Study: Traffic congestion is up in the Twin Cities metro
St. Paul Pioneer Press Article Last Updated: 03/14/2008 08:44:14 AM CDT

Traffic congestion in the metro area has increased for the first time in four years, according to a new study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Last year, there were 305 miles of congested freeway in the Twin Cities area, compared with 267 miles previous year, 277 miles in 2004 and 280 miles in 2004. A "congested mile" is defined as a mile of traffic moving slower than 45 miles per hour.

Much of the increase traces back to the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in August, according the Metropolitan Freeway System 2007 Congestion Report. The bridge collapse sent traffic to Highway 280, Interstate 94, Interstate 694 and Interstate 35W as people searched for alternate routes.

Construction projects on busy interstates also contributed to the congestion, the report said.

The report can be found at :http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/08/03/14-congestion.html