Historic U.S. 61: Wood Ridge Drive
Wood Ridge Drive
Located: 0.65 miles south of Beaver Bay along the west side of State Hwy 61, in Beaver Bay Township, Lake County.
Historic Context: Part of the original North Shore Scenic Highway constructed in the 1920's.
Length: 0.20 miles
Constructed: 1924
Bypassed: 1996 (retired as U.S. 61 in 1990)
Also Part Of:
Status: Intact, now a private drive.
Access: Directly from the west side of State Hwy 61. Signs indicate that this is now a private drive.
More U.S. 61 Articles
North >> Algoma Way
South >> Pine Bay Loop
Wood Ridge Drive, now a private drive south of Beaver Bay, was once part of the original North Shore Scenic Highway. Built in 1924, the road was finally bypassed by the construction of the current alignment in 1996. Left totally intact after the construction, it was taken over as an access road for a few estates on the cliffs overlooking Lake Superior.
Map
Key
- Green = Intact (private)
- Orange = Old alignment, removed.
Photos - taken in April, 2010.
Looking south from Highway 61 onto Wood Ridge Drive. Note the old guard rail up ahead. The pavement also appears to not been disturbed.
The north end of Wood Ridge Drive, looking across Highway 61.
Looking north up current Highway 61 at the entrance to Wood Ridge Drive. Across the highway to the right you can see where the highway used to run (onto
Algoma Way).
Sources
- MNDOT. Construction Project Log: Control Section 3806
- Minnesota Highway Department. Construction Plan for Trunk Hwy No. 61-1 Between Little Marais and Two Harbors: S.P. 61=1-01, June, 1923.
- MNDOT. Right-of-Way Map: Beaver Bay to Chapin's Curve: 179-4D.
