U.S. Highway 61 - Interstate Upgrade Timeline

The following timeline gives the dates when sections of U.S. 61's route were moved onto the Interstate Highway System; the dates do not necessarily refer to the year the freeway was completed.

I-35 generally replaced U.S. 61 between the town of Wyoming in the northern Twin Cities metro and the city of Duluth. U.S. 61 was concurrent with I-35 on this stretch until the AASHTO approved U.S. 61's retirement north of Wyoming in 1990.

Interstates 90 and 94 replaced only short stretches of U.S. 61's historic route. I-90 replaced the old two-lane road in the Mississippi River Valley through the towns of Dresbach and Dakota. I-94 replaced the old divided highway on the east side of St. Paul between Johnson Parkway and Mounds Boulevard.

Timeline

1962

Interstate 35 - From exit 180 south of Hinckley to exit 195 north of Sandstone. Temporary upgrade, U.S. 61 moved off of this duplex with I-35 in 1963.

1964

Interstate 90 - In the Dresbach / Dakota area.

1965

Interstate 35 - From exit 169 at Pine City, to exit 191 at Sandstone.

1967

Interstate 35 - From exit 191 at Sandstone to exit 214 at Moose Lake.
Interstate 35 - From Otter Creek (at Carlton Co. Rd. 5, a temporary ramp) to exit 235 west of Carlton.
Interstate 35 - From just west of Boundary Avenue in Proctor to exit 251A (Cody Street) in Duluth.

1969

Interstate 35 - From exit 135 at Wyoming to exit 169 at Pine City.

1970

Interstate 35 - From exit 214 at Moose Lake to Carlton County Road 5 at Otter Creek.

1972

Interstate 35 - From the Cody Avenue exit to the east junction at the Mesaba Avenue interchange in downtown Duluth.

1974

Interstate 35 - From exit 235 west of Carlton to exit 245 (now the interchange with County Road 61) at the Carlton / St. Louis County Line.

1975

Interstate 94 - On the east side of St. Paul, between the east interchange near Johnson Parkway and the Mounds Boulevard exit.

1977

Interstate 35 - From exit 245 at the Carlton / St. Louis County Line to just west of Boundary Avenue in Proctor.

1989

Interstate 35 - In downtown Duluth, from the Mesaba Avenue interchange to a temporary interchange near E 10th Street in Duluth (ramps from the freeway to Superior Street).

1990

Retirement of the duplex with I-35 between exit 135 at Wyoming and the temporary interchange near E 10th Street in Duluth.

Geographic Timeline (South to North)

1964 - Interstate 90 - In the Dresbach / Dakota area.
1975 - Interstate 94 - On the east side of St. Paul, between the east interchange near Johnson Parkway and the Mounds Boulevard exit.

Duplex with I-35 (Retired in 1990)

1969 - Interstate 35 - From exit 135 at Wyoming to exit 169 at Pine City.
1965 - Interstate 35 - From exit 169 at Pine City, to exit 191 at Sandstone.
1962 - Interstate-35 - from exit 180 south of Hinckley to exit 195 north of Sandstone. Temporary upgrade, U.S. 61 moved off of this duplex with I-35 in 1963.
1967 - Interstate 35 - From exit 191 at Sandstone to exit 214 at Moose Lake.
1970 - Interstate 35 - From exit 214 at Moose Lake to Carlton County Road 5 at Otter Creek.
1967 - Interstate 35 - From Otter Creek (at Carlton Co. Rd. 5, a temporary ramp) to exit 235 west of Carlton.
1974 - Interstate 35 - From exit 235 west of Carlton to exit 245 (now the interchange with County Road 61) at the Carlton / St. Louis County Line.
1977 - Interstate 35 - From exit 245 at the Carlton / St. Louis County Line to just west of Boundary Avenue in Proctor.
1967 - Interstate 35 - From just west of Boundary Avenue in Proctor to exit 251A (Cody Street) in Duluth.
1972 - Interstate 35 - From the Cody Avenue exit to the east junction at the Mesaba Avenue interchange in downtown Duluth.
1989 - Interstate 35 - In downtown Duluth, from the Mesaba Avenue interchange to a temporary interchange near E 10th Street in Duluth (ramps from the freeway to Superior Street).