US 53 and 59 in Minnesota

US 53 in Minnesota

According to Existingcountries, US 53 is a US Highway in the US state of Minnesota. The road forms a north-south route in the northeast of the state, from the Wisconsin border through Duluth to the Canadian border at International Falls. US 53 is 165 miles long in Minnesota.

Travel directions

De US 53 in Duluth.

US 53 is a north-south route through the hills and forests of northern Minnesota. The portion from the Wisconsin border to Interstate 35 in Duluth is also numbered Interstate 535. From Minnesota to north of Virginia, US 53 is a 2×2 lane divided highway. This section handles traffic to the winter sports resort of Ely. Further north, the route is single-lane and leads through densely wooded area with many lakes to the northern town of International Falls, where US 71 also ends. US 53 ends at the Canadian border with the province of Ontario, from where Highway 71 in Ontario continues to Kenora.

History

US 53 was created in 1926. The northern terminus was initially Superior, Wisconsin, just over the border at Duluth. In 1934, the route was extended north to the Canadian border at International Falls. The route was completely paved in 1940. During the 1960s, US 53 between Duluth and Virginia was upgraded to a divided highway, which was largely completed by 1970. The Virginia Bypass opened in the 1970s. Only the part in Duluth was a narrow two-lane road, this part was only widened to 2×2 lanes in 2004.

Between 2009 and late 2013, US 53 was widened further north from Virginia to Cook to become a 2×2 lane divided highway. This project is part of the Falls-to-Falls corridor, a trade corridor from the Mississippi River in Wisconsin to the border with Canada. Between 2015 and 2017, US 53 near Virginia moved over an old open mine, including a large flyover. This project cost $156 million. The opening followed on September 15, 2017.

Traffic intensities

Up to 25,000 vehicles drive daily in the city of Duluth, dropping to 19,000 vehicles just outside the city and 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles as far as Independence. After that, 8,000 to 11,000 vehicles drive as far as Virginia, peaking at 23,000 vehicles at Virginia. North of Virginia, the intensities are much lower, 5,000 more vehicles close to town, but only 2,000 vehicles in the north of the state as far as International Falls.

US 59 in Minnesota

According to Anycountyprivateschools, US 59 is a US Highway in the US state of Minnesota. The road forms a long north-south route through the west of the state, from the border with Iowa through Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes to the border with Canada. US 59 is 685 kilometers long in Minnesota.

Travel directions

US 59 in Iowa comes from the countryside and continues its route into Minnesota. Already 15 kilometers after the border one passes through the first regional town, the town of Worthington, which is double numbered with State Route 60, which is a 2×2 divided highway for traffic from Sioux City to Mankato. On the north side of Worthington there is a connection to Interstate 90.

After Worthington, a 100 kilometer stretch follows the flat countryside of southwestern Minnesota to the town of Marshall. There are only a few small villages on the route, the landscape consists of endless meadows of large-scale farms. US 59 cuts through Marshall, then forms a 60-kilometer stretch north to Montevideo. Here one crosses the Minnesota River and US 212.

Then US 59 travels more than 100 miles through sparsely populated countryside to Fergus Falls. This is where the central part of Minnesota is exchanged for the northern part of the state. The route has a secondary character, is single-lane and leads through only a small number of towns. Around Fergus Falls, US 59 runs for nearly 12 miles on Interstate 94.

After Fergus Falls, a 70-kilometer stretch to Detroit Lakes follows. The character of the landscape changes on this part of the route, the endless flat meadows give way to more forest and a lake area. US 59 remains single-lane until Detroit Lakes. In that place you cross the US 10.

Then follows a 150-kilometer route to Thief River Falls in northwestern Minnesota. The forests here make way for endless meadows. There are almost no places on the route, only vast farms. One crosses the US 2 halfway through. Thief River Falls is the last place of any significance on the US 59 route, followed by a 120-kilometer stretch through lonely rural areas to the border with Canada. After the border crossing, Highway 59 in Manitoba continues to Winnipeg.

History

The current US 59 was created in 1934. The northern terminus was initially Pembina, North Dakota, on the border with Minnesota. The northernmost part from Lancaster ran a bit east-west. In 1955, the terminus was changed to the Canadian border north of Lancaster, where it joined Highway 59 in Manitoba.

US 59 travels very long distances through sparsely populated areas, not only in Minnesota but also further south in Iowa and Missouri. Between St. Joseph and Winnipeg, the US 59 travels 1,250 miles through agricultural land with only 3 towns with just over 10,000 residents, all located on the Minnesota section.

Due to the lack of larger towns and thus long-distance traffic, US 59 has barely been upgraded. The Lancaster–Tolstoi Border Crossing was inaugurated in 1950. In theory, the route is the shortest between Minneapolis and Winnipeg, but most traffic uses the highway route through Fargo, North Dakota. An additional problem for through traffic is that the border crossing is only open between 08:00 and 20:00.