Interstate 494

Infobox road
state=MN
type=I
route=494
maint=Mn/DOT

---

length_mi=43
length_round=2
length_ref= [ [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-494_mn.html Interstate 494 Minnesota.] Interstate-Guide.com. Accessed May 17, 2005.]
established=1985
direction_a=West
terminus_a=jct|state=MN|I|94|I|694 in Maple Grove, MN
junction=jct|state=MN|I|394 in Minnetonka, MN
jct|state=MN|I|35W in Bloomington, MN
jct|state=MN|I|35E in Mendota Heights, MN
jct|state=MN|US|52 in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
jct|state=MN|US|61 in Newport, Minnesota
direction_b=East
terminus_b=jct|state=MN|I|94|I|694 in Woodbury, MN
previous_type=I
previous_route=394
next_type=I
next_route=535

Interstate 494 (I-494) is part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota. The 43-mile (69 km) road is coupled with Interstate 694 (which goes to the north) at each end, and composes more than half of the major beltway of the region. This is apparently the only interstate highway loop in the United States that has separately-numbered sections (the Twin Cities region also has an east/west-split in Interstate 35, similar to the Dallas/Fort-Worth area). I-494 and I-694 also act as loop routes for Interstate 35E and Interstate 35W.

The highway has a few intersections with other interstates:
*Interstates 94 and 694 in Woodbury/Oakdale
*Interstate 35E in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
*Interstate 35W in Bloomington, Minnesota
*Interstate 394 in Minnetonka, Minnesota
*Interstates 94/694 (concurrent) in Maple Grove, Minnesota

The speed limit on I-494 is 60 miles per hour (100 km/h). Interstate highways outside of the loop in Minnesota may be signed as high as 70 mph (110 km/h). Most highways inside the loop are signed at speeds of 55 mph (90 km/h) or lower, though a few exceptions were added in September 2005, allowing speeds of up to 60 mph in some places. Those roads had been signed at 60 mph or higher up until the gasoline crises of the 1970s.

Construction on the road first began in the late 1950s, and it was finally completed by about 1985. Upgrades continue to be made to widen the road to at least three lanes in each direction. Expansion of the Wakota Bridge is underway over the Mississippi River. It is named so because it connects Washington County and Dakota County. A major reconstruction/widening project was completed in fall 2006 between Minnesota State Highway 5 West/U.S. Highway 212 East (Exits 11B and C) and Carlson Parkway (Exit 20). Plans for up to six lanes in each direction for parts of I-494 in Bloomington, Minnesota are proposed but not yet funded.

Route description

Legally, the route of Interstate 494 is defined as part of Route 393 in Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(5). [http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP_SEC&year=2006&section=161.12]

Exit numbering is unusual in that it begins at the Minnesota River heading westbound (between Bloomington and Mendota Heights), and continues clockwise around the entire beltway. The last exit is #71 to Pilot Knob Road. The most significant landmark on the length of I-494 is the Mall of America, just south of the intersection of I-494 and Minnesota State Highway 77.

Exit list

ee also

*494 Commuter Services

References

*Adam Froehlig (November 22, 2003). [http://www.ajfroggie.com/roadpics/mn-ends/i494.htm Interstate Highway 494.] Minnesota State Highway Endings. Accessed May 17, 2005.
*Steve Riner (December 27, 2004). [http://steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r288-694.htm#494 Details of Routes 288-694.] Accessed May 17, 2005.
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-494_mn.html Interstate 494 Minnesota.] Interstate-Guide.com. Accessed May 17, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494/ Mn/DOT: I-494 Reconstruction]