U.S. Highway 61 - First Pavement Timeline

The following timelines give the earliest known date that sections of U.S. 61 were known to be paved. Dates generally refer to the year of contract completion given on the highway construction project logs.

Two timelines are provided. One is listed by date, the other geographically. On the standard timeline projects for each year are listed from south to north. Each paving project is labeled with the region of U.S. 61's route it was contained in (SE, C, or NE). The geographic timeline lists projects from south to north.

Most of U.S. 61's first pavement was portland cement concrete, which was used as far north as Two Harbors. Other sections were first paved with oil or tar treated gravel (a primitive bituminous pavement), which was replaced later by concrete or more modern asphalt pavements.

U.S. 61's entire route was paved by the end of 1939. The section from La Crosse to St. Paul fully paved in 1931. The section from St. Paul to Duluth was fully paved in 1927. The north shore drive wasn't fully paved until 1939.

Timeline

Unknown Date

SE - City Streets in Winona, from just southeast of the Sugar Loaf to the intersection of Villa and Broadway, including: Sugar Loaf Road, Mankato Avenue, 6th Street (Broadway) - Brick - 4.68 miles.
SE - Plum Street (between 4th and Main Streets) and Main Street (between Plum Street and East Streets) in downtown Red Wing - Wood block on concrete - 0.31 miles.
SE / C - Streets within the St. Paul City Limits, including: Point Douglas Road (concrete, ca. 1921?), Hastings Avenue, Plum Street, Mounds Boulevard, E 6th Street, E 7th Street, E 3rd Street, Bates Avenue, and Arcade Street.
C / NE - City streets in Duluth. All paved by 1923.
NE - 7th Avenue in Two Harbors - Concrete (38') - 0.45 miles.

1914

SE - La Moille to Pleasant Valley Creek on the southeast end of Winona - Concrete (8') - 6.75 miles. This was the first long distance concrete highway constructed on what eventually became U.S. 61.

1920

SE - From East Street in downtown Red Wing to the future junction with State Highway 19 - Concrete (variable, but generally 18') - 5.33 miles. This was the first stretch of concrete pavement on future U.S. 61 constructed by the Minnesota Department of Highways.

1921

SE - 2nd (Main) Street and Sibley Street in Hastings - Bituminous Concrete - 0.10 miles
C - St. Paul City Limits to County Road 'E' in Gem Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 4.56 miles.
C - Otter Lake Road in Gem Lake to White Bear Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 0.82 miles.

1922

C- County Road 'E' to Otter Lake Road in Gem Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 1.24 miles.

1923

C- Carlton / St. Louis County Line to the Duluth City Limits (part constructed by St. Louis County) - Concrete (18') - 4.75 miles.
NE - East city limits of Duluth to the St. Louis / Lake County Line - Concrete (18') - 7.91 miles.

1924

SE - Lyon Avenue in Lake City to the west corporate limits - Concrete (18') - 3.16 miles.
SE - East corporate limits of Red Wing to Plum and 4th Streets - Concrete (18') - 2.08 miles.
C - Lake Avenue in White Bear Lake - Asphaltic Concrete (24' - 28') - 1.09 miles.
C - Friesland to Sandstone - Concrete (18') - 4.78 miles.
C - Carlton to the Carlton / St. Louis County Line - Concrete (18') - 8.61 miles.

1925

SE - Wisconsin State Line to 4th Street in La Crescent - Concrete (18' -22') - 2.13 miles.
SE - Winona / Wabasha County Line at Minneiska to Kellogg - Concrete (18') - 11.24 miles.
SE - Between the corporate limits of Lake City and Red Wing - Concrete (18') - 11.65 miles.
SE - St. Paul Park to the St. Paul corporate limits - Concrete (18') - 4.71 miles.
C - In Hugo, between 125th Street and 175th Street - Concrete (18') - 5.11 miles.
C - Rock Creek to Pine City - Concrete (18') - 5.15 miles.

1926

SE - Pleasant Valley Creek to St. Mary's Cemetery at Winona - Concrete (18') - 0.90 miles.
SE - Villa and Broadway in Winona to the Winona / Wabasha County Line - Concrete (18') - 14.5 miles.
SE - Kellogg to Wabasha - Concrete (18') - 5.99 miles.
C- White Bear Lake (Lake Ave and Stewart) to 125th Street in Hugo - Concrete (18') - 3.34 miles.
C- 175th Street on the north side of Hugo to the north side of Wyoming - Concrete (18') - 10.53 miles.
C- Short segment in Pine City - Concrete (18') - 0.18 miles.
C- Mission Creek to Friesland - Concrete (18') - 9.31 miles.
C- Sandstone to Highway 210 - Concrete (18') - 44.94 miles.

1927

SE - 4th Street in La Crescent to La Moille - Concrete (18') - 15.61 miles.
SE - About a mile west of Wabasha to Lake City - Oil treated gravel - 12.69 miles.
SE - State Highway 19 to Hastings - Oil Treated Gravel - 20.93 miles.
SE - Vermillion Street in Hastings - Concrete (variable width) - 1.52 miles.
SE - Manning Avenue (future Hwy. 95) to St. Paul Park - Concrete (18') - 6.57 miles.
C- Wyoming to Rock Creek - Concrete (18') - 28.57 miles.
C- Pine City to Mission Creek - Concrete (18') - 8.4 miles.

1928

SE - Wabasha to a point about a mile west - Oil treated gravel - 3.07 miles.

1929

NE - St. Louis / Lake County Line to Two Harbors - Concrete (20') - 8.35 miles.
NE - Two Harbors to the Beaver River - Tar treated gravel (24') - 25.24 miles.

1930

NE - Beaver River to the Cross River - Tar Treated Gravel (24') - 28.07 miles

1931

SE - North end of the Spiral Bridge at Hastings to Manning Avenue (future Hwy. 95) - Oil Treated Gravel / Concrete (20') - 1.46 miles.
NE - Grand Marais to the Brule River - Oil Treated Gravel (24') - 14.19 miles

1932

NE - Cross River to Lutsen - Oil Treated Gravel (25') - 11.23 miles.

1934

NE - Lutsen to Grand Marais - Asphalt (24') - 20.21 miles.

1937

NE - Just southwest of the Brule River to the Reservation River - Bituminous (24') - 10.84 miles.

1939

NE - Reservation River to the Canadian Border - Bituminous (24' to 20') - 13.41 miles.

Geographic Timeline (South to North)

1925 - Wisconsin State Line to 4th Street in La Crescent - Concrete (18' -22') - 2.13 miles.
1927 - 4th Street in La Crescent to La Moille - Concrete (18') - 15.61 miles.
1914 - La Moille to Pleasant Valley Creek on the southeast end of Winona - Concrete (8') - 6.75 miles.
1926 - Pleasant Valley Creek to St. Mary's Cemetery at Winona - Concrete (18') - 0.90 miles.
Unknown Date - City Streets in Winona, from just southeast of the Sugar Loaf to the intersection of Villa and Broadway, including: Sugar Loaf Road, Mankato Avenue, 6th Street (Broadway) - Brick - 4.68 miles.
1926 - Villa and Broadway in Winona to the Winona / Wabasha County Line - Concrete (18') - 14.5 miles.
1925 - Winona / Wabasha County Line at Minneiska to Kellogg - Concrete (18') - 11.24 miles.
1926 - Kellogg to Wabasha - Concrete (18') - 5.99 miles.
1928 - Wabasha to a point about a mile west - Oil treated gravel - 3.07 miles.
1927 - About a mile west of Wabasha to Lake City - Oil treated gravel - 12.69 miles.
1924 - Lyon Avenue in Lake City to the west corporate limits - Concrete (18') - 3.16 miles.
1925 - Between the corporate limits of Lake City and Red Wing
1924 - East corporate limits of Red Wing to Plum and 4th Streets - Concrete (18') - 2.08 miles.
Unknown Date - Plum Street (between 4th and Main Streets) and Main Street (between Plum Street and East Streets) in downtown Red Wing - Wood block on concrete - 0.31 miles.
1920 - From East Street in downtown Red Wing to the future junction with State Highway 19 - Concrete (variable, but generally 18') - 5.33 miles.
1927 - State Highway 19 to Hastings - Oil Treated Gravel - 20.93 miles.
1927 - Vermillion Street in Hastings - Concrete (variable width) - 1.52 miles.
1921 - 2nd (Main) Street and Sibley Street in Hastings - Bituminous Concrete - 0.10 miles.
1931 - North end of the Spiral Bridge at Hastings to Manning Avenue (future Hwy. 95) - Oil Treated Gravel / Concrete (20') - 1.46 miles.
1927 - Manning Avenue (future Hwy. 95) to St. Paul Park - Concrete (18') - 6.57 miles.
1925 - St. Paul Park to the St. Paul corporate limits - Concrete (18') - 4.71 miles.
Unknown Date - Streets within the St. Paul City Limits, including: Point Douglas Road (concrete, ca. 1921?), Hastings Avenue, Plum Street, Mounds Boulevard, E 6th Street, E 7th Street, E 3rd Street, Bates Avenue, and Arcade Street.
1921 - St. Paul City Limits to County Road 'E' in Gem Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 4.56 miles.
1922- County Road 'E' to Otter Lake Road in Gem Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 1.24 miles.
1921 - Otter Lake Road in Gem Lake to White Bear Lake - Asphalt on Concrete (24') - 0.82 miles.
1924 - Lake Avenue in White Bear Lake - Asphaltic Concrete (24' - 28') - 1.09 miles.
1926 - White Bear Lake (Lake Ave and Stewart) to 125th Street in Hugo - Concrete (18') - 3.34 miles.
1925 - In Hugo, between 125th Street and 175th Street - Concrete (18') - 5.11 miles.
1926 - 175th Street on the north side of Hugo to the north side of Wyoming - Concrete (18') - 10.53 miles.
1927 - Wyoming to Rock Creek - Concrete (18') - 28.57 miles.
1925 - Rock Creek to Pine City - Concrete (18') - 5.15 miles.
1926 - Short segment in Pine City - Concrete (18') - 0.18 miles.
1927 - Pine City to Mission Creek - Concrete (18') - 8.4 miles.
1926 - Mission Creek to Friesland - Concrete (18') - 9.31 miles.
1924 - Friesland to Sandstone - Concrete (18') - 4.78 miles.
1926 - Sandstone to Highway 210 - Concrete (18') - 44.94 miles.
1924 - Carlton to the Carlton / St. Louis County Line - Concrete (18') - 8.61 miles.
1923 - Carlton / St. Louis County Line to the Duluth City Limits (part constructed by St. Louis County) - Concrete (18') - 4.75 miles.
Unknown Date - City streets in Duluth. All paved by 1923.
1923 - East city limits of Duluth to the St. Louis / Lake County Line - Concrete (18') - 7.91 miles.
1929 - St. Louis / Lake County Line to Two Harbors - Concrete (20') - 8.35 miles.
Unknown Date 7th Avenue in Two Harbors - Concrete (38') - 0.45 miles.
1929 - Two Harbors to the Beaver River - Tar treated gravel (24') - 25.24 miles.
1930 - Beaver River to the Cross River - Tar Treated Gravel (24') - 28.07 miles
1932 - Cross River to Lutsen - Oil Treated Gravel (25') - 11.23 miles.
1934 - Lutsen to Grand Marais - Asphalt (24') - 20.21 miles.
1931 - Grand Marais to the Brule River - Oil Treated Gravel (24') - 14.19 miles
1937 - Just southwest of the Brule River to the Reservation River - Bituminous (24') - 10.84 miles.
1939 - Reservation River to the Canadian Border - Bituminous (24' to 20') - 13.41 miles.