Why is Eden Prairie road layout so bad? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: cul-de-sac, 2015)

[paiste13]

Between highways not having entrance/exit ramps, multiple highways converging, and an unusual layout around the mall, why is Eden Prairie'd road network so bad? If you're miss an exit you have to do miles down the highway to the next one, and nothing seems to be orientated in a straight line.

Does anyone else get frustrated with this, and why is it the worst layout in the twin cities?

[slamont61]

Agree, no straight-line main roads exist in EP. Seems to be orientated this way more so due to the topography of the area, hills and lakes. It is a challenging area for anyone not familiar with it.

I worked there prior to Covid but now am permanently remote, and so I've cleaned out my desk and bid good-bye to the god awful layout of town and roads. Also to the area soon to be changed forever by the arrival of light rail.

[Tyryztoll]

If you think EP's bad like that, get a load of the Coon Rapids/Anoka vicinity.

[slamont61]

Originally Posted by Tyryztoll

If you think EP's bad like that, get a load of the Coon Rapids/Anoka vicinity.

Oh I agree with this, I lived in Blaine for a year. It is pretty warped but on a wider scale up there.

EP is compacted into a smaller area and is beyond confusing.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by paiste13

Between highways not having entrance/exit ramps, multiple highways converging, and an unusual layout around the mall, why is Eden Prairie'd road network so bad? If you're miss an exit you have to do miles down the highway to the next one, and nothing seems to be orientated in a straight line.

Does anyone else get frustrated with this, and why is it the worst layout in the twin cities?

Agreed. Lot's of circular roads, weird frontage roads, incredibly difficult to navigate at times.

[Umbria]

Ageed - I thought it was just me. I avoid EP.

[Philly Flash]

We've been told that EP was a "planned" community. Very 70s-mall-centric.

[demtion35]

Originally Posted by paiste13

Between highways not having entrance/exit ramps, multiple highways converging, and an unusual layout around the mall, why is Eden Prairie'd road network so bad? If you're miss an exit you have to do miles down the highway to the next one, and nothing seems to be orientated in a straight line.

Does anyone else get frustrated with this, and why is it the worst layout in the twin cities?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW7ODXYm1aQ

[wit-nit]

MN with it's bragging of 10,000+ lakes it's inevitable that everything is all screwed up, er; twisted, bent, curled and scrambled trying to get around all that soaking marshy property.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

MN with it's bragging of 10,000+ lakes it's inevitable that everything is all screwed up, er; twisted, bent, curled and scrambled trying to get around all that soaking marshy property.

I’ve heard this explanation before and don’t think this logic applies to suburbs like Eden Prairie. Compare that to cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul or the historic areas of Excelsior, Hopkins, White Bear Lake, Anoka, Shakopee, Farmington, Chaska, etc. which are set up with a neat and tidy grid making them more walkable and easy to navigate. This is a stark contrast to car-dependent bedroom communities like Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Eagan, Plymouth, Apple Valley, Woodbury and Blaine which were designed as twisty-turney mazes full of cul-de-sacs, strip malls and department stores.

That said, I would consider Eden Prairie one of the more egregious examples of this type of design. Without using navigation I have gotten lost there before.