Overview
Status
- Currently, only one of the four stages of the I-694 I-35E to I-5-W project is scheduled. Improvements at the interchange of I-694, Hwy 10 and Snelling Avenue in Arden Hills began Sept. 19, 2011.
Location
- I-694 between I-35W in New Brighton and Victoria Street in Arden Hills
Schedule
- Began Sept. 19, 2011
- Expected completion: November, 2013
Description
- Bridge replacements
- Realignment of I-694 and reconstruction of the interchange of I-694, Hwy 10, Hwy 51/Snelling Avenue/Hamline Avenue and replacement of the Island Lake bridges on I-694 east of the interchange.
Construction season wrap up, November 23, 2011
- Although some construction activity will continue throughout the fall and winter, there are no additional long-term closures expected this year.
- Southbound Hamline Avenue remains closed at Ramsey County Road F until the winter of 2012-13.
- All traffic must detour on County Road F to Lexington Avenue to reach I-694
- Access from southbound Hamline Avenue to eastbound I-694 is closed permanently and traffic must use County Road F to Lexington to reach the interstate.
This project will address the following issues
- Lack of capacity throughout the corridor
- Inconsistent lane configuration
- Deteriorating pavement structure
- Deceleration and acceleration lanes
- Deficient bridges
Only one lane handles through-traffic at the interchange of I-694 and Hwy 51 (Snelling Avenue)/Hamline Avenue and Hwy 10 in Arden Hills. The combination of travel demand and this geometric deficiency (traffic weaving) results in safety issues and travel delays on the corridor, and has created one of the worst bottlenecks in the Twin Cities Metro area. The project began Sept. 19, 2011. It rebuilds the interchange of I-694, Hwy 10 and Snelling Avenue/Hamline Avenue in Arden Hills.
Schedule
Stage 1A (Sept. 19, 2011 – Spring 2012): Bypass Construction and work on new alignments of eastbound and westbound I-694 in the current median of I-694.
Long-Term Traffic impacts:
- Southbound Hamline Ave. closed at Ramsey County Road F until Stage 3.
- Ramp from southbound Hamline Ave. to eastbound I-694 closed permanently
Stage 1B (Summer 2012 – Winter 2012): Continue work on new eastbound and westbound I-694 in the current median of I-694
Long-Term Traffic Impacts:
- Close northbound Snelling Ave. at County Road E (no access to I-694 or northbound Hamline Ave.) for 7 months, beginning May, 2012
Stage 2 (Summer 2012 – Fall 2012): Work on Hamline Ave., Snelling Ave., loops and eastbound Hwy 10.
Long-term Traffic Impacts:
- Ramp from westbound I-694 to Hamline Ave. closes permanently (May, 2012)
- Close ramp from eastbound I- 694 to southbound Snelling Ave. for 6 months, beginning June, 2012
- Close eastbound Hwy 10 at Ramsey County Road 96 for 6 months, beginning June, 2012
- Close the intersection of Hamline Ave. and County Road F for 1 month, beginning May, 2012
- Close ramp from eastbound I- 694 to Lexington Avenue for 1 month, beginning October, 2012
Island Lake Bridges: Reconstruct both bridges in stages during Summer 2012. No boat traffic under I-694 for 6 months.
Long-term Traffic Impacts:
- Close Victoria Street ramp to westbound I-694 for 2-1/2 months, beginning June, 2012
Motorists should expect additional off-peak and weekend closures throughout the duration of the project. Contract completion is November of 2013.
Stage 3 (Winter 2012-13 – Nov. 2013): Work on westbound Hwy 10 and complete westbound I- 694
Long-term Traffic Impacts:
- Close eastbound 694 to Victoria Street for 9 months, beginning September, 2012
- Close westbound I-694 ramp to westbound Hwy 10 for 1 year, beginning November, 2012
- Close Lexington Avenue to westbound I-694 for 6 months, beginning April, 2013
A project to widen the Lexington Avenue bridge crossing I-694 will begin in 2012.
*NOTE: All staging and dates are subject to change
Noise Advisory Committee
As further information becomes available, it will be posted here.
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