Interstate 394
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Interstate 394 Auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System |
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| Length: | 9.5 mi (15.4 km) |
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| Formed: | 1991 |
| West end: |   I-494/US 12 in Minnetonka, MN |
| Major junctions: |
 US 169 in Minnetonka, MN MN-100 in Golden Valley, MN I-94 in Minneapolis, MN |
| East end: | 3rd & 4th Streets in Minneapolis, MN |
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Interstate 394 (abbreviated I-394) is an east-west interstate highway spur route in Hennepin County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It runs for 9.8 miles (15.8 km) from an eastern terminus in downtown Minneapolis to a western terminus at the junction of Interstate 494 in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. At its western terminus, the roadway loses its interstate designation but continues as U.S. Highway 12. I-394 serves as the most direct link for commuters and other drivers who are traveling between downtown Minneapolis and parts of the western Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
The freeway maintains at least three lanes in each direction except under the Minnesota State Highway 100 bridge and also between Interstate 94 and its eastern terminus downtown.
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[edit] History
I-394's construction was authorized in the late 1960s. Funding became available after the I-335 freeway project which was to be a northern loop around downtown Minneapolis was canceled in the 1970s, and the money was substituted to the I-394 project. Construction occurred mainly in the 1980s, starting at the western terminus and opening in sections toward downtown throughout the late 1980s. The entire route was officially opened in 1991.
A former lane drop at the Penn Avenue exit was eliminated in 2000.
[edit] MnPASS toll lanes
There are two high-occupancy toll (HOT) express lanes at the center of the road. Prior to May 16, 2005, they had been traditional high-occupancy vehicle (HOV, or carpool) lanes, allowing buses, motorcycles, and vehicles with two or more occupants to use them during rush hour periods, while single-occupancy vehicles were not permitted. Now, drivers riding alone can use the lanes at any time, but must have a MnPASS electronic toll collection transponder in order to pay for using the express portions. However, due to bottlenecks in a few places, the Minnesota Department of Transportation relaxed restrictions to allow all traffic in at least one area during non-rush hour times.
From I-494 to Minnesota State Highway 100, the lanes are separated from traffic by double white lines. Between MN-100 and Interstate 94 near downtown, the two lanes are combined into a reversible expressway in the median that is separated from the eastbound and westbound lanes by a concrete barrier. This segment changes directions to accommodate the traffic flow at different times of day, so in the morning, it is open to downtown-bound eastward flowing traffic, while it is open to westbound traffic in the evening.
A MnPASS electronic transponder is required in order to pay tolls because there are no tollbooths on the roadway. The price varies depending on the time of day and flow of traffic. Lone drivers were previously allowed to use the express lanes in off-peak times, but this is no longer allowed under the new system unless the sign says the cost is "OPEN," meaning free. The decision to make the non-reversible lanes free on off-hours was reached due to complaints about essentially making a four-lane freeway in an area that even on off-hours sorely needed six. Toll rates are expected to generally fall between US$1 and $4, with a potential maximum of $8. Off-hours are charged as $0.25 on the reversible lanes and free on the one-way lanes. The white line-separated and reversible expressway sections are priced separately. The lanes are still open free to buses, motorcycles, and cars with 2 or more persons, no matter the time of day, and such vehicles do not require transponders to use the lanes.
Using the express lanes as a lone driver without a transponder during charged periods, or crossing the double white lines will result in a large fine placed upon the driver. To enter and exit properly, vehicles must use an entry point without double white lines. The line rule is true even when the lane is free of charge.
Transponders began to be sold a few weeks before the May 16 opening date. By early June 2005, about 6,500 drivers had signed up for the system.
[edit] List of exits
The following is a list of exits along Interstate 394.
- Exit 1A- (Westbound) Interstate 494.
- Exit 1B- Plymouth Rd.
- Exit 1C- Wayzata Blvd.; Ridgedale Dr.
- Exit 2- Hopkins Crossroad
- Exit 3- U.S. Highway 169; General Mills Blvd. N.
- Exit 4- Louisiana Ave. S.
- Exit 5- Xenia Ave. S.; Minnesota State Highway 100
- Exit 7- S. Penn Ave.
- Exit 8A- (Eastbound) Dunwoody Blvd.
- Exit 8B- (Eastbound) Interstate 94
- Exit 9A- N. 12th St.
- Exit 9B- N. 2nd Ave.
- Exit 9C- N. Washington Ave.
At this point the freeway ends at N. 4th St.
[edit] Cities traversed
Interstate 394 passes through the following cities:
[edit] See also
- Interstate 94, I-394's "parent" interstate
- There are persistent rumors that Interstate 394 is possible future route designation for M-14 in Michigan, although there is no evidence supporting this from any official sources.
- Illinois 394, spur of I-94 in chicagoland. Up to interstate standards from I-94 to U.S. Route 30
[edit] References
- The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page: Details of Routes 288-694. Accessed March 24, 2006.
[edit] External links
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Auxiliary routes of Interstate 94 |
| I-194 | Michigan – North Dakota |
| I-294 | Illinois |
| I-394 | Minnesota |
| I-494 | Minnesota |
| I-694 | Minnesota |
| I-794 | Wisconsin |
| I-894 | Wisconsin |
