Editing Interstate 694

{{Short description|Highway in Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = MN
| type = I
| route = 694
| section = 12
| subsection = 5
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-lat=44.966|frame-long=-93.226|zoom=9|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 694}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-694 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 30.767
| length_ref=<ref name=statelpt/>
| established = 1970{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 94
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=MN|I|94|I|494|US|52}} in [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]]
| junction =
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|169}} in [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|94}} in [[Brooklyn Center, Minnesota|Brooklyn Center]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|35W}} on the [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]]–[[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]] line
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|10}} in Arden Hills
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|35E|US|10}} in [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|61}} in [[Maplewood, Minnesota|Maplewood]]
| direction_b = South
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=MN|I|94|I|494|US|12}} at [[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]]–[[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]]
| counties = [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]], [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]], [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]], [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington]]
| previous_type = MN
| previous_route = 610
| next_type = MN
| next_route = 1
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;694''' ('''I-694''') is an east–west [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] located in the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] metropolitan area in the US state of [[Minnesota]]. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]], [[Interstate 494|I-494]], and [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US Highway&nbsp;52]] (US&nbsp;52) in [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]]. The eastern terminus of I-694 is at its junction with I-94 and I-494 at the [[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]]–[[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]] city line. I-694 comprises the northern and northeastern portions of a [[beltway]] around the Twin Cities, with I-494 forming the remainder of the beltway. The speed limit is {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Interstate Highways outside of the loop in Minnesota may be signed as high as {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} but can only reach {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} inside the loop.

I-694 also interchanges with [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]] at [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]]–[[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]] and [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]] at [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]]–[[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]]. I-694 is also [[Concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with I-94/US&nbsp;52 for {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} from Maple Grove to [[Brooklyn Center, Minnesota|Brooklyn Center]]. I-694 is {{convert|30.8|mi|km}} in length.

==Route description==
[[File:I-94, I-694, and MN-252 interchange.JPG|left|thumb|Interchange of eastbound I-94, MN&nbsp;252 and eastbound I-694 in Brooklyn Center]]
I-694 begins on the [[counterclockwise]] end at the junction of I-94, I-494, US&nbsp;52, and I-694 in the city of Maple Grove, often referred to as the Fish Lake Interchange. From the Fish Lake Interchange, I-694 travels eastbound ([[clockwise]]) and concurrently with I-94 and US&nbsp;52 through the cities of Maple Grove, [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]], and Brooklyn Center. In Brooklyn Center, I-94/US&nbsp;52 splits from I-694 and then I-94/US&nbsp;52 travels south toward downtown [[Minneapolis]], while I-694 continues its beltway function, crossing the [[Mississippi River]] on the [[I-694 Bridge]]. The route then passes through the communities of [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]] and [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]], where it has an interchange with I-35W. I-694 turns slightly to the southeast as it passes through the communities of [[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]], [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]], and [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]]. I-694 turns back to near due east at its western junction with [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]]. It continues east through the communities of Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood. In [[Pine Springs, Minnesota|Pine Springs]], I-694 has a cloverleaf interchange with [[Minnesota State Highway 36]] (MN&nbsp;36). The I-694/MN&nbsp;36 interchange makes out a rough corner, in which I-694 switches direction from eastbound to southbound. I-694 continues south through the city of Oakdale and finally terminates on the clockwise end at the interchange of I-94, I-494, and I-694 at the Oakdale–Woodbury city boundary line. I-694 becomes I-494 after this interchange.<ref name="MnDOT09-10"/>

[[File:Interstate 694 Fridley MN 2017.jpg|left|thumb|I-694 looking West through Fridley]]
[[Milepost]]s on I-694 are numbered to increase while traveling eastbound (clockwise). They are in sequence with the numbering of adjoining I-494, where the numbering begins and ends at the [[Minnesota River]]. Between Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center, the mileposts correspond to the beltway numbering, not I-94 mileage.<ref name="MnDOT09-10"/>

Legally, the route of I-694 is defined as part of unmarked [[Legislative route (Minnesota)|legislative route]]&nbsp;393 in the [[wikisource:Minnesota Statutes/Section 161.12#Subdivision 5|Minnesota Statutes §161.12(5)]].<ref>{{cite web |author= Minnesota Legislature |author-link= Minnesota Legislature |year= 2018 |url= https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/161.12 |title=§161.12, Additional Routes Added; Federal Aid |work= Minnesota Statutes |publisher= Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes  |access-date= September 19, 2019}}</ref> I-694 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.<ref name="MnDOT09-10">{{cite MnDOT map  |year = 2009 |sections = V25–Y25, Y25–Y26 |inset = Metropolitan Saint Paul–Minneapolis }}</ref> The entire freeway, as part of the [[Interstate Highway System]], has been included in the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=NHS-MSP>{{cite map |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/maps/mn/minneapolis_mn.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017022849/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/maps/mn/minneapolis_mn.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2008 |title=National Highway System: Minneapolis – St. Paul |author=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |date=August 2003 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |access-date=January 26, 2011 |format=PDF}}</ref> a system of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name=NHS>{{cite web |last= Adderly |first= Kevin |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515191424/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |series = National Highway System|title= Planning, Environment, & Realty |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |date= August 26, 2010 |access-date= January 26, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
The original beltway around the Twin Cities was [[Minnesota State Highway 100|MN&nbsp;100]]. The portion of I-694 running east from the current MN&nbsp;100 in Brooklyn Center through New Brighton and MN&nbsp;100 was part of that original beltway. There was a two-lane bridge across the Mississippi river where the current I-694 bridge is today. That bridge was constructed as part of a defense initiative authorized in 1942 at the beginning of US involvement [[World War II]].<ref name="Minn1942">{{cite book|author=Northern Pump Company|title=News Stories of the Northern Pump Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, from September 24th, 1940-&#91;Nov. 9, 1942&#93;.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QvghAQAAMAAJ|date=1942 |oclc = 62416184}}</ref>

The construction of I-694 to [[Interstate standards]] was authorized in 1956. The first section of I-694 completed was between US&nbsp;10 at [[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]] to I-35E at Little Canada in the early 1960s. The last section of I-694 completed was between I-35E at Little Canada to its junction with I-94 and I-494 at [[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]]–[[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]], completed by the early 1970s.

I-694 was built as the main thoroughfare for the northern suburbs of [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]. These include the cities of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]], Arden Hills, [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]], [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]], [[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]], [[White Bear Lake, Minnesota|White Bear Lake]], [[Maplewood, Minnesota|Maplewood]], Pine Springs, and Oakdale.

The original design of I-694 had problems with "weave" interchanges. The Unweave the Weave construction project, completed between 2004 and 2008, disentangled I-694 and I-35E at Little Canada–Vadnais Heights. The project was designed around several factors, a few of which included increasing freeway traffic capacity, increasing driver safety, and eliminating weaving and lane changes (eliminating "geometric deficiencies"), hence the name of the project, "Unweave the Weave". This weaving was the case for most drivers prior to 2005, before most of the road reconstruction work on the interchanges was done. As a result of lane changing and constant congestion, many accidents occurred on the interchange after its completion in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/unweave/overview.html/ |title = Unweave the Weave Project Overview |publisher = Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date = May 30, 2023 |archive-date = February 2, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080202050338/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/unweave/overview.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> The current layout of the two Interstates now provides for safer exits and entrances, minimal congestion, and better road surface durability. The project also realigned the two interstates to improve the infrastructure of the highway from an asphalt surface to a complete concrete surface. Numerous bridges were rebuilt, including the residential streets of Edgerton Street and Labore Road in [[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]].

The [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] (MnDOT) updated the overlapped section between  I-694 and I-35E to increase the number of lanes from six (three in each direction) to 12 (six in each direction) and eliminated the requirement to change lanes through the area. The section was rebuilt in concrete instead of asphalt and noise walls were added.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Another construction project, the I-35W/US 10/I-694 North Central Corridor Reconstruction Project, also designed to reduce unnecessary traffic crossovers on the highway, began in September 2011. This project eliminated the weaving movements of I-694 at its interchange with [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|US&nbsp;10]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 51|MN&nbsp;51]] in Arden Hills. This interchange often created one of the worst bottlenecks in the Twin Cities because drivers need to change at least one lane to continue either direction on I-694 between MN&nbsp;51 (Snelling Avenue) and US&nbsp;10. When the construction project was completed, the roadway of I-694 included two through lanes in each direction from I-35W at New Brighton to US&nbsp;10 at Arden Hills, three through lanes in each direction from US&nbsp;10 in Arden Hills to Rice Street at Shoreview–Little Canada, and five through lanes in each direction from Rice Street to the I-694/I-35E interchange, compared with the two to three lanes throughout the I-694 corridor.<ref>{{cite web |author = Minnesota Department of Transportation |url = http://www.dot.state.mn.us/enhance694/index.html |title = I-694 Project in Arden Hills |publisher = Minnesota Department of Transportation |date = November 2017 }}</ref> Construction on the North Central Corridor project began the week of September 19, 2011. Work was completed in November 2013, at an estimated cost of $185.5 million (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|185500000|2013}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite book |author= Minnesota Department of Transportation |date= July 2007 |chapter= III. Alternatives |title= I-694: 35E to 35W Environmental Assessment |url= http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/694expand/pdfs/finalea.pdf |type= Report |publisher= Minnesota Department of Transportation |page= 15 |access-date= May 26, 2012 |archive-date= August 24, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130824020615/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/694expand/pdfs/finalea.pdf |url-status= dead }}<!--Environmental impact statement, delineating estimated construction cost and construction aspects of project --></ref>

==Exit list==
Exit numbers continue from I-494.
{{jcttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name=statelpt>{{cite book |author= [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/statelpt.pdf |title=Statewide Trunk Logpoint Listing |format=PDF |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=April 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914220734/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/statelpt.pdf |archive-date=September 14, 2012 }}</ref>}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Hennepin
|cspan=12
|location=Maple Grove
|lspan=3
|mile=27.366
|mile2=27.969
|mspan=2
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|494|dir1=south}}
|notes=MNDOT signs this as counterclockwise terminus of I-694; clockwise terminus of I-494}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=27
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|US|52|dir1=west|dir2=north|city1=St. Cloud}}
|notes=West end of I-94/US 52 overlap; I-94 exit 216}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=28.460
|mile2=28.493
|exit=28
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|61|county1=Hennepin|name1=Hemlock Lane}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Brooklyn Park
|lspan=3
|mile=32.979
|exit=29
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|169}}
|notes=Signed as exits 29A (south) and 29B (north)}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=30.529
|exit=30
|road=Boone Avenue
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=31.454
|exit=31
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|81|county1=Hennepin|name1=Bottineau Boulevard}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Brooklyn Center
|lspan=6
|mile=33.479
|exit=33
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|152|county1=Hennepin|name1=Brooklyn Boulevard}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=34.770
|exit=34
|road=Shingle Creek Parkway
|notes=Eastbound exit spilt from  I-94 east}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=35.248
|mile2=35.272
|mspan=3
|exit=35B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|dir1=east|US|52|dir2=south|noshield2=yes|city1=Minneapolis}}
|notes=East end of I-94/US 52 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=none
|type=incomplete
|exit=35A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|100|dir1=south}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; northern terminus of MN 100}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=35B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|dir1=east|US|52|dir2=south|noshield2=yes}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-94 exit 225}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=35.815
|exit=35C
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|252|GRR|National}}
|notes=Western end of Great River Road overlap}}
{{jctbridge
|river=[[Mississippi River]]
|mile=
|mile2=
|exit
|bridge=[[I-694 Bridge]]}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Anoka
|cspan=3
|location=Fridley
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|mile=36.219
|exit=36
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|1|county1=Anoka|name1=East River Road|GRR|National}}
|notes=Eastern end of Great River Road overlap}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=36.938
|exit=37
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|47|name1=University Avenue}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=37.712
|exit=38
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|65|name1=Central Avenue}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Ramsey
|cspan=12
|location=New Brighton
|lspan=3
|mile=39.157
|exit=39
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|44|county1=Ramsey|name1=Silver Lake Road}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=39.956
|exit=40
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|45|county1=Ramsey|name1=10th Street|name2=Long Lake Road}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=40.762
|exit=41
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|35W}}
|notes=Signed as exits 41A (south) and 41B (north); I-35W exits 26B-C (formerly signed as exits 27A-B); [[cloverleaf interchange]]}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Arden Hills
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|mile=41.874
|exit=42B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|51|name1=Snelling Avenue|dir1=south}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via US 10}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=42.333
|exit=42A
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|10|dir1=west|city1=Anoka}}
|notes=West end of US&nbsp;10 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Arden Hills
|location2=Shoreview
|mile=42.787
|exit=42C
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|51|county1=Ramsey|name1=Lexington Avenue}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Shoreview
|lspan=2
|mile=43.586
|exit=43
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|52|county1=Ramsey|name1=Victoria Street}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=
|exit=45
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|49|county1=Ramsey|name1=Rice Street}}
|notes=[[Diverging Diamond Interchange]]}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Little Canada
|type=concur
|mile=46.417
|exit=46
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|35E|dir1=south|US|10|dir2=east|city1=St. Paul}}
|notes=East end of US&nbsp;10 overlap; west end of I-35E overlap; I-35E exit 113 northbound}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Vadnais Heights
|type=concur
|mile=47.067
|exit=47
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|35E|dir1=north|city1=Duluth}}
|notes=East end of I-35E overlap; I-35E exits 113-114 southbound}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=White Bear Lake
|location2=Maplewood
|lspan=2
|mile=48.483
|exit=48
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|61}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=49.665
|mile2=49.695
|exit=50
|road= {{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|65|county1=Ramsey|name1=White Bear Avenue}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|county1=Ramsey
|county2=Washington
|location=Mahtomedi
|mile=51.312
|exit=51
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|120|name1=Century Avenue}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|county=Washington
|cspan=5
|location=Pine Springs
|mile=52.491
|exit=52
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|36|city1=North St. Paul|city2=Stillwater}}
|notes=Signed as exits 52A (west) and 52B (east)}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Oakdale
|lspan=2
|mile=54.743
|exit=55
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|14|county1=Washington|name1=34th Street North}}
|notes=Former [[Minnesota State Highway 5|MN 5]]}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=57.123
|exit=57
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|10|county1=Washington|name1=10th Street North}}
|notes=}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Oakdale
|location2=Woodbury
|mile=58.101
|mile2=58.133
|mspan=2
|exit=58
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|US|12|noshield2=yes|city1=St. Paul|location2=[[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 58A (west) and 58B (east); I-94 exit 249}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Woodbury
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|494|dir1=south}}
|notes=Clockwise terminus of I-694; counterclockwise terminus of I-494}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==See also== 
*{{Portal-inline|Minnesota}}
*{{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r288-694.htm I-694 at The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page]
{{3di|94}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:94-6}}
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Interstate 94]]
[[Category:Transportation in Hennepin County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-6]]
[[Category:Transportation in Anoka County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-6]]
[[Category:Transportation in Ramsey County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-6]]
[[Category:Transportation in Washington County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-6]]
[[Category:Beltways in the United States|694]]