Route Development
Timeline:
September, 1926 - Initial Conditions: U.S. 61 is first
marked along State Highway 3 between the Wisconsin state line at La
Crescent and St. Paul. Paving on the highway from Kellogg to the Winona
County line at Minneiska had been completed in 1925. The pavement is
concrete, 18 feet wide. The grade and bridges had been completed in
1924.
May 4, 1934: State Highway 3 between St. Paul and
La Crescent is retired due to redundancy with U.S. 61.
1945 - Reconstruction: A mile long stretch of the
highway at Indian Creek is reconstructed. A new wider grade is placed
on top of the old road (the concrete pavement that is not removed is
buried under the northbound slope of the new grade). A new bridge over
Indian Creek is built to replace the old structure, constructed in 1924.
1962 - Reconstruction / Realignment: U.S. 61 is partially
reconstructed into a four-lane highway from the Winona County line to
County Road 29 just south of Weaver (the construction actually extends
south into Winona County for a half mile). Although both lanes are graded,
only the northbound lane is paved with a temporary bituminous surface
(plans for the construction show the temporary driving surface varying
between the two lanes with temporary crossovers - however, future plans
and aerial photos show otherwise). A long section of the old concrete
road remains in use for a mile south of the junction with Co Rd 29,
slated to be used as part of the northbound lane. Another section of
the old road is reused as a service drive at Minneiska, just north of
the county line. The rest of the old road is destroyed. The construction
also destroys a great deal of the north end of the town of Minneiska.
Census data shows the population of Minneiska drops from 134 in 1960
to 80 in 1970, a 40% decrease.
1965 - Divided Upgrade: The four lane grade constructed
in 1962 is finally completed and paved. A concrete median is constructed
on the narrower segments. This construction is tied to the reconstruction
of the highway between Minnesota City and Minneiska in Winona County.
1969 - Reconstruction / Realignment: The first phase
of the construction of the modern four lane highway between County Road
29 just south of Weaver and about a mile south of the town of Kellogg
is completed. For the most part, only the future southbound lane is
constructed. One part of the northbound lane is constructed at Weaver,
but is closed to traffic. One exception to the construction is at Indian
Creek, where a half mile of the grade and bridge constructed in 1945
are still used (this old section will eventually become part of the
completed northbound lane). Another completed segment at the north end
of the project, planned as the future southbound lane, eventually becomes
the northbound lane due to a slight realignment when the other lanes
are completed in 1974. The new highway bypasses the town of Weaver to
the east, leaving a section of the old road intact south of and through
town, including the bridges over the two channels of the Whitewater
River. A small eastward extension of State Highway 74 is constructed
to meet the new alignment. North of Weaver, the new road runs parallel
and just to the west of the old highway, which is abandoned and blocked
with traffic barriers. As part of the construction, new bridges are
constructed over the Whitewater River and Snake Creek (a new channel
is constructed for the Whitewater River). The new road ends on the north
at a temporary connection to old U.S. 61 just south of Kennedy Drive
and Gorman Creek near Kellogg.
1970 - Divided Upgrade / Realignment: The first phase
of the bypass of Kellogg and Wabasha is completed, starting at the north
end of the 1969 project (see above). Only the southbound lane is completed
until just south of the junction with State Highway 42, where a section
of the northbound lane is also completed. The temporary connection from
the road constructed in 1969 to the old alignment into Kellogg is removed.
1974 - Divided Upgrade / Reconstruction: The upgrade
of U.S. 61 to four lanes - from a mile south of County Road 29 to Highway
42 in Kellogg - is finally completed. Construction is for the most part
on the northbound lane, including new bridges over the Whitewater River
and Snake Creek. The original concrete pavement, which had still been
in use as the northbound lane for a mile south of County Road 29, is
buried under the new grade. Much of the new northbound lane north of
Weaver is also constructed over the original concrete highway's grade
(these sections of the old road had been closed to traffic in 1969).
The southbound lane is completed at Indian Creek, with a new bridge
to complement the northbound bridge, constructed in 1945, which remains
in place.
back to top |
Control Section Data:
Length: 10.698 Miles.
Legal Authorization: Constitutional Route 3
Fully Paved By: 1925.
Paving/ Initial Development History:
- 1925: Winona County Line to Kellogg.
Divided Sections: Entire Length
Divided Upgrade History:
- 1965: Winona County Line to County Road 29 at Weaver.
- 1970: At the junction with State Hwy. 42 at Kellogg.
- 1974: From County Road 29 at Weaver to State Hwy. 42 at Kellogg.
Other Designations:
- Great River Road
- Disabled American Veterans Highway
NHS: Entire Length
back to top
Junctions and Duplexes:
Current Junctions and Duplexes:
State Highway 42:
1970-Present: Junction at Kellogg.
1938-1970: Junction at Kellogg, at the modern jct. of Co. Rd 18 and
Co Rd. 84.
1926-1938: Junction at Dodge and Belvidere Streets
in Kellogg*
*This is assumed. An aerial photo from 1939 shows a curved connection
between Belvidere St and the old alignment of Hwy 42 on the west side
of town. The junction could have been one block north at Winona Street.
State Highway 74:
1969-Present: Junction on the east side of Weaver.
1934-1969: Junction in "downtown" Weaver.
Historic Junctions and Duplexes:
State Highway 3:
1926-1934: Duplex. State Highway 3 is retired on May 4, 1934 due to
redundancy with U.S. 61.
back to top
Surviving Old Alignments:
Old U.S. 61 South of Kellogg: Bypassed in 1969/70.
Runs parallel and east of the modern highway. Accessible from several
points. Some sections are closed due to bridge outage or overgrowth.
Old Alignment at Weaver: Bypassed in 1969. Accessible
via State Hwy. 74 on the north end or via County Road 29 on the south
end. Both bridges over the Whitewater River on the old alignment are
out.
Bennett Avenue (South Service Drive), Minneiska: North
from the county line to the north connection to modern U.S. 61 only.
Bypassed in 1962.
back to top
|
The U.S. Highway 61 Minnesota Reference Guide
