Multimodal Project Improves Downtown Minneapolis Traffic Flow

Challenge

High traffic volumes and economic growth along Interstate 94 (I-94) and Interstate 35W (I-35W) corridors had led to longstanding congestion, safety and flooding issues for the City of Minneapolis.

The City also had issues with local street connectivity within multiple neighborhoods on both sides of the I-35W freeway, requiring solutions to improve access while minimizing impacts to historically and socially sensitive areas.

Solution

Hennepin County’s goal for the project was to study alternatives to improve safety, reduce congestion and enhance freeway and local access to transit into and out of downtown Minneapolis. On behalf of the County, SEH led a large, multidisciplinary team through conceptual and preliminary design for the I-35W corridor from 42nd Street to the I-94 commons.

The SEH team developed conceptual layouts for the reconstruction of the I-35W and I-94 interchange, as well as location and concept design for a transit station to meet the needs of future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on I-35W and east/west arterial streets within the project area.

The existing storm water tunnel had insufficient capacity causing flooding in low spots during large rainfall events. To address this, the team constructed large retention chambers to capture stormwater and release it back through the existing tunnel to the Mississippi River over a longer period.

To alleviate concerns the freeway would negatively affect traffic and visual components of historically significant properties along the project, the team closely coordinated with property owners and the State Historic Preservation Officer to identify design changes that would minimize impacts.  Improvements included shifting the freeway alignment to the west, narrowing freeway lanes, and isolating 2nd Avenue from the northbound exit to 31st Street to reduce traffic flow.

The $250 million multimodal project reconfigured the system interchange at I-35W/I-94 and included an online transit station at Lake Street proximate, the addition of managed lanes, new freeway exit ramps, 15 bridge replacements and a pedestrian/bicycle connection to the Midtown Greenway.