The Plymouth City Council will discuss options for a possible upgrade to I-494 in Plymouth with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) representatives at a study session on Tues., Jan. 15. The meeting will start at 5:15 p.m. and be held at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd.

City officials have long sought a third lane for I-494 from Highway 55 to I-94 to ease rush hour congestion, improve safety and help area businesses trying to move goods into, out of and through Plymouth.

Upgrading the segment of I-494 in Plymouth, which fills daily with jammed traffic, has been a priority for the Plymouth City Council for years. Rush hour traffic snarls are caused as the freeway bottlenecks, funneling vehicles from three lanes down to two.

While congestion on I-494 causes headaches and lost time for commuters and businesses, it also increases traffic on neighborhood streets as vehicles exit the freeway and use local streets to avoid backups.

In past years, the City Council has enlisted citizens, local businesses, and state and federal elected officials to advocate for a third lane on I-494. This year the Plymouth City Council is renewing its push for a third lane, and has again included it among its goals. City officials hope that 2013 is the year that a feasible solution can be found to ease congestion on I-494.