Interstate 394 marker

Interstate 394

I-394 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-94
Maintained by MnDOT
Length9.75 mi[1] (15.69 km)
Existed1991–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-494 / US 12 in Minnetonka
Major intersections
East end3rd and 4th Streets in Minneapolis
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesHennepin
Highway system
  • Minnesota Trunk Highway System
← MN 371→ I-494

Interstate 394 (I-394) is a short east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway in Hennepin County in the US state of Minnesota. It is also commonly referred to by its pre-1991 name, Wayzata Boulevard, and by its other designation for most of its route, US Highway 12 (US 12). It runs for 9.8 miles (15.8 km) from downtown Minneapolis to I-494 in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. At its western terminus, the roadway loses its Interstate designation but continues as US 12. I-394 serves as the most direct link for commuters and other drivers who are traveling between downtown Minneapolis and parts of the western Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

I-394 maintains at least three lanes in each direction except under the Minnesota State Highway 100 (MN 100) interchange and also between I-94/US 52 and its eastern terminus downtown.

Route description

I-394 begins on the western side of the Twin Cities in the suburb of Minnetonka, at its interchange with I-494 (exit 19). From there, I-394 takes a 9.5-mile (15.3 km) course toward downtown Minneapolis where the eastern terminus is at 4th Street North.

Legally, the route of I-394 is defined as unmarked legislative routes 10 and 107 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.115(38).[2][3] I-394 is not marked with these legislative numbers along the actual highway.

E-ZPass Minnesota toll lanes

There are two high-occupancy toll (HOT) express lanes at the center of the road. Prior to May 16, 2005, they had been traditional high-occupancy vehicle (HOV, or carpool) lanes, allowing busses, motorcycles, and vehicles with two or more occupants to use them during rush-hour periods, while single-occupancy vehicles were not permitted. Now, drivers riding alone can use the lanes at any time but must have an E-ZPass Minnesota electronic toll collection transponder in order to pay for using the express portions.

I-394 heading eastbound toward downtown Minneapolis. Notice the E-ZPass Minnesota toll lane to the left.

From I-494 to MN 100, the lanes of I-394 are separated from traffic by double white lines. Between MN 100 and I-94/US 52 near downtown, the two lanes are combined into a reversible expressway in the median that is separated from the eastbound and westbound lanes by concrete barriers. This segment changes directions to accommodate the traffic flow at different times of day, so, in the morning, it is open to downtown-bound eastward flowing traffic, while it is open to westbound traffic in the evening.

An E-ZPass Minnesota electronic transponder is required in order to pay tolls because there are no tollbooths on the roadway. The price varies depending on the time of day and flow of traffic. Lone drivers were previously allowed to use the express lanes in off-peak times, but this is no longer allowed under the new system unless the sign says the cost is "OPEN", meaning free. The decision to make the nonreversible lanes free on off-hours was reached due to complaints about essentially making a four-lane freeway in an area that, even on off-hours, sorely needed six. Toll rates are expected to generally fall between $1.00 and $4.00, with a potential maximum of $8.00. Off-hours are charged as $0.25 on the reversible lanes and free on the one-way lanes. The white line-separated and reversible expressway sections are priced separately. The lanes are still open free to busses, motorcycles, and cars with two or more people, no matter the time of day, and such vehicles do not require transponders to use the lanes.

Using the express lanes as a lone driver without a transponder during charged periods or crossing the double white lines will result in a large fine placed upon the driver. To enter and exit properly, vehicles must use an entry point without double white lines. The line rule is true even when the lane is free of charge.

Transponders began to be sold a few weeks before the May 16, 2005, opening date. By June 2005, about 6,500 drivers had signed up for the system.

History

The highway, a four lane divided highway, used to be designated as Wayzata Boulevard and US 12. The construction of I-394 was authorized in 1968. Funding became available after the canceled I-335 freeway project in 1978. I-335 had been planned to be a northern loop around downtown Minneapolis that would have passed through northeast Minneapolis. The money was substituted to the I-394 project. Wayzata Boulevard/US 12, starting in 1982, was to be redesigned as I-394. Construction of I-394 occurred mainly in the 1980s, starting at the western terminus in Minnetonka and opening in sections toward downtown Minneapolis throughout the late 1980s. The entire route of I-394 was officially opened in 1991.

A former lane drop of I-394 at the Penn Avenue exit was eliminated in 2000.

Exit list

The entire route is in Hennepin County.

Locationmi[4]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Minnetonka0.0000.000
 US 12 west – Wayzata		Continuation beyond western terminus; HOV/toll lanes continue westward on US 12 as well
1 I-494 / Carlson Parkway / Linner RoadWestern terminus; western end of US 12 overlap; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); I-494 exit 19A-B; eastbound exit to I-494 Northbound is part of Exit 1A
0.7481.2041C CSAH 61 (Plymouth Road)
1.3382.1531DRidgedale Drive
1.9413.1242 CSAH 73 (Hopkins Crossroad)
St. Louis Park–Golden Valley line2.9464.7413 US 169 / General Mills Boulevard
Golden Valley–St. Louis Park line4.4557.1704Louisiana Avenue
5.9259.5355AXenia Avenue / Park Place
—
 I-394 east (HOV/toll lanes)		Dedicated eastbound and westbound HOV/toll lanes, each adjacent to the regular lanes, merge into one reversible HOV/toll lanes ramp
Golden Valley5B MN 100
—
 MN 100 south / South Frontage Road		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
—
 MN 100 north		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
Minneapolis7.74912.4717 CSAH 2 (Penn Avenue)
8.38713.4988AVan White Memorial Boulevard / Dunwoody Boulevard – Prohibited vehiclesEastbound exit and westbound entrance for regular and HOV/toll lanes
—
 I-94 / US 12 east (US 52 south)		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
8.66713.9488B US 12 east / I-94 (US 52)Eastern end of US 12 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-94 exit 231A
—
 I-394 west (HOV/toll lanes)		Eastern end of reversible HOV/toll lanes
8.96314.4259A12th Street NorthEastbound exit and westbound entrance
9.18614.7839B6th Street North / Ramp A / Ramp BEastbound exit and westbound entrance; ramps lead to downtown parking garages
9.418–
9.735		15.157–
15.667		9C3rd Avenue North / Washington AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
4th Street North / 3rd Street NorthEastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ↑ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ "161.114, 2006 Minnesota Statutes". Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ "161.115, 2006 Minnesota Statutes". Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Route Reference of Functional Classification (except local roads) by County, City Boundaries, and Legislative/Congressional District" (XLSX). Minnesota Department of Transportation. 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
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