A setback in relieving 494 congestion Plymouth city officials say they're tired of broken promises over the years to relieve congestion on Interestate Highway 494. They've been pushing for a third general traffic lane for ten years. Now it appears, that wait will continue. In a meeting with MnDOT officials last week, they were told it's not in the state's plans, unless it's a MnPASS lane. The state may study the feasibility of building a MnPASS lane over the next year. One temporary proposal was to squeeze in enough pavement for an additional lane in each direction and repaint the lines. But when that idea didn't go anywhere, there was frustration on the city council. "They know businesses suffer, we don't have to tell them that," says Plymouth City Council Member Tim Bildsoe. "They know all of this and yet they don't choose a temporary solution to a problem that affects thousands and thousands of Minnesotans every day." The local business community says it's more than an in! convenience. TwinWest Chamber officials say having products and employees stuck in traffic is counterproductive. "People can't get to work today, the second effect is people may not want to get to work tomorrow," says TwinWest Chair Greg Korstad. "These are real jobs. These are real businesses. This is the economic engine of our community and we need to support it with the infrastructure to keep it going." MnDOT may not have the estimated $50 million needed to do the project. But council member Judy
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