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Interstate 694
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Interstate 694 marker
Interstate 694
Map
I-694 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-94
Maintained by MnDOT
Length30.767 mi[1] (49.515 km)
Existed1970[citation needed]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-94 / I-494 / US 52 in Maple Grove
Major intersections
South end I-94 / I-494 / US 12 at Woodbury–Oakdale
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesHennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington
Highway system
  • Minnesota Trunk Highway System
← MN 610→ MN 1

Interstate 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 I-94, I-494, and US Highway 52 (US 52) in Maple Grove. The eastern terminus of I-694 is at its junction with I-94 and I-494 at the Woodbury–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 60 mph (97 km/h). Interstate Highways outside of the loop in Minnesota may be signed as high as 70 mph (110 km/h) but can only reach 60 mph (97 km/h) inside the loop.

I-694 also interchanges with I-35W at New Brighton–Arden Hills and I-35E at Little Canada–Vadnais Heights. I-694 is also concurrent with I-94/US 52 for eight miles (13 km) from Maple Grove to Brooklyn Center. I-694 is 30.8 miles (49.6 km) in length.

Route description

[edit]
Interchange of eastbound I-94, MN 252 and eastbound I-694 in Brooklyn Center

I-694 begins on the counterclockwise end at the junction of I-94, I-494, US 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 52 through the cities of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center. In Brooklyn Center, I-94/US 52 splits from I-694 and then I-94/US 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 and 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, Shoreview, and Little Canada. I-694 turns back to near due east at its western junction with I-35E. It continues east through the communities of Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood. In Pine Springs, I-694 has a cloverleaf interchange with Minnesota State Highway 36 (MN 36). The I-694/MN 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.[2]

I-694 looking West through Fridley

Mileposts 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.[2]

Legally, the route of I-694 is defined as part of unmarked legislative route 393 in the Minnesota Statutes §161.12(5).[3] I-694 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.[2] The entire freeway, as part of the Interstate Highway System, has been included in the National Highway System,[4] a system of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[5]

History

[edit]

The original beltway around the Twin Cities was MN 100. The portion of I-694 running east from the current MN 100 in Brooklyn Center through New Brighton and MN 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.[6]

The construction of I-694 to Interstate standards was authorized in 1956. The first section of I-694 completed was between US 10 at 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–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, Arden Hills, Shoreview, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, 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.[7] 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.

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.[citation needed]

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 US 10 and MN 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 51 (Snelling Avenue) and US 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 10 at Arden Hills, three through lanes in each direction from US 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.[8] 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 $246 million in 2024[9]).[10]

Exit list

[edit]

Exit numbers continue from I-494.

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
HennepinMaple Grove27.366–
27.969		44.041–
45.012
 I-494 south		MNDOT signs this as counterclockwise terminus of I-694; clockwise terminus of I-494
27

 I-94 west / US 52 north – St. Cloud		West end of I-94/US 52 overlap; I-94 exit 216
28.460–
28.493		45.802–
45.855		28 CSAH 61 (Hemlock Lane)
Brooklyn Park32.97953.07529 US 169Signed as exits 29A (south) and 29B (north)
30.52949.13230Boone Avenue
31.45450.62031 CSAH 81 (Bottineau Boulevard)
Brooklyn Center33.47953.87933 CSAH 152 (Brooklyn Boulevard)
34.77055.95734Shingle Creek ParkwayEastbound exit spilt from I-94 east
35.248–
35.272		56.726–
56.765		35B
 I-94 east / US 52 south – Minneapolis		East end of I-94/US 52 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
35A
 MN 100 south		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; northern terminus of MN 100
35B
 I-94 east / US 52 south		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-94 exit 225
35.81557.63935C
 MN 252 / Great River Road (National Route)		Western end of Great River Road overlap
Mississippi RiverI-694 Bridge
AnokaFridley36.21958.28936
 CSAH 1 (East River Road) / Great River Road (National Route)		Eastern end of Great River Road overlap
36.93859.44637 MN 47 (University Avenue)
37.71260.69238 MN 65 (Central Avenue)
RamseyNew Brighton39.15763.01739 CSAH 44 (Silver Lake Road)
39.95664.30340 CSAH 45 (10th Street)
40.76265.60041 I-35WSigned as exits 41A (south) and 41B (north); I-35W exits 26B-C (formerly signed as exits 27A-B); cloverleaf interchange
Arden Hills41.87467.39042B
 MN 51 south (Snelling Avenue)		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via US 10
42.33368.12842A
 US 10 west – Anoka		West end of US 10 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Arden Hills–Shoreview line42.78768.85942C CSAH 51 (Lexington Avenue)
Shoreview43.58670.14543 CSAH 52 (Victoria Street)
45 CSAH 49 (Rice Street)Diverging Diamond Interchange
Little Canada46.41774.70146

 I-35E south / US 10 east – St. Paul		East end of US 10 overlap; west end of I-35E overlap; I-35E exit 113 northbound
Vadnais Heights47.06775.74747
 I-35E north – Duluth		East end of I-35E overlap; I-35E exits 113-114 southbound
White Bear Lake–Maplewood line48.48378.02648 US 61
49.665–
49.695		79.928–
79.976		50 CSAH 65 (White Bear Avenue)
Ramsey–Washington
county line		Mahtomedi51.31282.57951 MN 120 (Century Avenue)
WashingtonPine Springs52.49184.47652 MN 36 – North St. Paul, StillwaterSigned as exits 52A (west) and 52B (east)
Oakdale54.74388.10055 CSAH 14 (34th Street North)Former MN 5
57.12391.93157 CSAH 10 (10th Street North)
Oakdale–Woodbury line58.101–
58.133		93.504–
93.556		58 I-94 / US 12 – St. Paul, Eau ClaireSigned as exits 58A (west) and 58B (east); I-94 exit 249
Woodbury
 I-494 south		Clockwise terminus of I-694; counterclockwise terminus of I-494
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Interstate 694

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Interstate 694 (I-694) is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway entirely within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It constitutes the northern half of the Twin Cities beltway system, extending 31 miles (50 km) from its western terminus at a junction with Interstate 94 (I-94) and Interstate 494 (I-494) in Maple Grove to its eastern terminus at a junction with Interstate 94 (I-94) and Interstate 494 (I-494) in Oakdale.[1][2] I-694 primarily serves as a commuter route and freight bypass around the urban core of the Twin Cities, connecting suburbs such as Brooklyn Park, Fridley, Shoreview, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood while avoiding congestion on I-94 through Minneapolis and Saint Paul.[3] The highway overlaps with I-94 for about 8 miles (13 km) in the western section near Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center, and it formerly briefly overlapped with I-35E near the eastern end (until 2008).[1] Key interchanges include those with I-494 at the western end, I-35W near New Brighton, Minnesota State Highway 36 (MN 36) in Roseville, U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) in Maplewood, and the complex cloverleaf interchange with I-94 and I-494 in Maple Grove.[1] Construction of I-694 began in the early 1960s as part of the broader Interstate Highway System and the expansion of the original MN 100 beltway concept from the 1930s and 1940s.[4] The first segment opened in 1961 near Arden Hills, with additional sections completed in 1962, 1964, 1965 (including a crossing of the Mississippi River), and the full mainline by 1970.[1] Subsequent improvements include the "Unweave the Weave" project from 2004 to 2008, which reconfigured the overlap with I-35E to enhance safety and traffic flow.[1] The route remains under ongoing maintenance by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), with recent mega-maintenance efforts addressing pavement and bridge conditions.[5]

Route description

Western segment

Interstate 694's western segment commences at the Fish Lake Interchange in Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota, where it intersects with Interstate 94, Interstate 494, and U.S. Highway 52.[1] This starting point serves as a key connector in the northwestern suburbs of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, facilitating regional travel eastward.[6] From the interchange, I-694 travels concurrently with I-94 eastbound for approximately eight miles, progressing through the suburban landscapes of Maple Grove and into Brooklyn Park.[1] The route navigates a transition from residential neighborhoods and commercial districts in Maple Grove to more mixed-use areas in Brooklyn Park, passing near industrial zones that support local manufacturing and logistics activities.[7] This segment remains entirely within Hennepin County, highlighting the highway's role in linking northwestern suburban growth centers.[8] The highway continues into Brooklyn Center, where the concurrency with I-94 concludes, allowing I-694 to branch northward toward its central segment.[1] Throughout this portion, I-694 maintains a six-lane configuration in each direction to handle suburban commuter and freight traffic efficiently.[7] Average annual daily traffic (AADT) volumes along this stretch typically range from 120,000 to 150,000 vehicles as of 2023, reflecting its importance as a primary east-west corridor in the region.[9]

Central segment

Interstate 694 splits from its concurrency with Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 52 near Brooklyn Center, where I-94 turns southeast toward downtown Minneapolis while I-694 continues eastward as a six-lane freeway through the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[1] This segment traverses Fridley, passing industrial and residential developments along its route, before entering Shoreview, where the highway maintains a relatively straight alignment amid suburban growth.[1] A key feature of this central portion is the major junction with Interstate 35W at the Arden Hills–New Brighton line, configured as a cloverleaf interchange that historically included a loop-to-loop weave section for merging traffic, which has been analyzed and improved through targeted safety and capacity enhancements.[10] The interchange facilitates north-south connectivity to the northern suburbs and beyond, serving as a critical link for commuters avoiding the urban core.[1] Further east, I-694 crosses the Mississippi River via the I-694 Bridge, a pair of parallel girder bridges connecting Fridley on the north bank to Maplewood on the south bank, providing the primary highway crossing in this reach of the river.[11] The structure supports heavy freight and commuter traffic as part of the regional beltway system.[1] Throughout this urban core in Ramsey County, I-694 passes through suburbs such as Arden Hills (population density approximately 1,200 residents per square mile) and Little Canada (population density approximately 2,700 residents per square mile as of 2020), reflecting varying suburban densities in the highly urbanized Twin Cities region.[12] The highway runs proximate to industrial zones south of its alignment between Snelling Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Arden Hills, zoned for service business and flexible industrial uses that support manufacturing and logistics activities.[13] Additionally, the route borders areas managed by the Capitol Region Watershed District, which oversees stormwater and water quality protection across 86 square miles of the capitol region, including portions adjacent to the freeway.[14] Notable along this stretch is the alignment near Rice Street in Little Canada, where the interchange features a roundabout on the north side to manage local access and reduce congestion in a bottleneck section with two lanes per direction.[15] As I-694 proceeds eastward toward the river crossing, the surrounding landscape transitions from mixed residential-industrial to increasingly commercial developments, including retail centers and office parks that characterize the suburban corridor.[1]

Eastern segment

The eastern segment of Interstate 694 continues eastward from Maplewood into Washington County, traversing the suburban communities of Oakdale and Woodbury as part of the northern beltway around the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[3] Near the boundary of Little Canada and Maplewood, I-694 intersects I-35E at a partial cloverleaf interchange that includes auxiliary lanes between the highways and dedicated ramps for eastbound I-694 to southbound I-35E traffic, facilitating efficient access to downtown St. Paul and northern routes.[16][17] In Oakdale, the highway meets Minnesota State Highway 36 at a cloverleaf interchange, serving as a vital connection to the northern suburbs, including White Bear Lake and Stillwater, while supporting local commuter and commercial traffic.[18] As it proceeds toward Woodbury, I-694 passes north of Phalen Regional Park, skirting sensitive wetlands protected under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act and gradually shifting from established suburban neighborhoods to emerging exurban development along the corridor.[19][20] The segment concludes at the interchange with I-94 spanning Oakdale and Woodbury, completing the northern portion of the Twin Cities beltway loop, which connects to I-494 via I-94 to enable seamless east-west freight movement.[3] Annual average daily traffic (AADT) along this eastern portion generally ranges from 80,000 to 120,000 vehicles as of 2023, underscoring its importance for regional suburban mobility.[21]

History

Planning and authorization

The planning for Interstate 694 (I-694) began as part of the broader effort to develop a circumferential beltway around the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, known as the Twin Cities. Following the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the construction of the 41,000-mile National System of Interstate and Defense Highways with 90% federal funding, I-694 was included as a key segment of the northern portion of the proposed beltway. This act provided the financial and legal framework for states to integrate local expressway plans into the national interstate network, with Minnesota identifying the beltway—comprising what would become I-694 and I-494—as essential for regional connectivity.[22] In 1957, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) approved the initial designations for the interstate system, including routes in Minnesota that encompassed the Twin Cities beltway. The Minnesota Highway Department, a predecessor to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, conducted route selection studies from 1958 to 1960, finalizing the alignment for I-694 based on the evolving MN 100 Beltway plan established in the 1930s and 1940s. These studies, supported by the newly formed Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission in 1957 and the Twin Cities Area Transportation Study initiated in 1958, incorporated federal input from the Bureau of Public Roads to refine the corridor.[4][23][22] The primary rationale for I-694's route was to create a northern bypass that connected the eastern terminus of I-94 near St. Paul to the splits of I-35E and I-35W north of Minneapolis, thereby relieving severe congestion on U.S. Highway 10 (US 10), which served as the main east-west arterial through the northern suburbs. This alignment aimed to facilitate smoother traffic flow around the urban core, support economic growth by improving access to developing areas, and align with national goals for defense mobility and commerce. Early studies in the 1950s, including the state's 1957 cost estimate for its interstate segments, projected substantial investments for the full beltway, with related interchange planning alone estimated at $6–9 million depending on the northern route choice.[4][24][22] Political support for the project was robust at the local level, particularly from governments in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, which viewed the beltway as a catalyst for economic development and suburban expansion. In 1956, the Hennepin County Board approved the alignment for Highway 62, a southern beltway segment, signaling early regional commitment. Business interests and local highway departments in both counties advocated for the northern bypass to enhance freight movement and residential growth, collaborating through the Metropolitan Planning Commission to secure federal approvals by 1960.[22]

Initial construction

The initial construction of Interstate 694 began in the early 1960s following federal authorization as part of the Interstate Highway System, with the first segment opening in 1961 from Maryland Avenue in St. Paul to Rice Street at the Little Canada/Vadnais Heights city line. Subsequent segments opened in 1962 west to U.S. 10 (CSAH 76) at Arden Hills and in 1964 to U.S. 8 (now Old Highway 8). In 1965, a 4-mile section extended from County State Aid Highway 81 (Bottineau Boulevard) in Brooklyn Center westward across the Mississippi River to Interstate 94, marking a key connection in the route's northern arc.[1] The western extension, including the junction with I-35W near New Brighton, was completed in 1969, linking the beltway's northern loop to I-494 near Maple Grove. Eastern segments, extending from the I-35E overlap toward I-94 near Oakdale, opened in 1969 from I-94/I-494 north to MN 36 at Pine Springs and were fully connected by 1970, achieving mainline continuity by late 1970 and full route completion in the early 1970s.[1] The completed route measured 30.77 miles, forming the northern half of the Twin Cities beltway alongside I-494. Overall costs for the project are estimated at around $150 million when adjusted for inflation to current dollars, reflecting the scale of earthwork, paving, and infrastructure in a growing metropolitan area.[25] Engineering challenges were prominent, particularly the reconstruction of the Mississippi River bridges, where the westbound span was rebuilt in 1963 by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to support four lanes of freeway traffic amid the river's navigational demands and flood-prone valley. Routing through densely developed Fridley required precise grading and utility relocations, while the initial I-35E interchange featured temporary weave configurations to manage merging traffic flows until later redesigns.[26] Funding adhered to the standard Interstate formula, with 90 percent provided by the federal government via the Federal-Aid Highway Act and 10 percent matched by the state of Minnesota. At peak periods, construction employed over 1,000 workers across multiple contracts, coordinating paving, bridge erection, and drainage improvements under Minnesota Department of Highways oversight.

Major improvements

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) implemented capacity enhancements on I-694's central segments, including shoulder paving to accommodate high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) use and partial upgrades to the Rice Street interchange in 1990, which involved bridge repairs and minor reconfiguration to address early traffic growth.[27] These efforts built on the original 1970s weave configurations at key interchanges, which had created safety challenges due to left-hand lane merges.[28] A significant advancement came in the mid-2000s with the installation of sound barriers along suburban stretches of I-694, aimed at mitigating noise impacts for nearby residential areas, as part of broader reconstruction initiatives.[29] Lighting upgrades were also incorporated near urban zones during this period to enhance nighttime visibility and safety, particularly around high-traffic interchanges.[30] The "Unweave the Weave" project, undertaken from 2006 to 2008, represented a major $128.3 million reconstruction of the I-35E/I-694 interchange in Little Canada and Vadnais Heights, eliminating problematic left-hand weaves by reconfiguring ramps and adding lanes.[31] This effort widened 3.2 miles of I-35E and 2.8 miles of I-694 to six lanes in each direction, constructed eight new bridges, and included noise walls and stormwater management features to improve overall traffic flow and safety.[28] The project reduced unnecessary lane changes by approximately 80 percent, contributing to decreased regional congestion as evidenced by 2008 traffic data showing improvements in the Twin Cities area.[32][33] From 2011 to 2013, the North Central Corridor project further enhanced I-694 with a $185.5 million investment in pavement replacement, bridge rehabilitation, and the addition of one lane in each direction between I-35W and I-35E, including removal of a weave section near Highway 10 in Shoreview and Arden Hills.[27] This work targeted persistent bottlenecks, increasing capacity and reducing congestion while improving safety for the corridor serving as a key freight bypass around the Twin Cities.[34]

Recent and future projects

In 2025, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) undertook a "Mega Maintenance" project on Interstate 694, involving full closures of an approximately 10-mile eastbound section from Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center to Snelling Avenue during July and August. The work encompassed pavement repairs, bridge joint replacements, and drainage improvements to extend the roadway's service life ahead of larger-scale resurfacing efforts.[16] The Rice Street (CSAH 49) interchange improvements, completed in 2021, addressed capacity constraints with a $22.9 million investment that reduced congestion, including bridge repairs and reconfiguration. Studies continue for future enhancements, such as potential flyover ramps and ADA-compliant features to accommodate projected 2040 traffic volumes exceeding 100,000 vehicles daily. This work improves operational efficiency and safety at the bottleneck, where prior configurations contributed to frequent congestion.[35][15][36] A 2023-2024 study of the I-694/I-494/I-94 interchange in Oakdale and Woodbury proposed concrete pavement replacement and ramp extensions to alleviate deterioration and improve mobility for the freight bypass corridor handling over 150,000 vehicles daily. Environmental review remains ongoing, with mitigation for wetlands and stormwater emphasized in the assessment.[3][37] These efforts receive partial funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which allocated approximately $3.5 billion to Minnesota for highway preservation and capacity projects through 2026, enabling accelerated maintenance on aging interstates like I-694.[38]

Interchanges

Hennepin County

ExitMilepostLocationsRoadsDestinationsNotes
2727.37Maple GroveI-94 WestSt. CloudWestern terminus at I-494/I-94 interchange; partial cloverleaf.[39]
2828.00Maple GroveCSAH 61 (Hemlock Lane)Maple GroveDiamond interchange.[39]
29A29.20Maple GroveUS 169 SouthEden Prairie, HopkinsPartial cloverleaf.[39]
29B29.20Maple GroveUS 169 NorthAnoka, ZimmermanPartial cloverleaf.[39]
3030.50Brooklyn ParkBoone AvenueBrooklyn ParkDiamond interchange.[39]
3131.00Brooklyn CenterCSAH 81 (Zane Avenue)Brooklyn CenterDiamond interchange.[39]
3333.00Brooklyn CenterCSAH 152 (Brooklyn Boulevard)Brooklyn CenterDiamond interchange.[39]
3434.00Brooklyn CenterShingle Creek ParkwayBrooklyn CenterFolded diamond interchange.[39]
35A35.00Brooklyn CenterMN 100 South (Bass Lake Road)Golden ValleyPartial directional interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance.[39]
35B35.00Brooklyn CenterI-94 EastDowntown MinneapolisCloverleaf interchange; east end of I-94 overlap.[39]
35C35.00Brooklyn CenterMN 252 NorthMinneapolisPartial directional interchange.[39]

Ramsey County

ExitMilepostLocationsRoadsDestinationsNotes
3636.00FridleyEast River RoadFridleyFolded diamond interchange.[39]
3737.00FridleyMN 47 (University Avenue)Fridley, Coon RapidsDiamond interchange.[39]
3838.00New BrightonMN 65 (Central Avenue)Northeast Minneapolis, CambridgePartial cloverleaf/diamond interchange.[39]
3939.00New BrightonSilver Lake RoadNew BrightonDiamond interchange.[39]
4040.00New BrightonLong Lake Road / 10th Street NWNew BrightonDiamond interchange.[39]
41A41.00Arden HillsI-35W SouthDowntown MinneapolisCloverleaf interchange.[39]
41B41.00Arden HillsI-35W NorthDuluthCloverleaf interchange.[39]
42A42.00Arden HillsMN 51 (Snelling Avenue / Hamline Avenue)RosevillePartial directional interchange; limited access.[39]
42B42.00Arden HillsUS 10 WestAnokaPartial directional interchange.[39]
43A43.00ShoreviewLexington AvenueShoreviewDiamond interchange.[39]
43B43.00ShoreviewVictoria StreetShoreviewPartial folded diamond interchange.[39]
4545.00Little CanadaCSAH 49 (Rice Street)Little CanadaDiamond interchange.[39]
4646.00Little CanadaI-35E South / US 10 EastSt. Paul3-way directional interchange.[39]
4747.00Vadnais HeightsI-35E NorthDuluth3-way directional interchange.[39]
4848.00MaplewoodUS 61Maplewood, White Bear LakeDiamond interchange.[39]
5050.00MaplewoodWhite Bear AvenueMaplewood Mall SouthDiamond interchange.[40]
5151.00MaplewoodMN 120 (Century Avenue)White Bear LakeAt county line.[39]
52A52.00North St. PaulMN 36 WestNorth St. PaulCloverleaf interchange.[39]
52B52.00North St. PaulMN 36 EastStillwaterCloverleaf interchange.[39]

Washington County

ExitMilepostLocationsRoadsDestinationsNotes
5555.00Pine SpringsMN 5 (34th Street North)StillwaterDiamond interchange.[39]
5757.00OakdaleCSAH 10 (10th Street North)OakdalePartial folded diamond interchange.[39]
58A58.00OakdaleI-94 West / US 12 WestSt. PaulEastern terminus; cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes.[1]
58B58.00OakdaleI-94 EastMadison, WIEastern terminus; cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes.[1]
The total length of I-694 is 30.77 miles, measured from the western terminus at the I-94 interchange in Maple Grove.[41] Exit numbers continue sequentially from I-494 and are based on mileposts starting from the southern terminus of the beltway system. Some interchanges have eastbound/westbound variations, such as split ramps at major junctions like I-94 (Exits 27 and 58A/B). Data reflects 2025 MnDOT updates with no major changes to exit configurations.[16]

Notable interchanges

The Fish Lake Interchange, where Interstate 694 begins its counterclockwise loop around the Twin Cities by connecting with I-94 and I-494 in Maple Grove and Oakdale, serves as a critical entry point for the beltway system, facilitating regional freight and commuter traffic between the western suburbs and eastern routes toward Wisconsin.[3] This complex junction handles significant volumes, with annual average daily traffic (AADT) on I-694 reaching approximately 92,800 vehicles in 2016 and projected to increase to 113,170 by 2040, contributing to its role in managing high-capacity flows that exceed 100,000 vehicles daily across the combined roadways.[20] The interchange features multiple loop ramps and auxiliary lanes designed for improved mobility, though ongoing studies highlight needs for further enhancements to address deteriorating infrastructure and safety concerns, such as truck rollovers on tight curves.[20] The junction with I-35E in Little Canada–Vadnais Heights represents a major convergence point for north-south and east-west travel, historically plagued by weaving movements that increased collision risks before the "Unweave the Weave" project.[42] Completed in 2008, this initiative added direct ramps and auxiliary lanes along the 0.65-mile overlap, reducing abrupt lane changes and enhancing safety for the high-volume corridor that sees substantial commuter and freight traffic.[43] Post-improvement, the area continues to experience elevated crash rates due to merging demands, underscoring its engineering significance in alleviating bottlenecks near the urban core.[42] Further east, the I-35E junction in Maplewood provides essential access to St. Paul and northern suburbs, integrating with the beltway to support regional connectivity amid growing urban demands.[16] Ongoing expansion plans include expansion of I-694 to a six-lane freeway section between I-35E and I-35W, along with auxiliary lane additions and interchange upgrades to accommodate projected traffic growth and improve flow for St. Paul-bound commuters.[17] These enhancements, part of broader Metropolitan Council initiatives, aim to mitigate congestion while preserving multi-modal options in the densely populated area.[44] The interchange with MN 36 in Oakdale links I-694 to the White Bear Lake region and eastern freight corridors, handling notable truck volumes that comprise about 7.1% of total traffic in the vicinity.[37] This junction's design supports heavy commercial loads, but its proximity to industrial zones contributes to operational challenges, including delays during peak hours as trucks merge onto the beltway.[45] The Rice Street interchange has undergone recent reconstruction to address chronic congestion, featuring a new four-lane bridge, roundabouts, and realigned ramps completed in 2020 at a cost of $22.9 million.[15] Traffic studies indicate volumes of around 19,500 vehicles per day currently, with projections estimating a 33% increase to over 25,000 by 2040, necessitating these upgrades to prevent operational failure.[46] Collectively, these notable interchanges account for a disproportionate share of safety incidents on I-694, with MnDOT analyses identifying high crash concentrations at junctions due to weaving, merging, and high speeds, prompting targeted improvements to reduce collision risks.[42]

References

  1. Interstate 694 Minnesota
  2. Interstate 694, Minnesota - Roads of the Mid-South & West
  3. I-94 East Metro Interchange Study - MnDOT
  4. A History of Minnesota's Interstate Highways
  5. News Releases - MnDOT
  6. I-94/694 Northwest Metro
  7. [PDF] 2030 Comprehensive Plan - Chapter 5 Transportation - Brooklyn Park
  8. [PDF] Hennepin County Map - MINNESOTA
  9. I 694 over Mississippi River Hennepin County, Minnesota Bridge ...
  10. [PDF] Estimation of Capacity in Freeway Weaving Areas for Traffic ...
  11. [PDF] Chapter 9. Critical Area - City of Fridley
  12. Ramsey County, Minnesota - Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law
  13. Business Districts | Arden Hills, MN - Official Website
  14. About CRWD - Capitol Region Watershed District
  15. I-694/Rice Street Interchange - Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.
  16. https://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/
  17. [PDF] TRANSPORTATION - Little Canada, MN
  18. Interstate 694 and Trunk Highway 36, Oakdale, Minnesota
  19. Gateway State Trail | Minnesota DNR
  20. [PDF] I-94 East Metro Interchange
  21. [PDF] 2023 Traffic Volume Map (PDF) - Washington County, MN
  22. [PDF] Politics and Freeways: - University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  23. A History of Minnesota's Interstates, Part Two - Streets.mn
  24. 1957 Estimate of the Cost of Completing the National System of ...
  25. Part III - Cost - Engineering Data - Interstate System - Highway History
  26. I-694 Bridge, Brooklyn Center, MN - John A. Weeks III
  27. [PDF] Annual Report on Major Highway Projects - MnDOT
  28. “Unweave the Weave” project marks completion - Newsline - MnDOT
  29. Minnesota tries to make your drive a little prettier - Pioneer Press
  30. [PDF] Annual Report on Major Highway Projects
  31. Commissioner Sorel talks virtually to employees - Newsline - MnDOT
  32. Unweave the Weave | News | pinecountynews.com
  33. Twin Cities traffic congestion decreased in 2008 - Newsline - MnDOT
  34. MN: Interstate-694 North Central Project
  35. National Highway System Pavement Projects in Metro District
  36. Major capacity expansion and mobility projects in the Twin Cities
  37. [PDF] Findings of Facts and Conclusions I-694/I-494/I-94 Interchange ...
  38. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Funding Status
  39. OKRoads.com -- Minnesota Highway Guides -- Interstate 694
  40. Exit List for I-694, Brooklyn Center to Little Canada
  41. Roadway Data Products - TDA, MnDOT
  42. [PDF] congestion management safety plan (cmsp) | phase 4 - MnDOT
  43. [PDF] METRO HIGHWAY SYSTEM INVESTMENT STUDY
  44. [PDF] METRO HIGHWAY SYSTEM INVESTMENT STUDY
  45. [PDF] Using Truck GPS Data for Freight Performance Analysis in ... - MnDOT
  46. [PDF] 2021 MCEA Project of the Year I-694 at Rice Street (CSAH 49 ...
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