MnDOT news release (http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/09/09/29-i35w-mnpass.html) and a StarTribune article (http://www.startribune.com/local/62473767.html)
The new HO/T lanes on I-35W opened this morning in two separate stretches.
First was conversion of the existing I-35W HOV lanes in Burnsville and Bloomington to HO/T lanes. These lanes run northbound from Burnsville Pkwy to I-494, and southbound from I-494 to just north of MN 13. The lanes will be tolled northbound between 6-10am and southbound between 2-7pm, being open to all traffic otherwise.
The second stretch is a "dynamic shoulder lane", where MnDOT converted the inside shoulder northbound from 42nd St to downtown to a HO/T lane. This lane will only be open during rush hour or as needed during other periods of congestion.
Once the Crosstown Commons reconstruction (http://www.dot.state.mn.us/projects/crosstown/) is complete, the two northbound segments will be connected, and the southbound lane will be extended north to 42nd St.
I also have it on good authority that MnDOT is already planning a southward extension (http://www.dot.state.mn.us/burnsvillemnpass/) of the HO/T lanes. They're looking at extending the beginning of the northbound HO/T lane south from Burnsville Pkwy to just north of the I-35E/I-35W split (but not into/through the split). Construction is anticipated for 2011-12.
Finally they're helping that very old and bottlenecked section of I-35W :clap: