Modern Highway Photos: I-494 to Red Wing

Southbound, on the north side of Cottage Grove. Note the old concrete pavement, most of which is original from the 1958 construction of the modern divided highway.

At the 80th St/Grange Blvd exit in Cottage Grove. 80th Street is now the nucleus of one of Cottage Grove's most important retail districts. This interchange was constructed along with the one at Jamaica Avenue in 1983.

Getting back onto U.S. 61 southbound from 80th Street. Note the typical suburban fare on the left.

More aged concrete, just south of Jamaica Avenue.

Further south in Cottage Grove, where the suburbs begin to give way to the countryside. Cottage Grove Regional Park is on the left. Note how the old concrete has been paved over here.

The old concrete reappears, southbound at Kimbro Avenue.

Approaching the junction with State Highway 95.

Signage at the left-turn lane to Highway 95.

At the actual junction with State Highway 95. Highway 95 was first marked in May, 1934. Highway 95 connects the Hastings area with Stillwater, generally paralleling the St. Croix River through eastern Washington County.

Another view of the junction, this time from northbound U.S. 61/U.S. 10.

A close-up of the classic billboard pointing the way to Afton Alps ski area via Highway 95, even though Highway 95's route no longer actually leads to it. Instead, Highway 95 now takes Manning Avenue all the way north from U.S. 61 to I-94, bypassing its old route on what is now County Road 18 through Afton and Lakeland.

Signage on U.S. 61 northbound, just north of the junction with Highway 95.

A rather unusual sight along U.S. 61, a surviving Hiawatha PIoneer Trail marker, as seen from the junction with Highway 95, looking southbound. The 1966 official highway map, which features a description of the trail's route on its reverse side, shows that U.S. 61's entire route between St. Paul and La Crosse was once marked with these signs. There may be more, but this is only one I can recall seeing in the past few years.