Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

House OKs relief for crowded stretch of interstate

A congested northwest metro corridor could be nearing some relief.

Rep. Ron Erhardt (DFL-Edina) sponsors HF2149.

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.” 


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
(House Photography file photo) Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months. On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
Legislative leaders announce 2024 committee deadlines
(House Photography file photo) Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the House committee process during the upcoming 2024 session. Here are the two deadlines fo...

Minnesota House on Twitter