Trunk Highways of Dakota County - A History (Page 4)
>> Jump to Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Building the Modern Highway System: 1966-Present
Before the construction of its first interstate highways in the early 1960's, sub urbanization in Dakota County had been limited mostly to the northern part of the county along the Robert Street (U.S. 52) corridor in West St. Paul. This changed with the construction of the first portion of I-35W in 1960, which provided a fast connection between western Dakota County and Minneapolis. In 1964, Burnsville Township incorporated as a village. The I-35/I-35W corridor was extended south shortly thereafter in 1966. Burnsville's population grew from 19,813 in 1970 to 35,674 in 1980.
The rest of the county, however, still lacked expressway connections to either St. Paul or Minneapolis. In the latter half of the 1970's, construction began on a new network of freeways that would help facilitate a massive population boom in the 80's and 90's.
>> Contents:
- The Lafayette Freeway
- Route Changes, 1978-1980
- The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway
- The southern end of Highway 77
- The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project
- Completing the Lafayette Freeway
- Consolidating the Trunk Highways
- Recent Highway Developments
The Lafayette Freeway, 1975
By the end of the 1960's, the I-35W corridor had been completed, giving downtown Minneapolis an important connection to its southern suburbs. In contrast, St. Paul had no major expressway or freeway directly to the south into Dakota County. In 1968, the Lafayette Bridge was opened to the public. The new bridge crossed the Mississippi River on the east side of downtown St. Paul. The bridge was originally linked with Concord Boulevard and Highway 56 into South St. Paul.
Then in 1975, construction was completed on the first stretch of the Lafayette Freeway between the south end of the bridge and the Highway 110 expressway. State Highway 3 was subsequently routed off of Robert Street onto the new freeway, using Highway 110 to make the short connection from Robert Street.
The south end of the new freeway fed onto Babcock Trail, which then made the final connection with Highway 110. The new highway provided a faster link into West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights than Robert Street (then the route of U.S. 52), but lacked good connections with other routes to points further south. The Lafayette would remain incomplete for nearly 20 years.
State Highway 56 was also reconstructed and upgraded to four lanes north of its interchange with 494 in South St. Paul between 1978 and 1979 to improve the other main route into downtown.
>> Jump To: The Lafayette Freeway | Route Changes, 1978-1980 | The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway | The southern end of Highway 77 | The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project | Completing the Lafayette Freeway | Consolidating the Trunk Highways | Recent Highway Developments
>> back to top
Route Changes, 1978-1980
Several changes were made to the route system in Dakota County at the end of the 1970's.
 |
State Highway 77In about 1978, State Highway 36 was truncated at its junction with I-35W in Roseville, and its old route on Cedar Avenue through south Minneapolis was decommissioned. The remaining southern segment was redesignated State Highway 77. At this point, Highway 77 was still using the old Cedar Avenue bridge to cross the Minnesota River between Hennepin and Dakota Counties. This would soon change, as the new Cedar Avenue freeway was extended south. |
 |
State Highway 149In about 1980, State Highway 49 was again truncated north of downtown St. Paul. Its old southern segment from West 7th Street (Highway 5) in St. Paul across the high bridge into Dakota County was redesignated State Highway 149, reflecting its parentage. |
The Death of U.S. Highway 65
In about 1980, U.S. Highway 65 was finally removed from its duplex with Interstates 35 and 35W north of Albert Lea, ending its nearly 65 year history in Dakota County.
>> Jump To: The Lafayette Freeway | Route Changes, 1978-1980 | The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway | The southern end of Highway 77 | The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project | Completing the Lafayette Freeway | Consolidating the Trunk Highways | Recent Highway Developments
>> back to top
The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway, 1980-1985
At the end of the 1970's, work finally began to complete Interstates 35E and 494 in northern Dakota County. In conjunction with this construction, the Cedar Avenue freeway was pushed south on a new double span over the MInnesota River, finally replacing the ancient Cedar Avenue bridge (the old bridge over the main span was demolished shortly thereafter). Construction on 494 also included a new span over the MInnesota River near the International Airport. These new bridges, along with the 35E to downtown St. Paul, provided important links to the city of Eagan, whose development had been slowed by a lack of good freeway connections to either Minneapolis or St. Paul. By 1990, Eagan would have a population of over 47,000. The Cedar Avenue freeway also provided the first direct freeway link to the suburb of Apple Valley, which also witnessed explosive growth in the 80's and 90's.
The Cedar Avenue (Highway 77) Bridge, as seen from Nichols Road in Eagan.
The 494 bridge over the Minnesota River, as seen from the scenic overlook on old Highway 13 (looking southwest).
To be honest, it is actually a bit difficult to get exact dates for when these new highways were open to traffic, but the official highway maps do give some clues. What follows is an approximate sequence of the completion of the new freeway network and other related highway upgrades.
- 1980: The Highway 77/Cedar Avenue freeway is completed as far south as Highway 13 . Highway 13 is upgraded to a 4 lane expressway between Diffley Road and Silver Bell Road to facilitate the new interchange.
- 1981: The first new section of I-35E since 1966 is completed from I-35/I-35W in Burnsville to Highway 77, which is also completed south from the Highway 13 interchange through west Eagan.
- 1982: I-494 is completed from the new Minnesota River bridge to Pilot Knob Road, providing a new freeway link between northern Dakota County and the international airport, as well as other routes to downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington. Construction is ongoing on the new grade for I-35E in Eagan. At the same time, Highway 55 is being upgraded to provide an overpass over the new freeway. The intersection of Highways 55 and 149 is revised to favor through traffic on 55 and provide simple T-intersections at the north and south junctions, replacing the interchange built in 1943.
- 1984: I-35E is extended south from Highway 110 through Mendota Heights to Lone Oak Road in Eagan. At the same time, 494 is completed east form Pilot Knob Road to the massive interchange with 35E. The Cedar Avenue Freeway is completed further south from the interchange with I-35E into Apple Valley.
- 1985: The final portion of 35E from Highway 77 to Lone Oak Road in Eagan in completed. There is now a direct link from the I-35 corridor at Burnsville and downtown St. Paul for the first time. Construction continues on I-494. I-494 is completed between I-35E and Highway 149. Highway 149 is upgraded to a divided highway between Highway 55 and I-494 to serve as a link between the two corridors.
- 1986: I-494 is completed across Dakota County. East of Robert Street, 494 is constructed on the alignment of the Hwy 110 expressway. The Interstate Highways in Dakota County are finally complete.
>> Jump To: The Lafayette Freeway | Route Changes, 1978-1980 | The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway | The southern end of Highway 77 | The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project | Completing the Lafayette Freeway | Consolidating the Trunk Highways | Recent Highway Developments
>> back to top
The Southern End of Highway 77
The southern terminus of Highway 77 did quite a bit of fluctuating after the Cedar Avenue freeway was completed in 1984. The southern terminus appears to have been originally set at the junction with McAndrews Road in Apple Valley (according to the 1985-1986 official highway map). However, the wording of LR 279 (the legal authorization for Highway 77) had been changed in 1976 to end on the south at the new Minnesota Zoo. In 1986 McAndrews Road was upgraded to 4 lanes between Cedar Avenue and Johnny Cake Ridge Road to provide a fast connection to the entrance to the zoo. Highway 77 was extended onto this road about the same time (according to the official highway map). Around 1994, the Highway 77 designation was removed from McAndrews Road, and the present southern terminus was set at 138th Street where the controlled access portion of the Cedar Avenue freeway ends.
The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project
In the early 1990's, the historic Mendota Bridge went through a major overhaul and deck replacement, allowing it to be upgraded into a four-lane freeway. As part of the project, the interchange of Highways 13, 55, and 110 at the eastern end of the bridge was completely revised and rebuilt to improve safety and ease the flow of traffic.
The section of Highway 55 between the Mendota Bridge and Interstate 35E had barely changed since the 1930's, and was totally deficient as Minneapolis' primary link with U.S. Highway 52 to Rochester. The project finally upgraded this stretch of Highway 55 into a four lane expressway. Highway 55 was now four lanes from The Mendota Bridge to the south junction with U.S. 52 at Pine Bend. The reconstruction of the interchange actually involved a major change to the landscape, as large chunks of the northern end of the bluff known as Pilot Knob had to be removed.
Because the old junction with Highway 13 at the foot of the bridge was removed, Highway 13 had to be totally realigned along a new series of connecting roads. South of Highway 55, 13 was upgraded to a four lane highway as far south as the 494 underpass. North of Highway 55, 13 was routed onto a new series of frontage roads to provide a connection between northbound 55 and eastbound 110. In an unrelated project, Highway 13 was later upgraded to four lanes between I 35W and Diffley Road in about 1992.
>> Jump To: The Lafayette Freeway | Route Changes, 1978-1980 | The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway | The southern end of Highway 77 | The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project | Completing the Lafayette Freeway | Consolidating the Trunk Highways | Recent Highway Developments
>> back to top
Completing the Lafayette Freeway
During the late 80's and early 90's, construction finally began to complete the Lafayette Freeway from 494 to the U.S. 52/Highway 55 corridor. The first extension occurred in 1986, when the freeway was extended south to Upper 55th Street in Inver Grove Heights as part of the construction of the interchange with 494. By 1990, it had been completed to 70th Street (County Road 26), and to 80th Street in 1991.
The newly extended freeway still did not connect to any other routes on its
southern end. The stub was given the temporary designation of State Highway
103, reflecting the original State Highway 3 designation on the old portion
north of 494.
The Lafayette Freeway was finally connected to the U.S. 52 and Highway 55 corridor in Inver Grove Heights in 1994. To facilitate the new interchange, the original intersection with Highway 56 (Concord Boulevard) was removed, and Concord was moved to a new roadway and interchange. Highway 55 was also rebuilt between the new interchange and Highway 3 (Robert Trail). The original 1941 cloverleaf was removed, and a new diamond interchange was constructed in its place.
The Lafayette Freeway now provided a direct freeway connection between downtown St. Paul and the rest of the highway to Rochester. U.S. 52 was subsequently routed onto the newly completed freeway, replacing Highways 103 and 3. Highway 3 was truncated at the junction with Highway 110 on Robert Street. Robert Street through West St. Paul was no longer part of any marked trunk highway route for the first time since 1932.
>> Jump To: The Lafayette Freeway | Route Changes, 1978-1980 | The Completion of the Interstate Highways and the Cedar Avenue Freeway | The southern end of Highway 77 | The Mendota Bridge Rehab Project | Completing the Lafayette Freeway | Consolidating the Trunk Highways | Recent Highway Developments
>> back to top
Consolidating the Trunk Highways in Dakota County: 1993
With the completion of the planned freeway network in Dakota County in the early 1990's, MNDOT began a program of highway consolidation.
CSAH 50
In 1993, Highway 50 between Farmington and I-35 in Lakeville was removed from the highway system, and redesignated County State Aid Highway 50 to reflect its heritage. This road had been part of the trunk highway system since the 1920's, originally as Route 50, and later as U.S. 55 and U.S. 65.
The Old Routes to St. Paul
With the Lafayette Freeway complete, both Concord Boulevard and South Robert Street became redundant as routes to downtown St. Paul. South Robert technically remained part of the trunk highway system north of Highway 110, but was no longer part of any marked route (MNDOT counts it as unmarked highway U.S. 952A).
Concord Boulevard south of 494 was turned back to Dakota County in 1993, and redesignated CSAH 56 to reflect its old state designation. As a result, State Highway 56 was truncated at its junction with Highway 50 at Hampton.
North of 494, Concord Boulevard was kept in the trunk highway system, and
redesignated State Highway 156 to reflect its original number. State Highway
156 is Dakota County's newest trunk route.
Recent and Future Highway Developments in Dakota County
The route system in Dakota County has remained mostly unchanged since the 1993 route consolidation. Work continues on the U.S. Highway 52 corridor to upgrade it to freeway standards between the Twin Cities and Rochester. Several at grade intersections and stoplights have been removed and replaced with interchanges, most notably at 117th Street in Inver Grove Heights, and County Road 46/48 at the town of Coates. The construction of an overpass for County Road 47 at Hampton has also just been completed.
Other recent projects have included a short realignment of Highway 3 south of Rosemount to remove an at-grade railroad crossing, and an upgrade of Highway 13 to four lanes between Silver Bell Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. The most significant project occurring right now is the replacement of the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul to provide a better river-crossing for I-494. The future westbound bridge has now been opened (after several delays), and the old Wakota Bridge demolished. Work is underway on the eastbound span. This will be the third river crossing to serve South St. Paul.
Future Route Changes
Much of the trunk highway network in Dakota County now exists as a legacy of the old pre-interstate network, with many state highways now functionally serving as local routes instead of as arterial trunk routes. MnDOT's metro district has slated several stretches of historic highway for turn-back to local authorities by 2030 - that is if finances are not constrained, and its pretty safe to say that they will be.
The highways nominated for turn back include:
- U.S. 61 - Between the north and south junctions with Highway 316.
- State Highway 3 - Between the junctions with Highway 149 and 110 (aka South Robert Trail, also U.S. 952A on Robert Street).
- State Highway 13 - Between Highway 77 (Cedar Avenue) and Highway 149 (Smith Avenue).
- State Highway 20 - Between Highway 50 and the south county line.
- State Highway 50 - The entirety of the route between State Highway 3 at Farmington and U.S. 61.
- State Highway 56 - Between U.S. 52 at Hampton and the south county line.
- State Highway 149 - Between I-494 and St. Paul (Dodd Road).
- State Highway 156 - Between I-494 and St. Paul (Concord Blvd).
- State Highway 291 - The entirety of the route in Hastings.
MnDOT also wants to add County Road 42 to the trunk highway system. It would be interesting to see what route number they would give it, since Highway 42 is already taken by a route in southeastern Minnesota.
