Interstate 694 Descriptions
2024-04-19
Roadnow
East
Minnesota:
Interstate 694 begins on the counter-clockwise end at the junction of I-94, I-494, and I-694 in the city of Maple Grove, often referred to as the Fish Lake Interchange. From the Fish Lake Interchange, I-694 travels eastbound (clockwise) and concurrent with I-94 through the cities of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center. In Brooklyn Center, I-94 splits from I-694 and then I-94 travels south toward downtown Minneapolis, while I-694 continues its beltway function, crossing the Mississippi River, and then passing through the communities of Fridley and New Brighton, where it has an interchange with I-35W. I-694 turns slightly to the southeast as it passes through the communities of Arden Hills, Shoreview, and Little Canada. I-694 turns back to near due east at its western junction with I-35E. It continues east through the communities of Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood. In Pine Springs, I-694 has a cloverleaf interchange with State Highway 36. The I-694 / Highway 36 interchange makes out a rough corner, in which I-694 switches direction from eastbound to southbound. I-694 continues south through the city of Oakdale, and finally terminates on the clockwise end at the interchange of I-94, I-494, and I-694 at the Oakdale / Woodbury city boundary line. I-694 becomes I-494 after this interchange.
Mileposts on Interstate 694 are numbered to increase while traveling eastbound (clockwise). They are in sequence with the numbering of adjoining Interstate 494, where the numbering begins and ends at the Minnesota River. Between Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center, the mileposts correspond to the beltway numbering, not I-94 mileage.
Interstate 694 has problems with "weave" interchanges. The Unweave the Weave construction project from 2004 to 2008 disentangled I-694 and I-35E at Little Canada / Vadnais Heights. The project was designed to increase traffic flow, driver safety, and improve the condition of the roadway. Another construction project designed to 'unweave' the highway is scheduled to begin in August 2011. This project will eliminate the weaving movements of Interstate 694 at its interchange with U.S. Highway 10 and State Highway 51 in Arden Hills. This interchange sometimes creates one of the worst bottlenecks in the Twin Cities due to drivers needing to change at least one lane to continue westbound on Interstate 694 between Highway 51 (Snelling Avenue) and U.S. 10. When the construction project is completed, the roadway of I-694 will include 3 thru-lanes in each direction from I-35W at New Brighton to U.S. 10 at Arden Hills; 4 thru-lanes in each direction from U.S. 10 in Arden Hills to Rice Street at Shoreview / Little Canada; and 5 thru-lanes in each direction from Rice Street to the I-694 / I-35E interchange, compared with the current 2 to 3 lanes throughout the I-694 corridor. These plans may be altered if a new Minnesota Vikings stadium is built at the site of the nearby Twin Cities Arsenal.
Legally, the route of Interstate 694 is defined as part of unmarked legislative route 393 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(5). Interstate 694 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.
History
The construction of Interstate 694 was authorized in 1956. The first section of I-694 completed was between U.S. 10 at Arden Hills to I-35E at Little Canada in the early 1960s. The last section of I-694 completed was between I-35E at Little Canada to its junction with I-94 / I-494 at Oakdale / Woodbury, completed by the early 1970s.
Interstate 694 begins on the counter-clockwise end at the junction of I-94, I-494, and I-694 in the city of Maple Grove, often referred to as the Fish Lake Interchange. From the Fish Lake Interchange, I-694 travels eastbound (clockwise) and concurrent with I-94 through the cities of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center. In Brooklyn Center, I-94 splits from I-694 and then I-94 travels south toward downtown Minneapolis, while I-694 continues its beltway function, crossing the Mississippi River, and then passing through the communities of Fridley and New Brighton, where it has an interchange with I-35W. I-694 turns slightly to the southeast as it passes through the communities of Arden Hills, Shoreview, and Little Canada. I-694 turns back to near due east at its western junction with I-35E. It continues east through the communities of Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood. In Pine Springs, I-694 has a cloverleaf interchange with State Highway 36. The I-694 / Highway 36 interchange makes out a rough corner, in which I-694 switches direction from eastbound to southbound. I-694 continues south through the city of Oakdale, and finally terminates on the clockwise end at the interchange of I-94, I-494, and I-694 at the Oakdale / Woodbury city boundary line. I-694 becomes I-494 after this interchange.
Mileposts on Interstate 694 are numbered to increase while traveling eastbound (clockwise). They are in sequence with the numbering of adjoining Interstate 494, where the numbering begins and ends at the Minnesota River. Between Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center, the mileposts correspond to the beltway numbering, not I-94 mileage.
Interstate 694 has problems with "weave" interchanges. The Unweave the Weave construction project from 2004 to 2008 disentangled I-694 and I-35E at Little Canada / Vadnais Heights. The project was designed to increase traffic flow, driver safety, and improve the condition of the roadway. Another construction project designed to 'unweave' the highway is scheduled to begin in August 2011. This project will eliminate the weaving movements of Interstate 694 at its interchange with U.S. Highway 10 and State Highway 51 in Arden Hills. This interchange sometimes creates one of the worst bottlenecks in the Twin Cities due to drivers needing to change at least one lane to continue westbound on Interstate 694 between Highway 51 (Snelling Avenue) and U.S. 10. When the construction project is completed, the roadway of I-694 will include 3 thru-lanes in each direction from I-35W at New Brighton to U.S. 10 at Arden Hills; 4 thru-lanes in each direction from U.S. 10 in Arden Hills to Rice Street at Shoreview / Little Canada; and 5 thru-lanes in each direction from Rice Street to the I-694 / I-35E interchange, compared with the current 2 to 3 lanes throughout the I-694 corridor. These plans may be altered if a new Minnesota Vikings stadium is built at the site of the nearby Twin Cities Arsenal.
Legally, the route of Interstate 694 is defined as part of unmarked legislative route 393 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(5). Interstate 694 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.
History
The construction of Interstate 694 was authorized in 1956. The first section of I-694 completed was between U.S. 10 at Arden Hills to I-35E at Little Canada in the early 1960s. The last section of I-694 completed was between I-35E at Little Canada to its junction with I-94 / I-494 at Oakdale / Woodbury, completed by the early 1970s.