Background
Hwy 77 has been evaluated multiple times looking for ways to mitigate existing congestion. In the Congestion Management Planning (CMP) study completed in May 2007, the Hwy 77 corridor between 140th St. in Apple Valley and Old Shakopee Rd. in Bloomington was identified as one of the 19 low-cost, high-benefit projects for reducing congestion on freeways in the Twin Cities. In 2010 MnDOT led a Hwy 77 Managed Lane Study to evaluate potential alternatives for congestion mitigation. The 2010 Study identified 2 potential improvements for further consideration, and identified concern with advancing capacity improvements on Hwy 77 without addressing existing congestion on I-494. The next step in the process was the 2014 MnDOT and Dakota County led Hwy 77 Managed Lane and Cedar Grove Access Engineering Evaluation, which furthered review of the potential congestion mitigation options and led to the construction of the Cedar Grove Transit Station in 2016-2017. The 2014 Study reiterated the 2010 concerns with feeding additional traffic to the I-494/Hwy77 interchange.
This Hwy 77 Congestion Mitigation Study intended to identify potential congestion mitigation improvements for Hwy 77. The study took updated origin-destination data, traffic volumes and travel trends, and paired the updated traffic information with planned improvements on I-494, and improvements on I-35W. The Study identified viable short, medium and long term improvements and developed an implementation plan for identified improvements.
For more information about previous studies, contact us.