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Minnesota State Highway 36

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Trunk Highway 36 marker
Trunk Highway 36
Map
MN 36 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MnDOT
Length21.718 mi[2] (34.952 km)
Existed1933[1]–present
Major junctions
West end I-35W at Roseville
Major intersections
East end WIS 64 at Oak Park Heights
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesRamsey, Washington
Highway system
  • Minnesota Trunk Highway System
← I-35W→ MN 37

Minnesota State Highway 36 (MN 36) is a 21.718-mile-long (34.952 km) highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 35W (I-35W) in Roseville and continues east to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line (near Stillwater), where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 64 (WIS 64) upon crossing the St. Croix River at the St. Croix Crossing bridge. MN 36 is a major freeway in suburban Minneapolis–Saint Paul from its western terminus to its intersection with MN 120, at which point it becomes an at-grade expressway.

Historically, MN 36 traveled on a north-south course through Minneapolis before heading east toward Stillwater. Since its terminus moved to I-35W in 1980, growth and development has seen the highway becoming more of a freeway, with controlled intersections being rebuilt as grade-separated interchanges.

Washington County is currently leading a project to replace the controlled intersection at MN 36 and County State-Aid Highway 17 (CSAH 17, Lake Elmo Avenue) in Grant and Lake Elmo. As of May 2024, three interchange designs are being considered. The county has also requested $3 million in state funding for to design an interchange at the intersection of MN 36 and MN 120.

Route description

[edit]
Shortly before meeting I-35W

MN 36 serves as an east–west highway between the cities of Roseville, Little Canada, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Oakdale, Oak Park Heights, and Stillwater.[3][4] MN 36 is a controlled-access freeway from its interchange with I-35W in Roseville eastward to MN 120 in North St. Paul and Oakdale.[3][4] Near Rosedale Center, MN 36 has a junction with MN 51 (Snelling Avenue). It then meets County Road 42 (CR 42, Rice Street) at an offset single-point urban interchange. The highway intersects I-35E in Little Canada. It straddles the border with and crosses into Maplewood, where it meets U.S. Highway 61 (US 61). The portion of MN 36 in North St. Paul is known as the Officer Richard Crittenden, Sr. Memorial Highway.[3][4]

The freeway section ends at a signal-controlled intersection with MN 120. MN 36 then becomes an at-grade expressway. It proceeds through Oakdale before an interchange with I-694 in Pine Springs. For about four miles (6.4 km) outside of the I-494/I-694 loop, the expressway section of MN 36 has a speed limit of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).[5] It passes the cities of Grant and Lake Elmo before reaching Stillwater and Oak Park Heights.[3][4] MN 36 crosses the St. Croix River via the St. Croix Crossing bridge and becomes WIS 64 upon crossing the state line into Wisconsin.[6]

History

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MN 36 was authorized in 1933. Legally, it is defined as Legislative Route 118. The route is not marked with this number.[1] At this time, MN 36 was significantly longer, running between Richfield and a point west of Stillwater. The route was a paved road from its junction with MN 5 northward to the Minneapolis city limits. It was known as Cedar Avenue for most of its course in Minneapolis. It then turned to the east on a bituminous surface until it reached US 61, at which point it became a gravel road to its terminus with US 212 near Stillwater.[7] By 1941, the entire highway was paved with at least bitumen.[8] Excluding within Minneapolis and the portion between MN 49 and US 61, the entirety of the route was a four-lane divided highway.[9]

MN 36 did not originally reach the Wisconsin state line at the St. Croix River. Part of old MN 212 in Oak Park Heights and Stillwater was renumbered as MN 36 in 1960.[9] By 1962, MN 36 extended past MN 5 and continued through Bloomington, ending at a junction with MN 13 in Eagan.[10] The portion of MN 36 south of MN 62 was redesignated as a part of MN 77 in 1980. The former highway between MN 62 and I-35W reverted to county control as CR 152 (Cedar Avenue).[11]

The intersection of MN 36 and Margaret Street at North St. Paul in February 2003

The section of MN 36 in North St. Paul was closed in 2007 from April to September. The highway was rebuilt to freeway standards during this time between White Bear Avenue in Maplewood and MN 120 (Century Avenue) in North St. Paul. The changes included turning the intersection with CR 68 (McKnight Road) into a grade-separated interchange and building an overpass at Margaret Street, removing its access to MN 36. The full closure in 2007 allowed the project to be completed more quickly and at a lower cost than a staged reconstruction. It also increased safety for construction workers. The MN 36 reconstruction project in North St. Paul was completed in 2008. The budget of the project was $24 million.[12]

In 2010, the existing diamond interchange at CR 49 (Rice Street) in Roseville was replaced with an offset single-point urban interchange with an estimated cost of $27 million.[13] This was intended to reduce safety and capacity issues. The project also included the widening of Rice Street and the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks. Construction ended in late 2011.[14] Construction of a new tight diamond interchange at English Street started in 2013 to replace an existing controlled intersection. A trail bridge was also built for the Bruce Vento Regional Trail; the total cost of the project was $17.3 million.[15][16] An interchange was constructed in 2014 at MN 36 and CSAH 29 (Hilton Trail) in Pine Springs. The project also included two roundabouts on Hilton Trail on either side of the highway, one at 60th Street North and another at an extension of Viking Drive.[17]

The Stillwater Lift Bridge formerly used by MN 36

The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill in 2014 designating MN 36 in North St. Paul as the Officer Richard Crittenden Sr. Memorial Highway, honoring a North St. Paul officer killed in the line of duty in 2009.[18] Prior to August 2017, upon reaching the St. Croix River, MN 36 merged with, and ran concurrently with MN 95 north into downtown Stillwater. At Chestnut St., MN 36 turned east and crossed the St. Croix River on the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge.[19] The Stillwater Bridge had to be closed frequently for repairs,[20] and at over 80 years old was deemed obsolete and vulnerable to failure.[21][22]

On August 2, 2017, the new St. Croix Crossing bridge opened and MN 36 now uses this bridge to cross into Wisconsin, eliminating its concurrency with MN 95.[19] The bridge was designed around concerns for the environment and scenery.[23] For example, the interchange with MN 95 was routed around a bald eagle nest.[23] The St. Croix Crossing bridge uses an uncommon extradosed design with shorter towers than a suspension bridge that keeps the height lower than the river bluffs.[24] Upon completion, it was the longest extradosed bridge in the United States.[25] Since its construction, the bridge has led to a significant uptick in the number of vehicles traveling on MN 36.[26]

In 2019, construction began on a $22 million interchange at MN 36 and CSAH 13 (Hadley Avenue) in Oakdale, partially as a result of high crash rates. As a part of the project, one roundabout was constructed on each side of the overpass, with one more being built at 56th Street. Construction finished in 2020.[27] A partial cloverleaf interchange was constructed in 2021 at the intersection of MN 36 and CSAH 15 north (Manning Avenue) just west of Stillwater. The project had a budget of $32 million.[26]

Future

[edit]

As of July 2024, Washington County is leading a redesign of the MN 36/CSAH 17 (Lake Elmo Avenue) intersection in the cities of Grant and Lake Elmo in order to increase safety, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility for active transportation. Between 2014 and 2024, 170 crashes have occurred at the intersection. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $40 million, with $25 million coming from federal and state sources. The recommended layout is an overpass with buttonhook ramps,[28] and final design selection is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Construction is slated to start in the following spring, ending in fall of 2027.[29][30][31]

As a part of its legislative priorities for 2024, Washington County is requesting $3 million in state funds to design a grade-separated interchange for the existing intersection at MN 36 and MN 120. Other than the intersection with Lake Elmo Avenue, it is the only controlled intersection west of CSAH 5 north/CSAH 15 south (Stillwater Boulevard). It has also been identified by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) as having the fourth-highest crash cost of any Minnesota state highway, with an average of 25 reported crashes per year. The project would also include pedestrian and bicycle considerations, as well as connections to the Gateway State Trail.[32][33]

Major intersections

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All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmi[2]kmDestinationsNotes
RamseyRoseville0.0000.000
 I-35W south		Western terminus; west end of freeway; I-35W exit 22B
0.163–
0.427		0.262–
0.687		Cleveland Avenue south (CR 46)Parclo interchange
0.4800.772
 I-35W north		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-35W exit 22B
0.785–
0.825		1.263–
1.328		Fairview Avenue (CR 48)
1.2952.084 MN 51 (Snelling Avenue)
1.7702.849Hamline Avenue (CR 50)Right-in/right-out interchange
2.2723.656Lexington Avenue (CR 51)
3.2655.255Dale Street (CR 53)
Little Canada4.2756.880 CR 49 (Rice Street)Offset single-point urban interchange; former MN 49
5.1218.241
 I-35E / US 10 east – St. Paul		Cloverleaf interchange; I-35E exit 111
5.7699.284Edgerton Street (CR 58)
Maplewood6.84411.014 US 61Cloverleaf interchange; westbound entrance includes bus entryway from Keller Parkway
7.32111.782English Street
8.445–
8.479		13.591–
13.646		White Bear Avenue (CR 65)
North St. Paul9.29614.960McKnight Road (CR 68)
9.97916.060Margaret StreetWestbound exit only
Ramsey–Washington
county line		North St. Paul–Oakdale line10.46516.842 MN 120 (Century Avenue)At-grade intersection; eastern end of freeway
WashingtonOakdale11.27118.139 CSAH 13 (Hadley Avenue)Dumbbell interchange
Oakdale–Pine Springs line11.776–
11.793		18.952–
18.979		 I-694Cloverleaf interchange; I-694 exit 52
Pine Springs12.30319.800 CSAH 29 (Hilton Trail)Interchange
Grant16.77526.997
 CSAH 15 north (Manning Avenue)		Western end of CSAH 15 overlap; interchange
Oak Park Heights17.57728.287

 CSAH 5 north / CSAH 15 south (Stillwater Boulevard)		Eastern end of CSAH 15 overlap; formerly MN 5; interchange
20.49032.975 MN 95 – Stillwater, Bayport
St. Croix River21.71834.952St. Croix Crossing; Minnesota–Wisconsin line

 WIS 64 east		Freeway continues into Wisconsin
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b "Chapter 440-H.F. No. 2000". Session Laws of Minnesota for 1933. Mike Holm, Secretary of State. pp. 881–897.
  2. ^ a b Minnesota Department of Transportation. "Statewide Trunk Logpoint Listing" (PDF). St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Minnesota Department of Transportation (2023). Explore Minnesota: Official Minnesota State Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (2023–2024 ed.). Scale not given. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Transportation. Metropolitan Minneapolis–St. Paul inset. §§ X26–Z25. OCLC 1412257582. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Overview Map of MN 36" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Divine, Mary (August 25, 2022). "New accessible crossings on busy MN 36 raise eyebrows, but MnDOT says they're needed". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Minnesota Highway 36 / Wisconsin Highway 64 - New St. Croix River Crossing - Project Status". Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  7. ^ Minnesota Highway Department; McGill-Warner (1934). Map of Trunk Highway System, State of Minnesota (Map). Scale not given. St. Paul: Minnesota Highway Department. Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Vicinity inset. OCLC 5673160, 80405240. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Minnesota Digital Library. (Showing road conditions as of May 1, 1934)
  8. ^ Minnesota Department of Highways (1941). Official Road Map of Minnesota Showing the State Highway System and Main Secondary Roads (Map). Scale not given. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Highways. Metropolitan Area inset. OCLC 5673160, 80405240. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Minnesota Digital Library. (Showing road conditions as of May 1, 1941)
  9. ^ a b Minnesota Department of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1960). Official Road Map of Minnesota Showing the State Highway System and Main Secondary Roads (Map). 1:760,320. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Highways. OCLC 5673160, 80405240, 55590006. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Minnesota Digital Library.
  10. ^ Minnesota Department of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1962). Official Road Map Minnesota (Map). 1:760,320. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Highways. OCLC 5673160, 80405240. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Minnesota Digital Library.
  11. ^ Minnesota Department of Transportation (1979). Minnesota, Lakes and a Whole Lot More: Official Transportation Map Minnesota (Map) (1979–1980 ed.). 1:1,137,760. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Transportation. OCLC 5673160, 80405240. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Minnesota Digital Library.
  12. ^ Barnard, Kent (May 31, 2006). "Highway 36 closes in 2007 for reconstruction through North St. Paul" (Press release). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 17, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2006.
  13. ^ Schwartz, Duane. "Request for Council Action". City of Roseville. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. The total cost of the Rice Street/Highway 36 interchange project is currently estimated at $27 million.
  14. ^ "Rice Street/Highway 36 Interchange Construction". SEH Inc. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012.
  15. ^ "Trunk Highway 36/English Street Interchange". SEH Inc. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Harlow, Tim (March 12, 2013). "Highway 36/English Street improvement project begins today". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024. ... Minnesota Department of Transportation Monday is starting work on the $17.3 million makeover of the Hwy. 36 and English Street intersection ...
  17. ^ "Highway 36 at Hilton Trail" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. August 19, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 8, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  18. ^ Harlow, Tim (April 8, 2014). "Segment of Hwy. 36 to be named for slain North St. Paul officer Richard Crittenden". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "St. Croix Crossing". Minnesota Department of Transportation. August 2, 2017. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  20. ^ Giles, Kevin (February 3, 2012). "Stillwater Lift Bridge repairs getting public review". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (November 10, 2011). "Klobuchar confident St. Croix bridge bill will move forward". MPR News. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "Eight western Wisconsin bridges named fracture critical, structurally deficient". St. Paul Pioneer Press. September 17, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Bornhoft, William (July 2, 2017). "St. Croix Crossing Built To Protect Environment: MnDOT". Stillwater, MN Patch. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Mador, Jessica (October 2, 2012). "MnDOT revises St. Croix bridge design after summer testing". MPR News. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  25. ^ "St. Croix Crossing is the Longest Extradosed Bridge in the US". Engineering News-Record. November 20, 2018. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Divine, Mary (March 3, 2020). "Design picked for Minnesota 36 and Manning interchange in Washington County". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Divine, Mary (March 6, 2019). "Road project begins at Highway 36/Hadley Avenue in Oakdale". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  28. ^ Washington County (May 2024). "Hwy 36 at CSAH 17 (Lake Elmo Avenue) Intersection Study". Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Washington County (January 24, 2024). "Highway 36 & Lake Elmo Ave Intersection Improvement Project". ArcGIS. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  30. ^ Shaw, Bob (July 8, 2021). "Highway 36 slated for $35 million interchange at Lake Elmo Avenue". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Divine, Mary (May 31, 2024). "Lake Elmo Avenue and Minnesota 36 to get 'significant safety improvement' in 2027". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  32. ^ Washington County. "Legislative Priorities". Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  33. ^ Sandberg, Wayne. "Trunk Highway 36 and Trunk Highway 120". Washington County Public Works. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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