The project

What: Hwy. 312 is a nearly 12-mile stretch of road through the southwest metro area, which is opening in stages from Interstate 494 in Eden Prairie to Carver in Carver County.

Cost: $238 million

Status: Construction began in 1998. The first phase opened in 2001. The road was extended to Dell Road at the end of 2006. The latest phase, extending to Hwy. 41 in Chaska, opened Dec. 7. The final segment is expected to open in the summer, months ahead of schedule.

Future: The hope is to extend the highway as a four-lane road all the way to Norwood-Young America if funding can be found. The new road will take on the Hwy. 212 name, and the old 212 will be renamed.