Residents of St. Louis Park and daily commuters along I-394, if you’ve got something to say or just want to know more about the upcoming construction projects, mark your calendars. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is hosting an open house event to discuss the 2025 plan for I-394 and Louisiana Avenue. The event follows a public hearing held on Sept. 9, where community members raised various questions about the highway and local road changes.
According to an announcement made by the City of St. Louis Park, the proposed project includes a series of enhancements such as extending the eastbound lane on I-394, building a new auxiliary lane, updating signal systems, and relocating a city water main on Wayzata Boulevard. Notably, MnDOT will need a permanent right-of-way transfer on Wayzata Boulevard from the city to accommodate these changes. The open house is scheduled for Sept. 25, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at City Hall in the Community Room located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN.
Diving into the specifics, the plans detail "I-394 eastbound lane extension," which will construct an extension of the general-purpose lane from the Louisiana Avenue exit ramp to the entrance ramp. Additionally, an auxiliary lane is set to pave the way from the eastbound Louisiana Avenue on-ramp to the Xenia Avenue/Park Place Boulevard exit. All the while, the project promises to replace outdated signal systems and remove channelized right turns at key ramp intersections. Underneath all these layers of concrete and steel, a practical matter arises – city water main relocation along Wayzata Boulevard adds another dimension to the comprehensive development.
There will be no formal presentation, meaning the open house offers a fluid space for people to come and go as they please, anytime within the two-hour window. MnDOT staff will be on hand to dig into the details and field questions from the public. As Debra Heiser, P.E., Engineering Director for the City of St. Louis Park indicated, "to provide time to hold this open house, this project will not return to the council for decision until Oct. 7, 2024." For anyone who can't make the meeting but wants to be heard or needs more information, MnDOT project manager Nicole Stromgren is reachable at 612.441.1931 or via email at [email protected].
