Rain has returned to the west metro, and that's possibly playing a role in the slow traffic that persists on Hwy. 169 and 494.

Both routes are sluggish from Bass Lake Road down to 394 with 15 to 20 minutes needed.

Elsewhere you'll find pockets of congestion on westbound Crosstown from 35W out to Hwy. 100.

Heading into Minneapolis, northbound 35W has a few hiccups from 50th Street to Lake Street. It's an 8-minute drive.

One place things have not improved all morning is on westbound 694 in the work zone. It's still 15 to 18 minutes between 35W and Hwy. 100.