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 road from the Ramsey County Line to St.
Paul Park had already been paved with concrete, 18 feet wide, in 1925.
The rest of the route from St. Paul Park to Hastings is still on the
existing gravel road.
1927- Reconstruction / First Paving / Realignment:
Work is completed on the grading and concrete paving of the highway
from St. Paul Park to what is now the junction with State Highway 95,
just north of Hastings. The concrete pavement is 18 feet wide. The new
road generally follows the path of the old, except for a realignment
near modern Highway 95, where a right-angle turn is bypassed (the old
road followed the southern end of what is now State Hwy. 95 after a
short east/west jog, now gone).
1929-1931 - Realignment / First Paving: A new highway
is constructed from just south of modern State Hwy. 95 to the Spiral
Bridge at the Mississippi River. The new road has a much more gradual
grade on the hill leading out of the valley, and is much straighter.
Construction includes bridges over two separate sets of railroad tracks
in the river bottoms, eliminating two at-grade crossings on the old
road. Grading is completed in 1930; paving with 20 feet of concrete
is completed in 1931 (the last bit at the north end of the Spiral Bridge
is paved with oil treated gravel instead of concrete.) U.S. 61 continues
to use the old Spiral Bridge to cross the Mississippi into Hastings.
The plans show an alignment for a replacement bridge along where the
current bridge is eventually constructed in 1950. Two sections of the
old road survive: the old approach to the Spiral Bridge in the river
bottoms, and a short stretch on top of the hill, just south of the modern
junction with Hwy. 95 at the current site of a MnDOT maintenance dump
(this latter part of the old road is now gone).
May 4, 1934: State Highway 3 is retired in Washington
County due to redundancy with U.S. 61.
May, 1935: U.S. Highway 10 is duplexed with U.S. 61
from St. Paul to the split towards Prescott, Wisconsin, just north of
Hastings in Denmark Township.
1938: State Highway is 100 multiplexed with U.S. 61
and U.S. 10 from the junction in Newport at 12th Street to Highwood
Avenue in St. Paul. This occurs after the Inver Grove Toll Bridge is
added to the trunk highway system.
1948: Construction begins on the approach for the
new Mississippi River bridge at Hastings. The approach is constructed
on top of the old road bed, starting just south of the the southern
set of railroad tracks. A temporary connection is constructed from the
north end of the spiral bridge around the west side of the grading work.
1949 - Divided Upgrade / Realignment: U.S. 61 / U.S.
10 is upgraded into a four lane divided highway at Newport (the upgrade
is for two miles south from the St. Paul City Limits/Ramsey Co. Line).
The new road is paved with 22 feet of concrete on each lane. The old
concrete road, constructed in 1925, is reused in several places. Two
sections of the old road become service drives: One short section at
the Ramsey/Washington County Line is reused as the northbound service
drive and connection to Bailey Road. Another longer section in downtown
Newport is incorporated into the northbound service drive north of High
Street. One last section of the old road is reused as part of the southbound
lane south of Glen Road for a little over a half mile. The old pavement
is left in place, but is widened to 22 feet to match the new northbound
lane. A new multi-leg junction with Highway 100 is constructed at 21st
Street in downtown Newport, replacing the old junction at 12th Street.
1951 - Bridge Replacement / Realignment: The new Mississippi
River bridge at Hastings is opened to the public. Construction and paving
is completed on the new approach on the north side of the bridge. The
old Spiral Bridge is demolished. Part of the temporary connection in
use since 1948 (see above) is reused as an access road to the river
bottoms.
1957/58 - Divided Upgrade / Realignment / Reconstruction:
Expansion into a four-lane divided highway, from the Mississippi River
bridge at Hastings to the end of the previously constructed four-lane
section at Newport. Construction begins at the north end of the river
bridge, where the north approach is widened from a 24 foot to a 40 foot
wide driving surface (but still with only two lanes of traffic), complete
with wide shoulders and curbs. The expansion to four lanes occurs at
the north end of the bridge over the second set of railroad tracks north
of Hastings at the bottom of the hill out of the river Valley. This
section is constructed on top of the old road completed in 1931, with
two lanes separated by a concrete median, with wide concrete gutters
in places. This section is completed in 1957. The road widens out into
two separate roadways at the junction with U.S. 10. The divided highway
north of U.S. 10 is constructed in two stages. In 1957 most of the southbound
lane is constructed and paved, while portions of the northbound lane
are graded where the old road runs on a different alignment (the old
road continues to be used while construction is underway). The lane
completed reverses just north of Jamaica Avenue, where the northbound
lane is completed and paved, and parts of the future southbound lane
are graded. The only place where both lanes are completed in 1957 is
on the curve at the junction with State Hwy. 95. In 1958 the other lane
is completed and paved. Pavement on the section north of U.S. 10 is
24 feet of concrete on each lane. One grade-seperated diamond interchange
is constructed at Innovation Road to provide access to the 3-M plant.
Realignments allow two sections of the old road to be left behind in
Cottage Grove as part of the northbound service drive. Another long
section bypassed at St. Paul Park (at the site of the modern 70th St.
interchange) is demolished.
1959 - Reconstruction / Realignment: Several projects
on U.S. 61 as part of the construction of the first section of I-494
and the Wakota Bridge at Newport. A mile long stretch at the new interchange
with 494 is fully reconstructed on a revised alignment and paved with
24 feet of concrete on each lane (the old road is destroyed). Roadside
development plans from 1951 show a radically different original design
for the proposed interchange, which did not require the realignment
of U.S. 61/U.S. 10 at all. These simpler plans were made when the Wakota
Bridge being planned for use by an upgraded Highway 100, not an interstate
highway. The incorporation of the plans for the new bridge in the design
for 494 required a more modern design.
Highway 100's move to the new bridge shortens its duplex with U.S.
61. However, the new Interstate only reaches as far east as the new
interchange with U.S. 61 and U.S. 10. Highway 100 still has to multiplex
with U.S. 61and U.S. 10 north from the new interchange to Highwood Avenue
in St. Paul.
The construction of the new interchange destroys the south end of a
service drive that was still using the original 18-foot concrete from
1925 (this service drive provided access to Bailey Road).
Other improvements south of the new interchange include the construction
of an unusual grade-seperated Interchange at 70th Street in St. Paul
Park, which provides access to what are now County Roads 74 and 22.
The original concrete pavement from 1925 still being used as part of
the southbound pavement on the south side of Newport is also paved over
(see 1949 construction history above for details).
1962: Improvements at Newport. The old two leg junction
with State Hwy. 100, built in 1949, is reconstructed. The north leg
is demolished, and the south leg is widened. A stop-light and turn-lanes
are installed at the intersection of the south leg with the main highway
(at 20th Street). Part of the northbound frontage road is also reconstructed,
resulting in the removal of a short stretch of the original concrete
highway constructed in 1925. Turn lanes are also added at the other
intersections in Newport.
1964/65: The remainder of the original 18 foot wide
concrete pavement on the northbound service drive at Newport is paved
over and widened.
A traffic signal is added at the intersection with Belden Blvd (now
80th Street/Grange Blvd) in Cottage Grove.
1970: Turn lanes are added at various intersections
between Newport and Hastings as part of a resurfacing and improvement
project.
Sometime Between 1969 and 1976: The east ramps at
the interchange with Innovation Road are reconstructed, pushing them
further to the east away from the main highway. The northbound service
drive, which is actually the original highway from 1927, has to be realigned
to make room.
1976: More turn lanes are constructed along the highway
between Hastings and Newport. Construction includes a new connecting
ramp at the junction with State Highway 95 for northbound traffic on
U.S. 61/U.S. 10 turning onto northbound Hwy. 95. Other various safety
improvements are also made.
The intersection with 12th Street (the original south junction with
Hwy. 100) at Newport is heavily revised, with new turn lanes and a traffic
signal. The old connection on the west side of U.S. 61 once used by
Hwy. 100 is demolished, and a new connection is constructed just to
the north that lines up with 12th Street's alignment on the east side
of the highway.
1979 - Divided Upgrade / Reconstruction: The approach
to the Mississippi River bridge in the river bottoms north of Hastings
is reconstructed and widened to four-lanes, replacing the previous road
last upgraded in 1957 (see history above). New bridges over the railroad
tracks replace the old structures constructed in 1929. Turn lanes and
medians are added, and the various roads connecting to the main highway
are reconstructed, including the temporary roadway used to connect to
the Spiral Bridge between 1948 and 1951 while the new Hastings Bridge
was under construction.
1981: A new junction with U.S. 10 is constructed just
to the north of the original junction. New turn lanes are constructed,
and a short stretch of the old concrete pavement from 1957/58 is paved
over. A traffic signal is also added. The old alignment of U.S. 10 is
capped with a cul-de-sac. The old junction was closer to the steep incline
into the Mississippi River Valley, forcing northbound traffic making
the connection to U.S. 10 to turn at the very top of the hill, as well
as reducing visibility to traffic turning onto U.S. 61 from U.S. 10.
A park-and-ride facility is also constructed at the new junction.
1983: Construction of two diamond interchanges in
Cottage Grove: one at Jamaica Avenue, and another at 80th St/Grange
Blvd. U.S. 61 passes over an upgraded Jamaica Avenue via a set of new
overpass bridges. 80th St/Grange Blvd is built over the existing highway.
A long stretch of the old highway used as the northbound service drive
since 1958 is destroyed by the construction of the 80th St/Grange Blvd
interchange. Service drives in the vicinity of the new interchanges
are extended and/or modified.
1985: Intersection improvements at Newport. The intersection
with 20th Street (the old junction with Highway 100) is reconstructed.
The old south leg of the two-part junction with Hwy. 100 is moved south
to align with 20th Street on the east side of the highway. New turn
lanes are added. The cross-over and turn lane at High Street are removed.
The junction with Glen Road is improved, with new turn lanes and a traffic
signal. The highway at Newport is also resurfaced.
2002-Present - Freeway Upgrade / Reconstruction / Realignment:
A massive project is undertaken to rebuild U.S. 61 and U.S. 10 through
Newport and St. Paul Park in conjunction with the replacement of the
Wakota Bridge on I-494. The highway is totally reconstructed and upgraded
to freeway standards from just north of the Ramsey County Line to just
south of the 70th Street interchange at St. Paul Park. All at-grade
intersections are removed. An interchange is constructed at Glen Road
to maintain local access at Newport. Pedestrian bridges are built over
the new highway at the sites of the the old 20th Street and 12 Street
intersections. The interchange at 70th Street in St. Paul Park is fully
reconstructed (the highway at St. Paul Park was realigned slightly to
the west). Much of the work on U.S. 61 / U.S. 10 is completed in 2004.
The reconfigured interchange with 494 is still under construction as
of 2008 in anticipation of the completion of the eastbound Wakota Bridge.
The ramps from eastbound I-494 to northbound Hwy 61 and the westbound
I-494 to southbound Hwy 61 will be open in the summer of 2008. The stretch
of the original 2-lane highway still being used as part of the northbound
service drive north of High Street in Newport is also reconstructed
as part of the project.
back to top
|
Control Section Data:
Length: 13.066 Miles.
Legal Authorization: Constitutional Route 3
Fully Paved By: 1931
Paving/ Initial Development History:
- 1925: Ramsey County Line to St. Paul Park.
- 1927: St. Paul Park to Jct. with State Hwy. 95.
- 1931: Jct. with State Hwy. 95 to the Spiral Bridge at Hastings.
Divided Sections: Entire Length
Divided Upgrade History:
- 1949: Ramsey County Line through Newport.
- 1958: Newport to the Mississippi River bottoms.
- 1979: Mississippi River bottoms to the Hastings Bridge.
Other Designations:
- Great River Road
- Disabled American Veterans Highway
NHS: Entire Length
back to top
Junctions and Duplexes:
Current Junctions and Duplexes:
Interstate Highway 494:
1959-Present: Junction at interchange in Newport. Interchange reconstructed
in 2002-2008.
U.S. Highway 10:
1935-Present*: Duplex, north from the junction in Denmark Township,
just north of Hastings.
*Junction moved north slightly in 1981.
State Highway 95:
1934-Present: Junction in Cottage Grove at Manning Avenue.
Historic Junctions and Duplexes:
State Highway 3:
1926-1934: Duplex. State Highway 3 retired in the May 4, 1934 renumbering
due to redundancy with U.S. 61.
State Highway 94:
1934-1935: Junction in Denmark Township, just north of the Mississippi
River. Route replaced by U.S. 10 in May, 1935.
State Highway 100:
1962-1964: Junction, at the 494 interchange in Newport (Hwy. 100 is
temporarily duplexed with I-494.)
1959-1962: Duplex, north from the junction at the 494 interchange in
Newport.
1949-1959: Duplex, north from the junction at 20th/21st Street in Newport.
1938-1949: Duplex, north from the junction at 12th Street in Newport.
back to top
Surviving Old Alignments:
Hastings Ave / North Service Drive in Newport: From
just north of Ford Road to 19th Street. Bypassed in 1949. Reconstructed.
East Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove: Bypassed in
1958. Includes four parts:
1: Small driveway north of 80th Street, accessible via Hardwood Ave
and a new portion of Pt. Douglas Road.
2: South of 80th Street, from a cul-de-sac to about Hillside Trail.
Reconstructed.
3: North of Innovation Road, at the Cottage View Drive In. Short segment,
from first slight curve north of the drive-in entrance to the curve
towards Innovation Road. Old concrete paved over.
4: South of Innovation Road, from the curve at Innovation Road to just
past Kimbro Avenue. Old concrete paved over.
State Hwy. 95 / Manning Ave: From the curve at the
junction with modern U.S. 61/U.S. 10 to the driveway to a church. Bypassed
in 1927.
Hastings Avenue: Accessible from the modern highway
just north of the modern Hastings Bridge. Bypassed in 1930. Survives
as part of an access road to a private residence and marina, as well
as a maintenance access to the local railroad tracks. Old alignment
ends on the north at the first curve at the first set of tracks. Road
is still dirt/gravel. Northern portion is a private drive.
back to top
|
The U.S. Highway 61 Minnesota Reference Guide
