Interstate 35 in Minnesota

Interstate 35 (I-35) is a north–south Interstate Highway that stretches from Laredo, Texas, to Duluth, Minnesota. In the US state of Minnesota, I-35 enters from Iowa and heads north toward the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. South of the metropolitan area, I-35 splits into two branches; I-35E runs through St. Paul and I-35W through Minneapolis. These two branches rejoin north of the Twin Cities, and the highway continues north to Duluth, where it terminates at Minnesota Highway 61 (MN 61).

Interstate 35
Blue Star Memorial Highway
34th Infantry (Red Bull) Division Highway
I-35 highlighted in red
Route information
Defined by MS § 161.12(2)
Maintained by MnDOT
Length220.46 mi[1] (354.80 km)
Existed1958 (1958)[2]–present
HistoryUnder construction: 1958–1992[3]
Southern section
South end I-35 towards Des Moines, IA
Major
junctions
North end I-35E / I-35W at Burnsville
Northern section
South end I-35E / I-35W at Columbus
Major
junctions
North end MN 61 at Duluth
Location
CountiesFreeborn, Steele, Rice, Scott, Dakota; Anoka, Washington, Chisago, Pine, Carlton, St. Louis
Highway system
  • Minnesota Trunk Highways
MN 34 I-35E

The highway was authorized in 1956 and the first segment opened in 1958. It reached Duluth in 1971 and the final segment to east Duluth opened in 1992.

Route description

I-35 enters the state from Iowa near Albert Lea. It heads roughly due north towards the Twin Cities, where it splits into I-35E and I-35W. The two halves of I-35 rejoin north of the Twin Cities. From there, I-35 travels north-northeast; south of Duluth, it becomes more northeasterly. The route ends near the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth. The entire route is officially designated the Red Bull Highway, named after the 34th Infantry (Red Bull) Division. Legally, Interstate 35 is defined as Routes 390, 395, and 396 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(2), but the route is not marked with those numbers. The I-35 legislative route designation and mileposts follow I-35E in the Twin Cities area.

Southern segment

I-35 enters the state in Freeborn County south of Albert Lea. The first mile northbound contains a rest area and Minnesota welcome center. Shortly after the first exit, for Freeborn County Highway 5 (County 5), there is a sweeping S curve to the northwest and back to the north. The exit for County 13 marks the last exit before Albert Lea. Up to here, the interstate roughly marked the halfway point between U.S. Route 65 (US 65) and US 69. Both US Highways end in Albert Lea.

In Albert Lea, it curves to the northeast and meets US 65, which passes beneath the interstate. US 65 picks up Interstate 35 Business (I-35 Bus.), which follows the US Highway through the city. It then crosses Albert Lea Lake of a pair of one-quarter-mile-long (0.40 km) bridges. It straightens back to the north to meet County 46, which follows the former route of US 16. Shortly after that interchange, it intersects the national northern end of US 65; access to US 65 there is limited to the southbound lanes of I-35 and traffic from US 65 can only access the northbound lanes of I-35. At the northeastern edge of Albert Lea, there is an interchange with I-90, which directs traffic toward La Crosse, Wisconsin, or Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

I-35 continues north through the rolling hills of southern Minnesota. At Clarks Grove, it intersects State Highway 251 (MN 251). Between there and the County 35 exit to Geneva, it passes to the west of Geneva Lake. Just east of Ellendale is an interchange with MN 30. Exit 32, County 4 to Hope, is the last interchange before Owatonna. On the southern edge of Owatonna is a cloverleaf interchange with US 14. North of County 45, the County 34 exit serves northern Owatonna and provides access to the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport. The County 9 exit serves Clinton Falls and a Cabela's store.

Further north, I-35 meets County 12 and County 23 in Medford. Along County 23, which serves as a western frontage road to I-35, lies an outlet mall. Now in Rice County, the interstate approaches Faribault. Exit 55 only serves exiting northbound traffic and entering southbound traffic.  MN 60 is the main east–west street through Faribault, and MN 21 provides access to Fairbault from the north of town to the south MN 21 ends at MN 60; but the road continues south and reconnects to I-35 at exit 55.

North of Faribault, the interstate heads due north before the two directions are briefly separated when they enter a corridor of trees. The route straightens out again and intersects County 1 and MN 19 at diamond interchanges spaced three miles (4.8 km) apart. It briefly enters Scott County where it meets County 2 near Elko New Market. It then enters Dakota County and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

In southwestern Lakeville, there is a folded diamond interchange with County 70. Right before a partial cloverleaf interchange with County 60, the interstate crosses Marion Lake. Shortly after an interchange with County 5 and County 50 there is a park and ride complex on the northbound side of the interstate. An entrance and exit ramp provide access to the interstate while two entrances from Kendrick Avenue, a frontage road, provide non-interstate access to the complex. After the County 46 interchange, the interstate enters Burnsville. A half diamond interchange, with only northbound exit and southbound entrance ramps, immediately precedes the split. I-35 splits into I-35W and I-35E (signed for Minneapolis and Saint Paul, respectively).

Northern segment

Interstates 35W and 35E join again at Columbus, near Forest Lake. The route then continues as Interstate 35. In contrast to the rolling terrain of I-35 south of the Twin Cities area, this region is quite flat. This is the Anoka Sand Plain, an area that was formed by outwash under the last glaciers that lay over this area as they melted. This is an extensive region that continues north for another twenty miles (32 km). The urban sprawl of the northern Twin Cities continues along I-35 to North Branch.

In Pine City and Hinckley, there are museums near I-35, the Pine City one at a refurbished fur trading post and interpretive center, and the Hinckley one commemorating the Great Hinckley Forest Fire that occurred in 1894. Motorists who take the I-35 Business Loop through Pine City can experience a quintessential All-American main street.

Between Sandstone and Moose Lake, the landscape around I-35 makes a dramatic change. Exposed granite can be seen at the surface, and the deciduous forest changes to evergreens.

Interstate 35 near downtown Duluth

I-35 climbs Thompson Hill as it approaches the city of Duluth. As the highway enters the city limits at Boundary Avenue, the Saint Louis Bay and Lake Superior are in view. I-35 then descends Thompson Hill into Duluth, with numerous exits. The freeway has an interchange with I-535 / U.S. 53, known locally as the "Can of Worms". The junction features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight, and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.

I-35 then proceeds to downtown Duluth. After multiple exits, I-35 leaves the downtown area and follows the Lake Superior shoreline for two miles (3 km) to its national northern terminus at its junction with Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. At this junction where Interstate 35 ends, Highway 61 begins its route northeast along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

History

Interstate 35 in Minnesota was authorized as part of the primary interstate network in 1956. It was mostly constructed in the 1960s. The route in Minnesota replaced portions of old U.S. Highway 61 and old U.S. Highway 65.[4]

I-35 was generally constructed along former routes of U.S. 65 south of the Twin Cities and U.S. 61 north of the Twin Cities.

The first section to be constructed (the first Interstate Highway opened in Minnesota) was about 10 miles (16 km) north of Owatonna, immediately west of present-day Steele County Road 45 and Rice County Road 45, which opened August 21, 1958.[4]

By 1961, the section of I-35 around Hinckley and Sandstone was under construction.[4]

Three lanes each way have been constructed on I-35 between the I-35E / I-35W split at Columbus to U.S. Highway 8 at Forest Lake. Three lanes have also been constructed on I-35 northbound at Thompson Hill, right before entering the city of Duluth. Additionally, three lanes have been constructed on I-35 southbound in Duluth at Thompson Hill between Central Avenue and U.S. Highway 2-westbound. Three lanes in each direction have also been constructed on I-35 in Duluth between the Can of Worms interchange (I-535 / U.S. 53) and the Mesaba Avenue interchange.

From November 1971 to October 1987, the national northern terminus for Interstate 35 was its interchange with Mesaba Avenue in Duluth.

The last section of Interstate 35 in Minnesota to be constructed was around downtown Duluth. The I-35 extension to Lake Avenue in Duluth was open to traffic in October 1987. The temporary I-35 extension to 10th Avenue East in Duluth was open to traffic in November 1989. The I-35 extension to its present-day junction with 26th Avenue East and Highway 61 in Duluth was open to traffic in October 1992 after the construction of the Leif Erickson Tunnel. The section marked the final segment of the I-35 to be opened, and one of the last segments of the original Interstate Highway System.[5][6]

Exit list

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
MinnesotaIowa line0.0000.000
I-35 / Iowa 27 south Des Moines
Continuation into Iowa
FreebornFreeman Township2.492–
2.522
4.010–
4.059
2 CSAH 5
5.2768.4915 CSAH 13 Twin Lakes, Glenville
Albert Lea7.987–
7.995
12.854–
12.867
8 I-35 BL north / US 65 Albert Lea, Glenville
11.49818.50411 CSAH 46 Albert Lea
12.560–
12.654
20.213–
20.365
12 I-35 BL south / US 65 south Albert LeaSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; northern terminus of US 65
Bancroft Township13.24721.31913 I-90 La Crosse, Sioux FallsSigned as exits 13A (east) and 13B (west); I-90 exit 159
Clarks Grove18.74530.16718 MN 251 east Clarks Grove, Hollandale
Geneva Township22.96336.95522 CSAH 35 Hartland, Geneva
SteeleSummit Township26.64042.87326 MN 30 New Richland, Blooming Prairie
Somerset Township32.81752.81432 CSAH 4 Hope
Owatonna39.98164.34340 US 14 / US 218 south Waseca, Rochester, AustinFormer southern end of US 14 concurrency; northern terminus of US 218
41.76667.21641Bridge Street
42.50968.41242 CSAH 45 / CSAH 2Former northern end of US 14 concurrency; signed as exits 42A (east) and 42B (west)
43.524–
43.548
70.045–
70.084
43 CSAH 34 (26th Street)
45.520–
45.544
73.257–
73.296
45 CSAH 9 Clinton Falls
Medford48.05777.34048 CSAH 12 / CSAH 23 Medford
RiceFaribault55.59089.46355 I-35 BL / CSAH 48 / Lyndale Avenue FaribaultNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
56.91891.60156 MN 60 Faribault, Waterville
59.10795.12359 I-35 BL / MN 21 Faribault, Le Center
Forest Township66.696107.33766 CSAH 1 Montgomery, Dundas
Webster Township69.679112.13769 MN 19 Northfield, New Prague
ScottNew Market Township76.841123.66476 CSAH 2 Elko New Market
DakotaLakeville81.842131.71281 CSAH 70 Lakeville, Farmington
84.340135.73284 CSAH 60 (185th Street West)
85.509137.61385 CSAH 5 / CSAH 50
86.636139.42786 CSAH 46
Burnsville87.824141.33987Crystal Lake RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
88.268142.05488A I-35W north Minneapolis
I-35E north St. Paul
I-35 north splits into I-35W and I-35E; left exit 88A is for I-35W
See I-35W and I-35E
AnokaColumbus127.497205.187127 I-35W south Minneapolis
I-35E south St. Paul
I-35 south splits into I-35W and I-35E; exit number is for I-35W
129.467208.357129 MN 97 / CSAH 23
WashingtonForest Lake131.773212.068131 CSAH 2 to US 8 Forest Lake
132.279212.882132 US 8 east Taylors FallsNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; western terminus of US 8
ChisagoWyoming135.721218.422135 US 61 south / CSAH 22 WyomingNorthern terminus of US 61
Stacy139.983225.281139 CSAH 19 Stacy
Lent Township143.762231.363143 CSAH 17
North Branch147.928238.067147 MN 95 Cambridge, North Branch
Harris152.610245.602152 CSAH 10 Harris
Rush City159.994257.485159 CSAH 1 Rush City
PineRock Creek165.707266.680165 MN 70 Rock Creek, Grantsburg
Pine City169.567272.892169 I-35 BL / CSAH 7 Pine City
171.358275.774171 I-35 BL / CSAH 11
Mission Creek Township175.350282.198175 CSAH 14 Beroun
180.400290.326180 MN 23 west / CSAH 61 south MoraSouthern end of MN 23 concurrency
Hinckley183.105294.679183 MN 48 east (Fire Monument Road) / CSAH 61 (Old Highway 61) HinckleyWestern terminus of MN 48; access to CSAH 61 via CSAH 61 Spur (Fire Monument Rd. west)
Sandstone191.382307.999191 MN 23 east / CSAH 61 SandstoneNorthern end of MN 23 concurrency; former US 61
Finlayson Township195.615314.812195 MN 18 / MN 23 Askov, Finlayson
Willow River205.477330.683205 CSAH 43 Bruno, Willow River
Windemere Township209.889337.784209 CSAH 46 Sturgeon Lake
CarltonMoose Lake214.694345.517214 MN 73 Moose Lake
Moose Lake Township216.080347.747216 MN 27 Moose LakeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Barnum220.637355.081220 CSAH 6 Barnum
Mahtowa Township227.354365.891227 CSAH 4 Mahtowa, Wrenshall
Twin Lakes Township235.487378.980235 MN 210 Carlton, Cromwell
Cloquet237.227381.780237 MN 33 Cloquet, Iron Range
Scanlon239.204384.962239 MN 45 south / CSAH 45 north Cloquet, Scanlon
Thomson Township242.157389.714242 CSAH 1 Thomson, Esko
CarltonSt. Louis
county line
ThomsonMidway
township line
245.199–
245.259
394.610–
394.706
245 CSAH 61
St. LouisMidway Township246.351–
246.396
396.464–
396.536
246 CSAH 13 (Midway Road)
Proctor249.627401.736249Boundary Avenue / Skyline Parkway
Duluth250.667403.409250 US 2 west Grand Rapids, ProctorSouthern end of US 2 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
251.229–
251.395
404.314–
404.581
251ACody StreetNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
252.054405.642251B MN 23 (Grand Avenue)Southbound exit and northbound entrance
252.419406.229252Central Avenue
253.173407.442253A US 2 / LSCT east (Bong Bridge) WisconsinNorthern end of US 2 concurrency; southern end of LSCT concurrency
253.701408.292253B40th Avenue West
254.845410.13325427th Avenue West
255.395411.018255 I-535 south / US 53 (21st Avenue West) WisconsinSigned as exits 255A (north) and 255B (south); northern terminus of I-535
256.248–
256.272
412.391–
412.430
256A MN 194 (Mesaba Avenue) / Superior StreetNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
256.809–
257.250
413.294–
414.004
256B5th Avenue West / Lake Avenue
259.062416.92025821st Avenue EastNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
259.606–
259.639
417.795–
417.848
259 MN 61 / LSCT north (London Road) / 26th Avenue North ShoreNational northern terminus; northbound exit only; northern end of LSCT concurrency; London Rd. is former US 61; road continues west as 26th Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. Federal Highway Administration, Route Log and Finder List: Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002
  2. "Todd Hale: 1958 Owatonna road construction had national flair". Owatonna People's Press. March 17, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  3. Gyure, Joseph. "Interstate 35 dramatically changed Waco 's face". wacohistoryproject.org. Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  4. Riner, Steve. "Details of routes 26–50". The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Self-published.
  5. "Ribbon cutting for interstate". Oshkosh Northwestern. October 26, 1992. p. 11. Retrieved June 20, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Weingroff, Richard F. (January 2006). "The Year of The Interstate". Public Roads. Federal Highway Administration. 69 (4). Retrieved June 20, 2018.

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Interstate 35
Previous state:
Iowa
Minnesota Next state:
Terminus
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