Not all roads that are significant, useful or interesting are
trunk highways. There are county roads that provide excellent
traffic capacity or a useful shortcut, and that even may be part
of the National Highway System. Some local roads have an
interesting history or are just plain unusual. Finally, this page
has a link to the Great River Road, the multi-state (heck, even
international) parkway along the mighty Mississippi from Canada
to the Gulf of Mexico. Here are a few significant roads that
should be mentioned:
| Route |
Jurisdiction |
Description |
| CSAH 42 |
Scott and Dakota Counties |
The major east-west route across Scott and Dakota
Counties. It is designated as a "principal
arterial" by the Metropolitan Council, which means
that the road is supposed to be preserved as a route with
signals only at one-half mile intersections and severely
limited commercial entrances. Unfortunately, through
Burnsville and Apple Valley, there is a lot of demand for
commercial access from this route. The counties are
studying alternate routes that could be so designated,
but it is unlikely that any would fit better than this
existing route. It is divided road for about 10 miles
between Savage and U.S. 52 in Rosemount, and is
designated as part of the National Highway System between
Scott CSAH 18 and T.H. 55. The designation ends southeast
of Shakopee, but could ultimately be extended westward,
south of Shakopee, to intersect U.S. 169. If there is
any road that could be converted to trunk highway with an
infusion of funding for radical improvement, this is it.
However, none of the transportation agencies involved
will admit to any plans for converting this to limited
access expressway or freeway.
|
| CSAH 18 |
Scott County |
This designation formerly ran north into Hennepin
County along what is now U.S. 169, so the "County
Road 18" name has a considerable recognition value
in the Twin Cities area. Scott County has built this as
an expressway running south from the junction of U.S. 169
and CSAH 101. (It is noteable for being the only county
road in the state that has a speed limit over 55...one
short stretch is marked 60 mph). This route is
designated as part of the National Highway System between
CSAH 42 and U.S. 169.
|
| Shepard Road Warner Road
|
St. Paul (some Ramsey County segments but
basic maintenance is city) |
Running east from the intersection of East
Mississippi River Blvd. and T.H. 5, this road closely
follows the Mississippi River to downtown St. Paul. Most
of St. Paul is up on the river bluff, but this road is up
close and personal with the river. So much so that it is
inundated on occasion during significant flood events
(1993 and 1997). Being upgraded to four lane divided road
over much of its length. Designated as part of the
National Highway System between I-35E and downtown St.
Paul. East of downtown, it becomes Warner Road and
intersects U.S. 10/61 just south of I-94. Considered
for inclusion in the "East Central Business District
Bypass", which would allow trucks to bypass the
no-truck zone on I-35E and reenter the freeway north of
downtown at Pennsylvania Avenue. One of the few routes
that could also be designated as a trunk highway solely
by resolution of the Commissioner of Transportation.
Probably won't be, though.
|
| Ayd Mill Road (formerly Short Line
Road) |
St. Paul |
 |
A very unusual road. It runs northwest from
Jefferson Avenue, through a ravine next tothe
Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks, to Selby Avenue
just east of Snelling. Apparently, the road was
constructed by the city of St. Paul in the early
1960s, envisioned as a connector between I-35E
and I-94 in the Midway area. However, it was
never extended to I-94, and even though there is
an underpass and a cleared route that would allow
connection with I-35E, the connection has been
closed. It was only opened during the Mendota
Bridge reconstruction. To reach it from I-35E,
you must exit at Randolph, turn west, then north
on Lexington and east on Jefferson. |
The road is divided and main cross streets pass over
this road and the adjacent railroad. There are no
interchanges per se; rather, there are ramps that connect
with this road at grade, with northbound traffic having
to turn left across oncoming traffic to exit. The city of
St. Paul is looking at options for this road, ranging
from connecting it to I-35E to turning it into a linear
park.
|
| CSAH 4 |
St. Louis County |
One of Minnesota's longest county roads (over 60
miles), connecting Duluth and Biwabik. Significant enough
to rate a red line on the Rand McNally. |
| CSAH 2 |
Lake County |
Another significant connecting route, between T.H. 61
at Two Harbors and T.H. 1 south of Ely. A much better
road than T.H. 1. |
| Gunflint Trail (CSAH 12) |
Cook County |
Well-known to recreational enthusiasts, this road
runs north from T.H. 61 at Grand Marais to the edge of
the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Numerous
lodges and campgrounds can be found along this route. |
| Grand Rounds |
City of Minneapolis |
A route along the city's extensive park system,
intended to completely encircle the city. Includes St.
Anthony Parkway on the northeast side, Webber Parkway and
Victory Memorial Parkway on the north side, Wirth Parkway
on the west side, then south along the chain of lakes to
Minnehaha Parkway. It will follow this route west along
Minnehaha Creek to the falls, then join the West River
Parkway heading north toward the University of Minnesota.
The connection along the east edge of Northeast
Minneapolis isn't clear now, but will connect with
Stinson Parkway (Boulevard) and join St. Anthony Pkwy to
complete the loop. This is one of the urban routes
listed in TEA-21 as eligible for federal funding.
|
| Great
River Road |
MnDOT, counties, cities. MnDOT
administers the route itself and funds roadside
recreational improvements, but does not maintain the
roads except for trunk highways. |
This rates a page of its own, so click on the link at
left. |