Interstate 494
Interstate 494 (I-494) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway making up part of a beltway of I-94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota. The 42.94-mile (69.11 km) road is coupled with I-694 (which circles the northern edge of the Twin Cities metro area) at each end and composes more than half of the major beltway of the region. I-694/I-494 also act as loop routes for I-35E and I-35W.
Interstate 494 | ||||
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I-494 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Auxiliary route of I-94 | ||||
| Maintained by MnDOT | ||||
| Length | 42.94 mi (69.11 km) | |||
| Existed | 1985–present | |||
| NHS | Entire route | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North end | I-94 / I-694 / US 52 in Maple Grove | |||
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| East end | I-94 / I-694 / US 12 in Woodbury/Oakdale | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Minnesota | |||
| Counties | Washington, Ramsey, Dakota, Hennepin | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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The speed limit on I-494 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). Most highways inside the loop are signed at speeds of 55 mph (89 km/h) or lower, though a few exceptions were added in September 2005, allowing speeds of up to 60 mph (97 km/h) in some places. Those roads had been signed at 60 mph (97 km/h) or higher up until the 1973 oil crisis.