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Dakota County's Trunk Highways
US Highway 61 - Dakota County
In Dakota County: Since 1926 County Endpoints: Legal Authorization: CR 3 NHS: North of junction with Highway 316 in Hastings. Other Designations: Replaced (in 1934): |
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Route Development Timeline:
September, 1926 - Initial Conditions: U.S. Highway 61 is first marked along State Highway 3 between St. Paul and the Wisconsin state line at La Crosse. The entire highway from the Goodhue County Line to Main Street in Hastings is still gravel. Grading and graveling work had been completed in 1921 on the road from the Goodhue County line to the junction with Highway 20, including the construction of a small bridge in Miesville. In Hastings, US 61 follows Vermillion Street north to 2nd (Main) Street. 2nd / Main Street and Sibley Street provide the connection between Vermillion Street and the famous Spiral Bridge across the Mississippi River, constructed as a wagon bridge in 1894. The connection via Main and Sibley Streets had been paved with bituminous on concrete in 1921.
1927 - 4 Lane Upgrade / Reconstruction / First Paving: Paving and reconstruction of Vermillion Street in Hastings. Construction begins just south of the Vermillion River (starting at modern 23rd St) with a new 27 foot wide concrete road. Vermillion Street north of the river is widened and paved to accommodate four lanes of traffic with two 18 foot wide concrete lanes, separated by an island as far north as 5th Street. North of 5th, the construction project log states that Vermillion was paved with two 34 foot wide concrete lanes on either side of a 7 foot wide bituminous strip. From later plans and pictures, it appears that the concrete pavement was probably 75 feet wide, and the 7 foot bituminous strip was placed on top to guide and separate north and southbound traffic.
The gravel road south of the Vermillion River to the Goodhue County line is oil treated. US 61's route through Dakota County is now paved.
1928: The bridge across the Vermillion River on the south side of Hastings is replaced.
1930-31 - Reconstruction / Realignment / First Paving (Concrete): The highway from Hastings to the Goodhue County line is modernized and paved. A new grade is constructed from the south end of the pavement constructed in 1927 at Hastings to replace the old gravel road in use since 1921. The new grade features two realignments. The first is on the south side of Hastings, where a more gradual approach to the Vermillion River bridge is constructed, replacing the old alignment on what are now Canon and 25th Streets. The second is at the junction with Highway 20, where the new road is designed with a gradual curve to replace the right-angle turn and four-way intersection at what was once known as "Four Corners", originally located just to the west of the modern junction of Highways 50 and 20. The bridge constructed in 1921 at Miesville is removed and replaced with a culvert. The new grade is completed in 1930 and paved with 20 feet of concrete in 1931.
May 4, 1934: State Highway 3 is retired in the route consolidation of 1934 due to redundancy with U.S. 61.
1951 - Bridge Replacement / Realignment / Reconstruction: The spiral bridge at Hastings is replaced by the modern steel truss structure, slated to be replaced in 2010. The new bridge is constructed to the west of the old span, depositing traffic directly onto Vermillion Street via an overpass over 2nd (Main) Street. Ramps are constructed from 3rd and Vermillion down to 2nd to maintain access to downtown. Vermillion Street is modernized, widened, and repaved in conjunction with the bridge replacement as far south as 25th Street. The section south of what is now the junction with County Road 47 is widened to 64 feet (the old concrete road had been between 27 and 20 feet wide). The bridge over the Vermillion River is also widened. The two 18 foot lanes south of 5th Street are widened to 30 feet. The old concrete median is removed and replaced with a new four-foot wide structure, which is extended north to 3rd Street, replacing the previous 7 foot bituminous strip. Most of the old concrete pavement remains intact under the new bituminous surface, except between 24th and 22nd Streets where it is removed to lower the grade. The historic spiral bridge is demolished shortly after the new bridge is opened to traffic in 1951.
1955: A traffic signal is added at 4th and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
1957: A traffic signal is added at the junction with State Hwy. 55 (11th Street).
1961/62?: A roadside memorial and marker is constructed at the base of the Main Street overpass in Hastings.
1968: The old concrete south of Hastings to the Goodhue County line is paved over with a new bituminous surface.
1971: The concrete medians constructed in 1951 in Hastings are covered with a 6 foot wide bituminous walk and curbs to either side, effectively narrowing each lane of Vermillion Street by a foot. This work is done as part of a resurfacing project. A traffic signal is also added at 15th Street.
1978 - Reconstruction / Bridge Replacement: The bridge over the Vermillion River on the south side of Hastings, constructed in 1928 and widened in 1951, is replaced by a wider structure. The highway on either side of the bridge (between 22nd Street and just north of the junction with Co Rd 47) is also fully reconstructed.
1981 - Reconstruction: Vermillion Street in Hastings is fully reconstructed from just north of the junction with County Road 47 to the Mississippi River bridge. All of the old pavements and medians are removed. The reconstructed street features new medians, turns lanes, and traffic signals. Signals are added for the first time at County Road 47 and 10th Street.
1983 - 4 Lane Upgrade / Reconstruction: U.S. 61 is fully reconstructed on the south side of Hastings, from the Vermillion River bridge south to Canon Street. The new road, constructed on the same alignment, is widened to four lanes, with concrete medians and turn lanes. A revised junction with State Highway 316 is constructed, just south of the old junction (Highway 316's old junction met US 61 at a shallow angle, the new junction curves to meet US 61 at a right angle to improve safety). All old pavements in the construction zone are removed.
1984 - Realignment / Reconstruction: The junction with State Highways 20 and 50 in Douglas Township is revised and fully reconstructed. The old gradual curve, which once allowed traffic on US 61 to pass through the junction without stopping, is removed. A simple T-intersection is constructed in its place with turn lanes and medians. The old junction and connection to Highway 20 is also closed off (the connection to Highway 20 is now made via Highway 50).
1988: Widening and resurfacing, from the Goodhue COunty Line to Hastings. The driving surface is widened to 24 feet (in general) over the old concrete pavement. Turn and bypass lanes are added at various places.
1991: Intersection improvements at the junction with State Hwy. 291 in Hastings. A right turn lane is added for traffic on northbound U.S. 61.
Junctions and Duplexes:
State Highway 3:
1926-1934: Duplex. State Highway 3 is retired in the May 4, 1934 renumbering
due to redundancy with US 61.
State Highway 20:
1926-1984*: Junction in Douglas Township, south of Hastings.
*Highway 20 no longer technically meets US 61. The connection via Hwy. 50
is only about .25 miles long.
State Highway 50:
1949-Present: Junction in Douglas Township, south of Hastings.
State Highway 53:
1931-1934: Junction at 11th and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
1926-1931: Junction at 2nd and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
State Highway 53 was redesignated State Highway 55 at Hastings in the May
4, 1934 renumbering.
State Highway 55:
1934-Present: Junction at 11th and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
State Highway 291:
1970-Present: Junction at 18th and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
1951-1970: Junction at 10th and Vermillion Streets in Hastings.
State Highway 316:
1959-Present: Junction on the south side of Hastings.
Dakota County's Trunk Highways - Home
