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Dakota
County's Trunk Highways
Modern Route Photos - State Highway 13
Part 1- Scott County Line at Burnsville to Jct. with State Highway 55 in Mendota Heights
This Highway Previously Marked:
1941-1960 (west of Co Rd 5), 1960-1963 (west of I-35W,
duplexed with Hwy 13)
History
The road paralleling the Minnesota River from the Scott County line to the Mendota Bridge was added to the trunk highway system in 1934 as part of a northern extension of State Highway 13 from New Prague to St. Paul (Highway 13 had been one of the original constitutional routes, originally ending at Jordan). The road was still gravel in 1934, but was bituminous surfaced in 1936. Other than standard resurfacing and maintenance, the old county road remained in use by Highway 13 until after World War 2. In 1948, the road was reconstructed from Nicollet Avenue in Burnsville to near what is now Interstate 494 in Eagan / Mendota Heights. The new grade was wider and straighter, and featured a new alignment near Cedar Avenue, running further to the north, and removing a short jog on what is now Nichols Rd (old Cedar).
The next major development was the construction of the I-35W interchange at the site of the old junction with US 65 in Burnsville in 1960. As part of the construction, Highway 13 was upgraded to four lanes between Nicollet Avenue and County Road 5. The new four lane road merged onto what had originally been the eastern end of Highway 101 (constructed in 1941, paved in 1942). Highway 13 was subsequently removed from its original alignment at the Scott County line on Williams Drive. The four lane section was extended west to Scott County in 1966 with the construction of a new westbound lane. Highway 13's connection to 35W turned it into a major suburban feeder and an important connection to US 169 at Shakopee.
In the following years, Highway 13 found itself passing by subdivisions and strip malls instead of farms, which would have naturally caused an increase in traffic. Several projects through the 60's and 70's improved the major intersections north of 35W through suburban Burnsville and Eagan; stoplights were installed, and center islands were added (the junction with Nicollet Avenue was reconstructed on numerous occasions). In 1974, a small stretch was upgraded to four lanes at the future 494 underpass at the border of Eagan and Mendota Heights (494 was not completed until the mid 1980's). The next four-lane section was completed in 1980 between Diffley Road and Silver Bell Road to facilitate the interchange with the Cedar Avenue Freeway (Highway 77). The two lane section between Nicollet and Diffley was finally upgraded to four lanes in 1992. In 1993, the rehabilitation of the Mendota Bridge resulted in the total reconstruction of the highways meeting at its eastern end. Highway 13 was moved off of its old alignment along Pilot Knob onto a new four lane section north of 494 to Highway 55, and then onto a series of service drives connecting Highway 55 with Highway 110. A project in 2001 pushed the four lane section north from an improved intersection with Silver Bell Road to Yankee Doodle Road. Today only the short segment between Yankee Doodle Road and 494 remains two lanes.
Photos
Photos from August 2006, northbound (unless stated otherwise)
Entering Dakota County on Highway 13 northbound. The northbound lane was built
as Highway 101 in 1941. The southbound lane was constructed in 1966. Highway
13 was moved onto this alignment in about 1960 from its old alignment on Williams
Drive (for more info, see here: LOST
HIGHWAY). Highway 101 remained duplexed with Highway 13
as far east as 35W until about 1963.
From the opposite perspective, looking west towards Shakopee on the southbound
lane, constructed in 1966. Other than being a retail strip, Highway 13 west
of I-35W is also an important link between the interstate and US 169 at Shakopee.
Highway 13 also serves the major grain elevators that line the Minnesota River
in Burnsville and Savage, an example of which is visible on the horizon on
the right.
Junction with County Road 5
Approaching the junction with County Road 5 on Highway 13 northbound.
At the actual junction. There are currently plans to replace this busy intersection
with a grade separated interchange. The original alignment of Highway 13,
used from 1934 until 1960, approached from the right of the photo, ending
at a junction just to the east of the modern intersection, This was also the
eastern terminus of Highway 101 from 1941 until 1960.
The junction with County Road 5 from a different perspective, looking northeast
from old County Road 34 place.
Junction: I-35W
Highway 13 was upgraded to a divided highway in 1960 east of County Road 5
to facilitate the interchange with I-35W, just ahead.
Just before the ramp to southbound 35W. The interchange with 35W was constructed
on the site of original junction with US Highway 65. US Highway 65 remained
duplexed with I-35W until about 1980. This was also the eastern terminus of
State Highway 101 from 1960 until 1963. Back
to Highway 101 - Route Profile
Skateville Roller Skating Center, looking north across Highway 13. There was
once a drive-in theatre north of Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue (long gone).
The 35W interchange is visible in the side-view mirror.
Driving by Burnsville High School, north of Nicollet Avenue. Highway 13 between
Nicollet Avenue and Diffley Road was upgraded to four lanes in 1992.
At Diffley Road. The highway north of here was upgraded to four lanes in about
1980 to facilitate the interchange with the Cedar Avenue Freeway (Highway
77). The previous alignments ran a bit further to the south, curving to the
east just ahead. For more on the two previous alignments near Cedar Avenue,
see here: LOST HIGHWAY
North of Diffley Road. Office buildings in Bloomington are visible on the
horizon.
Junction: State Highway 77
Northbound at the modern interchange of Highway 13 with Highway 77, constructed
in about 1980. The Cedar Avenue freeway replaced the old two-lane road and
19th century swing bridge, which provided access to Minneapolis for some of
the older subdivisions in western Eagan. Old Cedar Avenue is now known as
Nicols Road. Highway 77 became the new designation for what was once the southern
end of State Highway 36 in about 1978.
North of Cedar Avenue, approaching Silver Bell Road and the Cedarvale Shopping
center. Highway 13 was once the main drag through eastern Eagan until it was
superseded by Interstate 35E in the mid 1980's. The design of the four lane
section constructed in 1980 (seen ahead) did not include a direct connection
to the mall. Cedarvale has been in a steady state of decline ever since. Efforts
have recently been attempted to revitalize the area, but controversy over
eminent domain has put a hamper on any plans (as discussed in a recent Pioneer
Press article). For more photos of the mall see the article on the old alignments
in and around Cedar Avenue here: LOST
HIGHWAY.
Looking east across the intersection of Silverbell Road and Highway 13. Notice
the new housing development ahead. From the design of the recently reconstructed
roads in the area, it appears that Eagan is trying to make the intersection
of Silver Bell Road with Highway 13 into a sort of gateway to the city. Photo
from December, 2005
The following photos are northbound, from November 2006, unless stated otherwise:
Looking north on Highway 13, just past Silver Bell Road. This stretch of Highway
13 was the latest to be upgraded to four lanes, completed in 2001.
The Blue Cross/Blue Shield building , just south of Yankee
Doodle Road.
At Yankee Doodle Road. On the left is the Valley Lounge, an institution on
Highway 13 since 1937 (originally as the Hillside Inn). The original road
used by Highway 13 before the 1948 reconstruction ran just west of the present
road, directly through what is now the Lounge's parking lot: LOST
HIGHWAY
Highway 13 narrows again to two lanes just north of Yankee Doodle Road. The
grade between here and 494 dates back to the 1948 reconstruction.
Highway 13 regains an almost rural feel north of Yankee Doodle Road.
A t Lone Oak Road. The gap in the trees on the left probably marks the alignment
of the original road used by Highway 13 until the reconstruction of 1948.
The old road weaved in and out of the alignment of the modern highway. Nearly
all other signs of the original road are gone.
Highway 13 expands again to four lanes just south of the 494 underpass. The
Lost Spur Country Club in on the right.
Junction: Interstate 494
Looking north at the 494 overpass. Notice the sign indicating "to 494"
on the right. No interchange was ever constructed with Interstate 494, which
was completed across the MInnesota River to Pilot Knob Road in 1982. Highway
13 was upgraded to 4-lanes at the future underpass in 1974. It is unclear
whether an interchange was ever planned. The lack of an exit might have something
to do with the isolated and rural feel of Highway 13 north of Yankee Doodle
Road.
The 494 overpass from the southbound perspective. (Photo from March, 2006)
Entering Mendota Heights. The road ahead was upgraded
to four lanes in 1993 as part of the Mendota Bridge reconstruction.
Northbound, just south of Mendota Road. The sign points the way to the original
alignment of Highway 13 along the Minnesota River, bypassed in 1993 when the
Mendota Bridge was rehabilitated. Just past the intersection, Highway 13 curves
sharply to the east towards the modern junction with Highway 55. For more
on the 1993 realignment, see here: LOST
HIGHWAY
Junction: State Highway 55
Photos from December 2005, northbound
Approaching the junction with Highway 55 on Highway 13 northbound, just west
of Pilot Knob Road.
At the modern junction with Highway 55, constructed in 1993. Highway 13 continues
across 55 towards 110, and serves as Highway 55 northbound's only connection
with 110-eastbound. back to top
Continue on to Highway 13, Part 2:
Back to State Highway 13 - Route Profile
Dakota County's Trunk Highways - Home
