Ridgedale Interstate Work Set to Begin This Fall

Planners are preparing for construction on improvements to the interchange at Interstate 394 and Ridgedale Drive that aim to be another step forward for the district.

The project will add a westbound on-ramp and a westbound I-394 auxiliary lane, which will run from the newly created ramp to the west of Plymouth Road. When the project is complete, Ridgedale Drive will have a fully functional interchange with access to and from both eastbound and westbound I-394.

The project will cost a total of $8 million—with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Department of Employment and Economic Development contributing $2.8 million in Transportation Economic Development money, according to MnDOT.

Further west, MnDOT will also be embarking on a $1.2 million project to provide better access from I-394 to Interstate 494.

Construction on the I-494/I-394 project is scheduled to begin in September and be substantially complete by November. Work on the Ridgedale Drive on-ramp should start in November and be complete by October 2014.

The roadway improvements will augment Minnetonka’s broader vision for the Ridgedale district. Earlier this month, the city laid out a 2035 vision for the area with the following components:

• Create an identity and sense of place for the Ridgedale district.
• Build on past investments and current plans.
• Provide an armature for investments and improvements over time.
• Develop the public realm as a glue to link various projects and places.
• Identify catalyst projects and potential locations.

The concept plan has the following elements:

• Transform Retail Center into Mixed Use Community
• Rebuild Ridgedale Drive into a Parkway
• Enhance Natural Features
• Improve Mobility and Circulation
• Encourage Green Practices

Click here to see the full presentation of the 2035 vision.