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Dakota
County's Trunk Highways
Modern Route Photos - State Highway 13
Part 2 - Jct. with State Highway 55 to Jct. with State Highway 149
History
The road along the Mississippi River from the Mendota Bridge to St. Paul was added to the trunk highway system in 1934, and marked as the northern most section of State Highway 13. Highway 13 provided St. Paul with a state controlled connection along the west bank of the Mississippi to routes leading to southern and southwestern Minnesota. In 1934, this section of Highway 13 was already paved with an asphalt treatment. The last few blocks on Annapolis Street along the border of West St. Paul and St. Paul were paved with concrete.
The original roadway served until well after World War 2. The first major reconstruction took place north of the Lilydale Road in 1955, eliminating a sharp curve at the north end of the bridge over the ravine carrying the Lilydale road out of the river bottoms. More projects in 1957 and 1961 realigned the highway on the east and west sides of Mendota respectively, and widened the highway between Mendota and Lilydale. In 1965, an interchange was constructed with I-35E at Lilydale, providing a new connection between Highway 13 and St. Paul (35E's connection to St. Paul wouldn't be completed until the mid 1980's). Projects in the 1970's and 1980's replaced bridges over the ravines north of 35E, reconstructed the highway yet again at Lilydale, and added various safety improvements. The biggest change took place in 1993, with the reconstruction of the highways meeting at the Mendota Bridge. Highway 13's old junction with Highway 55 at the east end of the bridge was removed, and Highway 13 was moved onto a series of new connecting roads to maintain junctions with Highways 55 and 110.
Other than the major changes near the Mendota Bridge and the interchange with I-35E, the rest of the northern section of Highway 13 still follows the alignment of the original county road taken over in 1934. Much of the road hugs the edge of the Mississippi River gorge, with numerous sharp turns, steep grades, and sharp drop-offs. Other than local access, Highway 13's role has been taken over for the most part by Interstate 35E. The bizarre route Highway 13 is now forced to follow near the Mendota Bridge serves as a sort of disconnection between the section south of the bridge and the less developed section through Mendota and Lilydale. I wouldn't be surprised if the northern part of Highway 13 is turned back to Dakota County in the near future.
Photos
Photos are ordered roughly from south to north, and are taken from the northbound perspective unless otherwise stated.
Junction(s): State Highways 55 and 110
The alignment of Highway 13 through the junctions with Highways 55 and 110 was constructed in 1993 as part of the Mendota Bridge rehabilitation project. The new alignment is four lanes west of the junction with 55, providing access to Pilot Knob Road. North of 55, 13 moves onto a new frontage road built on part of Highway 55's old grade. This portion of the new highway also provides the only connection between Highway 110 westbound and 55 southbound, as well as 55 northbound and 110 eastbound. After the junction with Highway 110, Highway 13 moves onto another frontage road, which closely follows part of the old alignment of Highway 110 westbound. The new alignment then curves to descend towards Mendota. For more on the 1993 realignment see the article here: LOST HIGHWAY
The following photos were taken in December, 2005
At the junction with Highway 55 on Highway 13 northbound. Highway 13 continues
across 55 towards 110, and serves as Highway 55 northbound's only connection
with 110 eastbound.
Looking north on the new frontage road built for Highway 13 in 1993. Notice
the old motel on the right, which was once directly accessible from Highway
55 before the reconstruction. The brown sign directs traffic towards the historic
town of Mendota.
A view of the new Highway 55 ramps leading to the Mendota Bridge.
Looking north at the junction with Highway 110. Highway 13 did not actually
have a junction with Highway 110 before 1993. Highway 13 continues north onto
a frontage road that was constructed over Highway 110's old westbound connection
to Highway 55.
Another view at the same location. North of the junction with Highway 110,
Highway 13 becomes part of the Great River Road (note the sign on the right).
The following photos were taken in March, 2006
A view of the junction with Highway 110 from Highway 13 southbound. Note the
signs indicating the connections to HIghway 55, and the sign for the Great
River Road.
South Approach to Mendota
An old historic marker on the new alignment of Highway 13, near the entrance
to St. Peter's cemetery, accessible from a small service road that once connected
to Highway 110.
A close-up of the marker, advertising the history of the town of Mendota.
The plaque was erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1926,
the same year the Mendota Bridge was completed.
The view of the Mendota Bridge from the the service road off of Highway 13.
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Looking southeast as Highway 13 ascends out of the river valley, south of
Mendota. The green sign points the way to Highway 13's old alignment under
the Mendota Bridge. Notice the Great River Road marker next to the Highway
13 marker ahead.
LOST HIGHWAY
Highway 13 Through Mendota
The tiny town of Mendota is one of the oldest settlements in the state of
Minnesota. It started out as an important fur trading post, run by future
governor Henry Sibley in the mid 19th century. The tall bluffs over the river
valley have isolated the town from the rest of the Twin Cities, allowing it
to maintain a rural feel. Highway 13 has been the route through Mendota since
1934. The alignment of the road itself has been altered both on the east and
west approaches to town to reduce the severity of curves. Otherwise, Highway
13 still travels directly down Mendota's main street. For more on historic
sites in Mendota, check out the cities's walking tour here.
LOST
HIGHWAY - More on the realignments at Mendota.
The following two photos were taken in November, 2006
Descending into the river valley, just east of Mendota. Downtown St. Paul
is visible on the horizon. On the left is the historic St. Peter's Church,
built in the 1850's. It is the oldest operating church in the state of Minnesota.
The road on the hill west of Mendota was reconstructed as part of the Mendota
Bridge rehabilitation in 1993.
The following photos are from March, 2006 unless otherwise stated.
Entering Mendota on Highway 13 from the south. The white building on the right
was once a school house.
A rustic memorial to Henry Hastings Sibley at the western end of Mendota off
of Highway 13 (the historic Sibley House is at the bottom of the hill behind
the memorial). This memorial was built in 1955. In 1961, the road just west
of the memorial was realigned to lessen the curve on the hill ascending towards
Highway 55 at the Mendota Bridge. The old grade is now occupied by a large
public parking lot.
Looking north on Highway 13 through Mendota. Note the sign on the right pointing
the way to the historic Sibley house.
The historic DuPuis House, now the visitor's center for the historic Sibley
House.
(Photo from November, 2006)
Another view of Highway 13 through Mendota, looking north. The road through
town was last reconstructed in 1957, when the pavement was widened and curbs
and gutters added.
The highway out of Mendota, looking north. This stretch of road was constructed
in 1957 to bypass the sharp curve at the old rail-crossing. The rail crossing
(ahead) has been replaced by a crosswalk for the recreation trail built on
the old rail grade.
Mendota to Interstate 35E at Lilydale
This stretch of highway is still on the same alignment as in 1934, running
along the steep banks of the bluffs along the west bank of the Mississippi
River. It was widened to its current extent in 1961.
Photos from November, 2006 unless otherwise stated.
Leaving Mendota at the city limits of Mendota Heights and Lilydale.
Junction: Interstate 35E
The original interchange of Highway 13 and 35E was constructed in 1965. The interchange was improved again in the early 1990's (the bridge over the interstate was replaced), and yet again in recent years as part of the construction of the new 35E bridge to St. Paul.
The route of the Great River Road leaves Highway 13 for 35E in order to cross
the Mississippi River to St. Paul.
Highway 13 from 35E to Highway 149
Highway 13 north of 35E again runs close to the edge of the Mississippi River Valley. The road cuts across two deep ravines, (the further north of the two is referred to as Happy Hollow in construction plans). The original bridges over these ravines were already extant when the road became Highway 13 in 1934. The bridge over Happy Hollow was replaced in 1979; the bridge over the southern ravine (where the Lilydale Road ascends out of the river valley) was replaced in 1984. North of the second ravine, the road has remained virtually unchanged since 1934.
Photos taken July, 2007
At the intersection with Lilydale Road. The location of the intersection
dates back to the construction of 35E in 1965. The original intersection was
to the west at the location of the modern bridge over 35E. The bridge over
the Lilydale Road ravine is visible ahead.
The Highway 13 bridge over Lilydale Road, constructed in 1984, as seen from
below.
The highway northeast of the Lilydale Road ravine has been reconstructed twice
since 1934. The first project in 1955 realigned the road to eliminate a sharp
curve at the north end of the bridge (Thompson Lightning Protection and the
River Bluffs Mall are built on the old right of way). The second reconstruction
in 1984 widened the road and replaced the original bridge over the ravine.
For more on the 1955 realignment, see the article here: LOST
HIGHWAY
The vaguely western themed River Bluffs Center.
At Watchtler Avenue, looking north towards the bridge over Happy Hollow.
On the bridge over Happy Hollow, constructed in 1979. Downtown St. Paul is
visible on the left.
At Sylvandale Road.
At the turn-off onto Annapolis Street. Note the sign marking the city limits
of St. Paul ahead.
Looking west on Annapolis Street, back towards the turn-off onto the main
highway along the river gorge.
(Photo from March 2006)
Looking east on Annapolis Street. Note the slight jog where Annapolis
meets the main street grid at Chippewa Avenue.
Junction and Northern Terminus: State Highway 149
Highway 13's northern terminus has been at the intersection of Annapolis and Smith since it was extended north to St. Paul in 1934. Smith Avenue has been part of the trunk highway system since 1921, originally as State Highway 1. It has also been marked as: US Highway 65 (1926-1932), State Highway 88 (1934-1950), and State Highway 49 (1950-1980).
Photos from December, 2006
Approaching the junction with Highway 149, looking east on Annapolis Street.
The last few blocks of Annapolis were widened and repaved in 1966.
Approaching the end of Highway 13.
A view of the northern terminus of Highway 13 from an antique store
at Annapolis and Smith, looking west towards the Old Man River Cafe (great
coffee by the way). Photo from September, 2005.
Back to State Highway 13 - Route Profile
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