and mobility improvements. The design will <br />improve the mobility and safety of the weave section between the loops and the southbound 494/694 <br />freeway through lanes. However, this is a short term solution and does not solve the fundamental <br />problem of the outdated cloverleaf design that is not adequate to serve the demands of a growing and <br />vibrant east metro area. <br />The study should develop a strategic plan and determine improvements needed to develop an <br />interchange that will eliminate congestion, and provide safe and efficient movement of vehicles and <br />freight. The study should include and evaluate traffic volumes including heavy vehicle volumes and <br />classifications, current hours of congestion, impacts and barriers to freight movement, traffic safety, <br />development potential and impacts to economic development, coordination with Gateway Corridor <br />Gold Line planning, and impacts to adjacent interchange operations. <br />Support and Opposition: <br />Supported by the Washington and Ramsey Counties, City of Woodbury, City of Oakdale. Potential <br />opposition from various state agencies. <br />No Action: <br />If the proposal is not enacted, the 2019 project will be completed with no strategic vision for the future <br />of this interchange. <br />Financial Implications: <br />Sustainable revenue sources need to be identified. The financial implications depend on the source of <br />funding and the plan developed. <br />Contact Person: <br />Wayne Sandberg, County Engineer & Deputy Public Works Director <br />Washington County Public Works <br />651-430-4339 <br />Wayne.Sandberg@co.washington.mn.us <br />18 <br />