A congested northwest metro corridor could be nearing some relief.
The House on Thursday passed a bill that would require the Department of Transportation to install a third general purpose lane on a two-lane stretch of Interstate 494 between State Highway 55 and Interstate 394 as part of an ongoing $68 million freeway reconstruction project.
Sponsored by Rep. Ron Erhardt (DFL-Edina), HF2149 passed on a 132-0 vote. It now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) is the sponsor.
MnDOT’s original plans for the 2.5-mile stretch called for dynamic shoulder lanes, a more restrictive lane option that is only available to motorists during certain times of heavy traffic. That, local officials told a House committee last month, wouldn’t do enough to improve traffic flow along the busy stretch of interstate.
“This is going to give (MnDOT) a nudge to do it properly, do it right,” Erhardt said. “That’s what this is about.”