Edina grants municipal consent for MnDOT’s I‑494 phase 2 work; city not expected to share costs

The Edina City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Oct. 22 granting municipal consent to MnDOT for Phase 2 of the I‑494 Corridor Vision implementation, a design-build project that MnDOT officials said will add express lanes and reconfigure portions of the interchange east of I‑35W.

Andrew Lutaya (MnDOT) told the council state statute requires municipal consent when MnDOT projects expand highway capacity, alter highway access or require right-of-way. He said Phase 2 work focuses primarily on the east side of 35W and includes reconstructing pavement, work on I‑35W between local cross streets and reconstruction of the Highway 77 bridges. The project will also repave medians to add the express lanes west of Highway 100 and will remove some direct highway access at Nicollet and 12th avenues, consolidating access at Portland Avenue.

MnDOT reported schedule milestones: a draft environmental document under internal review, public comment on that environmental document planned for approximately December 2025 (with a 30-day comment window through the EQB); federal authorization targeted for June 2026; solicitation for design-build contractors expected after federal authorization with bidding likely in October 2026; preliminary work such as utility relocations and temporary widening in 2027; and major construction beginning in 2028 with concurrent mainline impacts on 494 and 35W through approximately 2030.

Lutaya said MnDOT does not anticipate a city cost-share request for the second phase and that the agency is seeking municipal consent as required by statute. The council adopted resolution 2025‑99 to grant municipal consent; Member Pierce moved the motion and Member Agnew seconded it. The motion carried by voice vote.