MN-55 thru Minneapolis

[John Madden]

Couldn't MNdot have MN-55 go across I-94 and then turn onto 7th street which would bring MN-55 right to the Hiawatha ave. portion of the route instead of having it overlap I-94 and go around downtown?

[kphoger]

Yes.

[Alps]

The idea is that through traffic is routed around the slowness and delays of downtown.

[John Madden]

The idea is that through traffic is routed around the slowness and delays of downtown.

I always thought that MN-55 went through downtown instead of going around it 

[NE2]

As signed I think it has a gap.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

As signed I think it has a gap.

There is one mention of EB 55 joining EB 94 at the 7th St interchange, but otherwise you're right.

[mgk920]

US 52 also previously went through the cities, including down University Ave, but that too was rerouted to follow the freeways.

Mike

[bugo]

They should bring back US 55. 

[The High Plains Traveler]

MN-55 did go through downtown Minneapolis until about 10 years ago via 7th and 8th Streets. Hell, when I moved to Minneapolis in 1977, a number of downtown streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul were posted state highways even though most of the current freeways except I-394 were in existence. Keep in mind that MnDOT has a stated policy of turning back major metropolitan streets to local control when possible. Thus, most surface trunk highways through both Minneapolis and St. Paul have been turned back as city streets.

[DandyDan]

As it stands now, wouldn't it just be easier to make current MN-55 east of downtown Minneapolis MN-155, in much the same way that MN-156 in South St. Paul used to be MN-56?  It's not like people typically follow the old route of MN-55 straight through downtown Minneapolis, do they?  (This is under the assumption my fictional extension of US 212 didn't happen. I got that somewhere on the fictional highway board.)  Actually, it could be MN-155 for the segment between I-94 and US 52 and MN-255 for the segment between US 52 and US 61.

[texaskdog]

I am amused by how US 52 has the gap west of Saint Paul.  They don't sign it, yet North Dakota refuses to renumber their portion.

[froggie]

I am amused by how US 52 has the gap west of Saint Paul.

Only a gap in signage.  It does exist officially.  Much the same with MN 55...to which I don't see any need to renumber it unless and until Dakota County is successful in getting MnDOT to take over CSAH 42, at which time MN 55 can be truncated to where it meets US 52 in Inver Grove Heights.

[Bickendan]

"US 12 West Follow I-94 then I-394"
"US 52 West Follow I-94"
---
"US 12 East Follow I-394 then I-94 East"
"US 52 East Follow I-94"

Something like that.

[bugo]

US 52 is partially signed on I-94 in North Dakota.  Probably 50% of the reassurance markers had a US 52 shield the last time I was up there.

[Molandfreak]

unless and until Dakota County is successful in getting MnDOT to take over CSAH 42

When was this proposed?

They should bring back US 55. 

How?

[texaskdog]

I am amused by how US 52 has the gap west of Saint Paul.

Only a gap in signage.  It does exist officially.  Much the same with MN 55...to which I don't see any need to renumber it unless and until Dakota County is successful in getting MnDOT to take over CSAH 42, at which time MN 55 can be truncated to where it meets US 52 in Inver Grove Heights.

If 52 has to be a US highway, it could just be 10.  10 comes into North Dakota already and goes no further than Fargo.

[Mdcastle]

Unless Froggie has some inside information I've not seen an actual proposal beyond the fact that the long term goal is for the state to maintain all and only the principal arterials in the metro area, and that when the new interchange with County 42 and US 52 is built the existing MN 55 interchange will be obliterated and traffic from Hastings will follow what is now County 42.

[froggie]

Monte's got it more or less correct.  There's no current proposal on the table (as far as I know) for MnDOT to take over CSAH 42 west of US 52...it's a "long term vision" based on the goal Monte mentioned plus verbage in the Dakota County Transportation Plan.

If 52 has to be a US highway, it could just be 10.  10 comes into North Dakota already and goes no further than Fargo.

I've thought much the same thing...

[texaskdog]

Monte's got it more or less correct.  There's no current proposal on the table (as far as I know) for MnDOT to take over CSAH 42 west of US 52...it's a "long term vision" based on the goal Monte mentioned plus verbage in the Dakota County Transportation Plan.

If 52 has to be a US highway, it could just be 10.  10 comes into North Dakota already and goes no further than Fargo.

I've thought much the same thing...

True, and I've read your website enough times that it may be your idea I stole.

[Milepost61]

"US 12 West Follow I-94 then I-394"
"US 52 West Follow I-94"
---
"US 12 East Follow I-394 then I-94 East"
"US 52 East Follow I-94"

Something like that.

Indeed.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=afton,+mn&ll=44.956842,-92.790613&spn=0.049379,0.111494&hnear=Afton,+Washington,+Minnesota&t=m&z=14&layer=c&cbll=44.956905,-92.7904&panoid=SIWxtnuEfiGRRjwGDcz1mQ&cbp=12,275.75,,1,5.33

[I94RoadRunner]

Unless Froggie has some inside information I've not seen an actual proposal beyond the fact that the long term goal is for the state to maintain all and only the principal arterials in the metro area, and that when the new interchange with County 42 and US 52 is built the existing MN 55 interchange will be obliterated and traffic from Hastings will follow what is now County 42.

The new US 52/MN 55/County 42 interchange is proposed to upgrade the existing diamond interchange at Co 42 to a 7 ramp parclo and 4 new 4 lane divided road east into Hastings for MN 55. The old left exit for MN 55 east would be removed. Here is the site: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/transportation/plannedconstruction/documents/cr42-hwy52study2002.pdf

[silverback1065]

MN-55 did go through downtown Minneapolis until about 10 years ago via 7th and 8th Streets. Hell, when I moved to Minneapolis in 1977, a number of downtown streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul were posted state highways even though most of the current freeways except I-394 were in existence. Keep in mind that MnDOT has a stated policy of turning back major metropolitan streets to local control when possible. Thus, most surface trunk highways through both Minneapolis and St. Paul have been turned back as city streets.

sounds like INDOT

[agentsteel53]

any signage remnants of state highways which are no longer under state maintenance?

[I94RoadRunner]

I guess the next topic talking about MN 55 is why when the Hiawatha line was put in didn't MNDOT rebuild Hiawatha Ave the way it should have been as a freeway .....? I think the signals are timed to FORCE anyone travelling on Hiawatha to wait at EVERY light!

[Mdcastle]

The NIMBYs won that one, more or less. A full freeway wasn't built, but an interchange at Lake Street was, and the road was rerouted away from the VA hospital. With the light rail there's noises being made about downscaling Hiawatha into a cute "walkable" neighborhood street, but as AFAIK these are just noises from some of the more anti-car residents.