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Lost U.S. Highway 61 - Minnesota
North - Next Lost Highway - South
Lost U.S. 61: Old Alignments at Minnesota City
Bypassed: 1940 (Original Alignment on Mill Street); 1978 (Second Alignment on Bridge Street)
Also Marked As: 
1926-1934 (Original Alignment Only)
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| The small, albeit historic town of Minnesota City has seen three different alignments of U.S. 61 since 1926. The original alignment, constructed as part of the initial paving project in 1926, ran directly through the center of town on Mill Street. The old concrete highway crossed Garvin Brook on a bridge at Front Street, constructed in 1919. Although the Department of Highways usually tried to eliminate at-grade rail crossings in its early highway projects, they only managed to design the highway to meet the rail crossing on the southeast edge of town at a right angle. The original concrete pavement constructed in 1926 is still in use on Mill Street today. Only 14 years later in 1940 the first bypass of Minnesota City was constructed around the east side of town. As part of the project, Garvin Brook's channel between the old bridge and the new alignment was modified and shored up with crib walls. An overpass was finally constructed for the railroad tracks. In addition, the highway designers constructed one of U.S. 61's first grade-seperated interchanges. An overpass was constructed for the previous alignment, which was modified to serve as the connection to Wenonah Road and the railroad depot (see map, right). One connecting ramp was constructed between the new highway and the modified road. This allowed for an uninterrupted connection between the town's central business district and the depot. The alignment constructed in 1940 served U.S. 61 well into the 1970's. In the meantime, construction of the four-lane highway between Winona and Wabasha was underway, beginning in the late 1950's. The four lane Winona bypass, constructed in 1957, ended just southeast of town. The future southbound lane of the new road to Minneiska was completed in 1965 on the north side of town, replacing the old 18-foot wide concrete road. A temporary connection was constructed at the junction with Highway 248 (which had been added to the trunk system in 1949) until the northbound lanes could be completed. |
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The modern four-lane bypass of Minnesota City was finally completed in 1978 around the west side of town. Although most of the alignment constructed in 1940 remained intact, the roads on the southeast side of town were heavily modified. The only structure to remain in place was the old railroad overpass. The original bridge over Garvin Brook from 1919 was demolished, and the grade-seperated interchange and overpass used by Wenonah Road was removed. In its place, the ramp of the old interchange was modified as a simple connecting drive.
The recent 2007 flooding event in southeast Minnesota caused a great deal of damage in Minnesota CIty. The modern elevated grade of U.S. 61 around the south and west sides of town was mostly unaffected. The old bypass was not so lucky. The bridge over Garvin Brook constructed in 1940 survived, but the north approach was washed out. The bridge will be demolished and replaced in 2008.
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Lost U.S. Highway 61 - Minnesota
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