U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 169 is a major north–south highway
in the U.S. state
of Minnesota
, connecting the Minnesota River
valley with the Twin Cities and the Iron Range
. Much of the route is built to expressway
or freeway standards.
as a two-lane, undivided highway, continuing as such through Blue Earth
, where it crosses Interstate Highway 90
. Roughly 5 miles southwest of Mankato
, U.S. 169 and State Highway 60
merge to a single expressway through Mankato. In North Mankato
, Highway 60 moves from a concurrency
with U.S. 169 to another one with U.S. 14
.
In Mankato and North Mankato, 169 functions as an arterial highway, passing directly through the cities' downtown area. From Mankato north to Shakopee
, the route remains an expressway, except for the section passing through Saint Peter
, where 169 is the main street through town.
55 miles (88.5 km) of U.S. 169 from Saint Peter to I-494 in Bloomington
is officially designated the John A. Johnson Memorial Highway. This includes the Bloomington Ferry Bridge
between Shakopee and Bloomington. This designation is marked as "Johnson Memorial Drive" on some maps, but not marked as such on directional signs, nor commonly known by this name.
In the Minneapolis
area, the route is constructed to freeway standards between Interstate Highway 494
and Hennepin County Road 81
. Construction to link the freeway north of I-494 with the freeway segment a few miles south of I-494 is underway. The freeway between Interstate 494
and Interstate 694
was originally built by Hennepin County
as County Road 18. In 1988, County Road 18 was transferred to the state of Minnesota and became the new alignment for Highway 169 in the Minneapolis area. In exchange, Hennepin County took over maintenance of two other highways that were formerly state routes.
Also in the Minneapolis area, U.S. 169 is often very congested. However, since the freeway passes very close to residential neighborhoods in many locations, any expansion of the freeway would disrupt housing stock in the surrounding area.
North of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, U.S. 169 continues as an expressway to Mille Lacs Lake
, an important resort area. The highway skirts the western shore of the lake. 74 miles (119.1 km) of U.S. 169 from Elk River
to Garrison
is officially designated the POW
/ MIA
Memorial Highway. From Mille Lacs Lake, U.S. 169 continues northward to its junction with U.S. 2
at Grand Rapids
. Here, 169 turns northeasterly to reach the cities of the Mesabi Iron Range
.
At Pengilly
, U.S. 169 becomes an expressway and remains such for the rest of its run. It passes through the cities of Hibbing
, Chisholm
, and Mountain Iron
before reaching U.S. 53 at the city of Virginia
. This four-lane stretch of 169 is also known as the Highway 169 Cross Range Expressway. The northern terminus of U.S. 169 is at the city of Virginia.
State Highway 169
begins immediately north of Virginia in Wuori Township; and continues northeast for 49 miles (78.9 km) to the cities of Tower
, Ely
, and Winton
. State Highway 169 is numbered as an extension of U.S. 169.
U.S. 169 is one of three Minnesota U.S. marked highways to carry the same number as an existing state marked highway within the state. The others being Highways 61
and 65
.
Legally, the Minnesota section of U.S. 169 is defined as all or part of Routes 5, 7, 383, 3, 18, and 35 in the Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.117(4).http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP&year=2006§ion=161#stat.161.114.0,http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP&year=2006§ion=161#stat.161.117.0 The route is not marked with those numbers.
1931. The route in Minnesota was paved by 1940.
U.S. 169, between the junction
with State Highway 60
(south of Mankato
) and the Twin Cities, was upgraded to at least expressway
status over several stages. The freeway section around Mankato and the adjoining expressway sections were completed in the early 1960s, along with bypasses of Le Sueur
, Jordan
and Belle Plaine
.
The U.S. 169 freeway bypass around Shakopee
was built in the mid-1990s along a new alignment, which included the newly constructed Bloomington Ferry Bridge
. Prior to this realignment, U.S. 169 crossed the Minnesota River
from downtown Shakopee where it had been co-signed
with State Highway 101
. North of the river crossing, U.S. 169 had previously been co-signed with what was then U.S. 212
(Flying Cloud Drive) through Eden Prairie
until 1996.
A new U.S. 169 interchange
with State Highway 19
, near Henderson
, was completed in 2002.
An expressway section of Highway 169 through southern Hennepin County
was converted to full freeway in 2006, with new interchanges constructed at Pioneer Trail and Anderson Lakes Parkway. At-grade intersections with traffic signals remain in place at the Interstate 494
interchange, which remains a point of frequent congestion.
North of the Twin Cities, Highway 169 has been upgraded to an expressway between Elk River
and the southern end of Mille Lacs Lake
, with bypasses of Princeton
and Milaca
built in the late 1980s.
U.S. 169 between Hill City
and Grand Rapids
has been built to super-2
standards.
The expressway section between Pengilly
and the city of Virginia
was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 2008, construction began on a new Highway 169 interchange with County Road 81
and 85th Avenue North in Brooklyn Park
. This interchange is also known as The Devil's Triangle, or simply as "The Triangle", because of the major traffic congestion during rush hour, especially in the afternoon. Construction was completed on August 11, 2011.
During the flooding of September 2010
, flood waters destroyed a 150 foot section of the northbound lanes of Highway 169 between St. Peter
and Le Sueur
. Mn/DOT
believes, "when the flood waters rose up it found a weak spot in the slope or the dirt bank and got under the grass and started mining under the pavement. Finally, it just sucked all the dirt out and the pavement just dropped into a hole." Traffic was detoured to the southbound lanes of 169 for a month, resulting in a temporary two lane expressway, until the northbound section was repaired.
at Interstate 494
, where three traffic signals
currently exist. The new interchange will feature six roundabouts, new flyover bridges, and two new bridges over I-494 that will carry West 78th Street and Washington Avenue. Major construction began in March 2011. Due to an early start, a majority of the construction will be completed in November 2011 including completion of major ramps, removal of all three traffic signals, roundabouts and completion of the new frontage road system. Construction will continue in spring 2012 with the completion of reconstructing surrounding roads and remaining ramps and flyovers with a final completion date of November 2012. The entire project is expected to cost $140 million.
A study to convert U.S. 169 to a freeway between U.S. 10
in Elk River
to 277th Avenue north of Zimmerman
was completed in late 2009. A complete review of the project by Mn/Dot will occur in 2011. A complete construction schedule and timeline will then by released by Mn/Dot. Allocation of funds for the project is currently underway and the only thing holding back from starting the project. The project is expected to cost around $178 Million.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, connecting the Minnesota River
Minnesota River
The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa....
valley with the Twin Cities and the Iron Range
Iron Range
The Iron Range is a region that makes up the northeastern section of Minnesota in the United States. "The Range", as it is known by locals, is a region with multiple distinct bands of iron ore...
. Much of the route is built to expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
or freeway standards.
Route description
U.S. 169 enters Minnesota near ElmoreElmore, Minnesota
Elmore is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 663 at the 2010 census. Elmore was the boyhood home of former vice president and presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale...
as a two-lane, undivided highway, continuing as such through Blue Earth
Blue Earth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,621 people, 1,535 households, and 925 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,137.0 people per square mile . There were 1,666 housing units at an average density of 523.1 per square mile...
, where it crosses Interstate Highway 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
. Roughly 5 miles southwest of Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
, U.S. 169 and State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60 is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 25 upon crossing the Mississippi River.Highway 60 is...
merge to a single expressway through Mankato. In North Mankato
North Mankato, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,798 people, 4,744 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,502.5 people per square mile . There were 5,046 housing units at an average density of 1,070.3 per square mile...
, Highway 60 moves from a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with U.S. 169 to another one with U.S. 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
.
In Mankato and North Mankato, 169 functions as an arterial highway, passing directly through the cities' downtown area. From Mankato north to Shakopee
Shakopee, Minnesota
Shakopee is a city southwest of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Scott County. Located on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the thirteenth largest...
, the route remains an expressway, except for the section passing through Saint Peter
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
, where 169 is the main street through town.
55 miles (88.5 km) of U.S. 169 from Saint Peter to I-494 in Bloomington
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
is officially designated the John A. Johnson Memorial Highway. This includes the Bloomington Ferry Bridge
Bloomington Ferry Bridge
The Bloomington Ferry Bridge is a 1.1-mile expressway bridge across the Minnesota River between Bloomington, Minnesota and Shakopee, Minnesota that carries U.S. Route 169. The current bridge opened in 1996. This bridge was designated Hennepin County Road 18 and Scott Country Road 18 upon its 1996...
between Shakopee and Bloomington. This designation is marked as "Johnson Memorial Drive" on some maps, but not marked as such on directional signs, nor commonly known by this name.
In the Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
area, the route is constructed to freeway standards between Interstate Highway 494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
and Hennepin County Road 81
County Road 81 (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
County State-Aid Highway 81 or County Road 81 is a county highway in Hennepin County, Minnesota, which runs from its junction with Interstate 94 , CR 66, and CR 152 in the city of Minneapolis, and continues northwest to its terminus at Main Street in suburban...
. Construction to link the freeway north of I-494 with the freeway segment a few miles south of I-494 is underway. The freeway between Interstate 494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
and Interstate 694
Interstate 694
Interstate 694 is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with Interstate 94 and Interstate 494 in Maple Grove...
was originally built by Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
as County Road 18. In 1988, County Road 18 was transferred to the state of Minnesota and became the new alignment for Highway 169 in the Minneapolis area. In exchange, Hennepin County took over maintenance of two other highways that were formerly state routes.
Also in the Minneapolis area, U.S. 169 is often very congested. However, since the freeway passes very close to residential neighborhoods in many locations, any expansion of the freeway would disrupt housing stock in the surrounding area.
North of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, U.S. 169 continues as an expressway to Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is located in the counties of Mille Lacs, Aitkin and Crow Wing, roughly 100 miles north of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area....
, an important resort area. The highway skirts the western shore of the lake. 74 miles (119.1 km) of U.S. 169 from Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile . There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per...
to Garrison
Garrison, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 213 people, 113 households, and 48 families residing in the city. The population density was 198.9 people per square mile . There were 191 housing units at an average density of 178.4 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 0.94%...
is officially designated the POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
/ MIA
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
Memorial Highway. From Mille Lacs Lake, U.S. 169 continues northward to its junction with U.S. 2
U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 2 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from the Red River at East Grand Forks and continues east to Duluth, where the route crosses the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge over the Saint Louis Bay. The route connects the cities of East Grand Forks, Bemidji, Grand...
at Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,764 people, 3,446 households, and 1,943 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,057.8 people per square mile . There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile...
. Here, 169 turns northeasterly to reach the cities of the Mesabi Iron Range
Mesabi Range
The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore and the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. Discovered in 1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. The deposit is located in northeast Minnesota, largely in...
.
At Pengilly
Pengilly, Minnesota
Pengilly is an unincorporated community in eastern Itasca County, Minnesota, United States.Located in the northern part of the state, the community lies in the Iron Range region at the northern end of Swan Lake. Pengilly is located between Grand Rapids and Hibbing at the junction of U.S. Highway...
, U.S. 169 becomes an expressway and remains such for the rest of its run. It passes through the cities of Hibbing
Hibbing, Minnesota
Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,361 at the 2010 census. The city was built on the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range. At the edge of town is the largest open-pit iron mine in the world. U.S...
, Chisholm
Chisholm, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,960 people, 2,178 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,129 people per square mile . There were 2,375 housing units at an average density of 540/sq mi...
, and Mountain Iron
Mountain Iron, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,999 people, 1,326 households, and 847 families residing in the city. The population density was 60.7 people per square mile . There were 1,409 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile...
before reaching U.S. 53 at the city of Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
. This four-lane stretch of 169 is also known as the Highway 169 Cross Range Expressway. The northern terminus of U.S. 169 is at the city of Virginia.
State Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 169 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with U.S. Highway 53 in Wuori Township and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the intersection of Lake County Road 18 and Power Dam Road in Fall Lake Township...
begins immediately north of Virginia in Wuori Township; and continues northeast for 49 miles (78.9 km) to the cities of Tower
Tower, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density is 176.8 people per square mile . There are 295 housing units at an average density of 108.9 per square mile...
, Ely
Ely, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...
, and Winton
Winton, Minnesota
Winton is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 172 at the 2010 census. The city is home to a small hydroelectric dam on the edge of Garden Lake, one of 11 stations owned by Minnesota Power...
. State Highway 169 is numbered as an extension of U.S. 169.
U.S. 169 is one of three Minnesota U.S. marked highways to carry the same number as an existing state marked highway within the state. The others being Highways 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
and 65
U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota...
.
Legally, the Minnesota section of U.S. 169 is defined as all or part of Routes 5, 7, 383, 3, 18, and 35 in the Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.117(4).http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP&year=2006§ion=161#stat.161.114.0,http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP&year=2006§ion=161#stat.161.117.0 The route is not marked with those numbers.
History
U.S. 169 was extended into Minnesota circaCirca
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1931. The route in Minnesota was paved by 1940.
U.S. 169, between the junction
Junction (road)
A road junction is a location where vehicular traffic going in different directions can proceed in a controlled manner designed to minimize accidents. In some cases, vehicles can change between different routes or directions of travel.-Origins:...
with State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60 is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 25 upon crossing the Mississippi River.Highway 60 is...
(south of Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
) and the Twin Cities, was upgraded to at least expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
status over several stages. The freeway section around Mankato and the adjoining expressway sections were completed in the early 1960s, along with bypasses of Le Sueur
Le Sueur, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,922 people, 1,545 households, and 1,025 families residing in the city. The population density was 879.0 people per square mile . There were 1,589 housing units at an average density of 356.1 per square mile...
, Jordan
Jordan, Minnesota
Jordan is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,470 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. U.S. Highway 169; and State Highways 21 and 282 are three...
and Belle Plaine
Belle Plaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,789 people, 1,396 homes and 949 families residing in the city. The population density was 932.7 people per square cube . There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 350.5 per square mile...
.
The U.S. 169 freeway bypass around Shakopee
Shakopee, Minnesota
Shakopee is a city southwest of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Scott County. Located on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the thirteenth largest...
was built in the mid-1990s along a new alignment, which included the newly constructed Bloomington Ferry Bridge
Bloomington Ferry Bridge
The Bloomington Ferry Bridge is a 1.1-mile expressway bridge across the Minnesota River between Bloomington, Minnesota and Shakopee, Minnesota that carries U.S. Route 169. The current bridge opened in 1996. This bridge was designated Hennepin County Road 18 and Scott Country Road 18 upon its 1996...
. Prior to this realignment, U.S. 169 crossed the Minnesota River
Minnesota River
The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa....
from downtown Shakopee where it had been co-signed
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with State Highway 101
Minnesota State Highway 101
Minnesota State Highway 101 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The present day route currently has two separate segments. The roadway was a continuous route until 1988.-Route description:...
. North of the river crossing, U.S. 169 had previously been co-signed with what was then U.S. 212
U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota
Within the U.S. state of Minnesota, U.S. Highway 212 travels from the South Dakota state line in the west, crossing the southwestern part of the state, to the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in the east, ending at its interchange with U.S. 169 and State Highway 62 in the Minneapolis...
(Flying Cloud Drive) through Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 54,901 people, 20,457 households, and 14,579 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 21,026 housing units at an average density of 649.2 per square mile...
until 1996.
A new U.S. 169 interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with State Highway 19
Minnesota State Highway 19
Minnesota State Highway 19 is a highway in southwest and southeast Minnesota, which runs from South Dakota Highway 30 at the South Dakota state line near Ivanhoe and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
, near Henderson
Henderson, Minnesota
Henderson is a city in Sibley County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 886 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, was completed in 2002.
An expressway section of Highway 169 through southern Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
was converted to full freeway in 2006, with new interchanges constructed at Pioneer Trail and Anderson Lakes Parkway. At-grade intersections with traffic signals remain in place at the Interstate 494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
interchange, which remains a point of frequent congestion.
North of the Twin Cities, Highway 169 has been upgraded to an expressway between Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile . There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per...
and the southern end of Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is located in the counties of Mille Lacs, Aitkin and Crow Wing, roughly 100 miles north of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area....
, with bypasses of Princeton
Princeton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,624 households, and 998 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.7 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile...
and Milaca
Milaca, Minnesota
Milaca is a city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,946 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Mille Lacs County and is situated on the Rum River.-Geography:...
built in the late 1980s.
U.S. 169 between Hill City
Hill City, Minnesota
Hill City is a city in Aitkin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 633 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 169 and Minnesota State Highway 200 are two of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:...
and Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,764 people, 3,446 households, and 1,943 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,057.8 people per square mile . There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile...
has been built to super-2
Super two
A super two, super two-lane highway or wide two lane is a two-lane surface road built to high standards, typically including partial control of access, occasional passing lanes and hard shoulders...
standards.
The expressway section between Pengilly
Pengilly, Minnesota
Pengilly is an unincorporated community in eastern Itasca County, Minnesota, United States.Located in the northern part of the state, the community lies in the Iron Range region at the northern end of Swan Lake. Pengilly is located between Grand Rapids and Hibbing at the junction of U.S. Highway...
and the city of Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 2008, construction began on a new Highway 169 interchange with County Road 81
County Road 81 (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
County State-Aid Highway 81 or County Road 81 is a county highway in Hennepin County, Minnesota, which runs from its junction with Interstate 94 , CR 66, and CR 152 in the city of Minneapolis, and continues northwest to its terminus at Main Street in suburban...
and 85th Avenue North in Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
According to the 2010 census, there were 75,781 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 52% White, 24% African American, 1% Native American, 15% Asian, 42 residents identifying themselves as Pacific Islander, 4% from other races, and 4% from two or more races...
. This interchange is also known as The Devil's Triangle, or simply as "The Triangle", because of the major traffic congestion during rush hour, especially in the afternoon. Construction was completed on August 11, 2011.
During the flooding of September 2010
September 2010 Minnesota/Wisconsin Flood
September 2010 flash flooding in Minnesota and Wisconsin put towns underwater and forced evacuations in southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin...
, flood waters destroyed a 150 foot section of the northbound lanes of Highway 169 between St. Peter
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
and Le Sueur
Le Sueur, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,922 people, 1,545 households, and 1,025 families residing in the city. The population density was 879.0 people per square mile . There were 1,589 housing units at an average density of 356.1 per square mile...
. Mn/DOT
Minnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
believes, "when the flood waters rose up it found a weak spot in the slope or the dirt bank and got under the grass and started mining under the pavement. Finally, it just sucked all the dirt out and the pavement just dropped into a hole." Traffic was detoured to the southbound lanes of 169 for a month, resulting in a temporary two lane expressway, until the northbound section was repaired.
Future
In November 2010, construction began on a completely redesigned Highway 169 interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
at Interstate 494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
, where three traffic signals
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
currently exist. The new interchange will feature six roundabouts, new flyover bridges, and two new bridges over I-494 that will carry West 78th Street and Washington Avenue. Major construction began in March 2011. Due to an early start, a majority of the construction will be completed in November 2011 including completion of major ramps, removal of all three traffic signals, roundabouts and completion of the new frontage road system. Construction will continue in spring 2012 with the completion of reconstructing surrounding roads and remaining ramps and flyovers with a final completion date of November 2012. The entire project is expected to cost $140 million.
A study to convert U.S. 169 to a freeway between U.S. 10
U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota
U.S. Route 10 is a major divided highway for almost all of its length in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The route runs through the central portion of the state, following closely the alignment of the former Northern Pacific Railway and connects the cities of Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Wadena, Little...
in Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile . There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per...
to 277th Avenue north of Zimmerman
Zimmerman, Minnesota
Zimmerman is a rural community located about 45 miles northwest of St. Paul, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,228 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 169 serves as a main arterial route in the city.-History:...
was completed in late 2009. A complete review of the project by Mn/Dot will occur in 2011. A complete construction schedule and timeline will then by released by Mn/Dot. Allocation of funds for the project is currently underway and the only thing holding back from starting the project. The project is expected to cost around $178 Million.