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Klobuchar Commends New Design Decision for I-494 and Highway 169 Interchange

November 11, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement today after the announcement that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has given conditional approval for a cost-saving interchange design at Highway 169 and Interstate 494.      
 
“With the current roadway, Minnesotans’ personal lives and livelihoods both suffer as they have to wait for hours in traffic jams,” said Klobuchar.  “The FHWA approval of the new design is a significant step towards improving safety on the roads and relieving congestion that commuters have to deal with on a daily basis.”
 
Earlier this year, Klobuchar wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressing her support for the new interchange. 

FHWA's conditional approval of a performance-based design is a significant step forward not only for this project but nationally as communities everywhere are working to use increasingly limited resources to strengthen unsafe and deteriorating infrastructure. 
 
This interchange in the southwest Twin Cities metropolitan area is surrounded by 200,000 residents, and is utilized by 170,000 vehicles each day.  Three sets of traffic signals on Highway 169 backs up traffic for up to six hours each weekday at the interchange to I-494.  Additionally, the interchange poses safety concerns as 554 vehicle crashes have occurred there from 2005 to 2008. 


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