Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Hwy 77 Congestion Relief

Cedar Avenue in Bloomington, Apple Valley, Eagan

Orange barrels on a highway

MnPASS Lane

MnPASS lane
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This option along with sub alternatives were not chosen due to lack of lane continuity which worsens the current bottleneck at the Minnesota River Bridge and does not provide advantages to HOV’s and SOV’s willing to pay.

 

Description:

    • New HOV/HOT lane from 138th Street to Old Shakopee Road
    • Requires concrete median barrier from 138th Street to I-35E (no grass median)
    • Will require noise walls

     

third lane addition visualization
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Advantages:

    • Relieves bottleneck north of 138th Street and at the river bridge without overloading the I-494 interchange
    • Increases capacity over bridge - attracts trips away from regional system
    • Provides transit advantage for express buses
    • Provides congestion-free choice for general purpose traffic and carpools
    • Improves travel time reliability – except for station-to-station transit service

Disadvantages:

    • Requires concrete median barrier from 138th to I-35E
    • Lack of bus shoulder over bridge takes away transit advantage for station to station service and express buses out of Eagan – limited travel time reliability
    • Limited snow storage will require peak period lane closures during some snow storms