Regional Boards > Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
Minnesota Notes
invincor:
The most direct route from Red Wing to Rochester is to first follow MN 58 south to US 52 at Zumbrota and then take 52 the rest of the way. So, why wasn’t US 63 routed this way when it was established? It first does a duplex with US 61 to Lake City and then heads south to Rochester. Does anyone know the reason why?
texaskdog:
--- Quote from: invincor on February 26, 2023, 06:50:28 PM ---The most direct route from Red Wing to Rochester is to first follow MN 58 south to US 52 at Zumbrota and then take 52 the rest of the way. So, why wasn’t US 63 routed this way when it was established? It first does a duplex with US 61 to Lake City and then heads south to Rochester. Does anyone know the reason why?
--- End quote ---
I would think (without knowing) that Lake City was considered an important city back in the day. Now with US 63 routed out of Rochester it's got that really silly jog where it should just be moved to MN 58, especially with US 52 being a freeway now. 51 minutes through Zumbrota, 64 minutes staying on US 63. Crazy.
Molandfreak:
Keeping US 63 on the least-confusing route possible was probably the top priority in 1935. It was a straight route through Rochester until very recently and already had 15 years of recognition as one corridor, since constitutional route 59 had been there before. The only thing that changed when 63 came along was that it was now multiplexed with 61 to Red Wing.
DandyDan:
--- Quote from: invincor on February 26, 2023, 06:50:28 PM ---The most direct route from Red Wing to Rochester is to first follow MN 58 south to US 52 at Zumbrota and then take 52 the rest of the way. So, why wasn’t US 63 routed this way when it was established? It first does a duplex with US 61 to Lake City and then heads south to Rochester. Does anyone know the reason why?
--- End quote ---
Having clinched MN 58, there are some terrain issues along part of that route. This is the Driftless Area, after all.
froggie:
Worth noting that, for a year or two in the mid-1930s, Minnesota had petitioned and designated what is now US 63 as US 59 (which fit the Constitutional route and was closer to the grid). They might have even signed it as such briefly. US 59 ended in Lake City. Safe to say that's why US 63 goes through Lake City, because its (brief) predecessor went there.
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