Minnesota Notes

[TheHighwayMan3561]

15 years ago they probably could have gotten this done without much fuss. But more recent city administrations as noted have been much colder to the idea.

[kphoger]

Whenever I've been in the area, I've intentionally avoided 252 because it's not controlled-access, even though it would have otherwise been a perfect part of my route.  In fact, I think I've only ever been on it once.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

A 1930s-era viaduct crossing tracks on Jackson St in St. Paul was shut down today after an inspection.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+Paul,+MN/@44.9628093,-93.0992408,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52b2d4cee4e9379f:0xc87291d23fda2e29!8m2!3d44.9537029!4d-93.0899578!16zL20vMGIybHc?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/09/jackson-street-bridge-in-st-paul-closed-after-inspection

[texaskdog]

Does anyone know how much support or opposition the locals have for a proposed upgrade of MN 252 to freeway standards? If you ask me, maybe it should have been built as a freeway to begin with.

no idea why it wasn't built as a freeway.  I lived in Brooklyn Park at the time.

[on_wisconsin]

A 1930s-era viaduct crossing tracks on Jackson St in St. Paul was shut down today after an inspection.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+Paul,+MN/@44.9628093,-93.0992408,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52b2d4cee4e9379f:0xc87291d23fda2e29!8m2!3d44.9537029!4d-93.0899578!16zL20vMGIybHc?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/09/jackson-street-bridge-in-st-paul-closed-after-inspection

Damn, Bob & Pat are going to find different way to drive around on the same 10 roads for 4 hrs this Friday.../s

[The Ghostbuster]

Plenty of photos have been uploaded to Google Maps of the Jackson Street Roundhouse and Minnesota Transportation Museum (click the Street View button to see them).

[discochris]

Whenever I've been in the area, I've intentionally avoided 252 because it's not controlled-access, even though it would have otherwise been a perfect part of my route.  In fact, I think I've only ever been on it once.

It's pretty useful as a connector if you're heading to 35W north from downtown or the west metro to Duluth during peak cabin season. 694 to 252 to 610 to 35 avoids some nasty traffic on 694 eastbound to 35W. And if 252 is backed up at all, you can bypass via Brookdale Dr. to W. River Rd to 85th and get back on 252 just before 610.