Minnesota State Highway 13
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 13 is a highway
in Minnesota
that runs from its intersection
with U.S. Highway 65
in Albert Lea
to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 149
at the West St. Paul
/ Saint Paul
city boundary line.
Highway 13 is 112 miles (180.2 km) in length.
The southern terminus of the route is at the intersection
of Main Street and Broadway Avenue (U.S. 65
/ Business Loop 35) in the city of Albert Lea.
The northern terminus of Highway 13 is at the intersection of Annapolis Street and Smith Avenue (Highway 149
) at the West St. Paul / Saint Paul city boundary line.
Highway 13 is built as a divided highway
between Savage, Burnsville, and Eagan. This portion of the route is a busy metro area corridor paralleling the Minnesota River
. Highway 13 is also built as a divided highway in Mendota Heights between I-494 (no interchange / junction) to State Highway 55. The section of Highway 13 north of State Highway 55
at Mendota is far less busy.
Highway 13 is also known as Sibley Memorial Highway in Lilydale, Mendota, and Eagan.
The Sibley House Historic Site
museum in Mendota
, overlooking Fort Snelling
, is located immediately north of the junction
of Highways 13 and 110
. The museum is on Highway 13.
Highway 13 is also known as Langford Avenue in Spring Lake Township and Cedar Lake Township in Scott County.
The route follows Main Street and 4th Avenue SW in New Prague
. Highway 13 follows 4th Street in Montgomery
.
In the city of Waseca
, Highway 13 is also known as State Street.
The 200MW (with possible expansion to 400MW) Bent Tree Wind Farm
is scheduled to be built in 2009 along Highway 13 between Manchester and Hartland. The farm being developed by Wind Capital
and Alliant Energy
would be the biggest wind farm in the state of Minnesota.
to Jordan
. In 1934, the segment between New Prague
and Jordan was redesignated Highway 21
, and Highway 13 moved to the east and extended north through Prior Lake, Savage, and Burnsville; then northeast to its northern terminus in West Saint Paul.
From 1934 to 1935, Highway 13 also ran from Albert Lea
south to the Iowa
state line. In 1935, U.S. Highway 69
was extended north into Minnesota, assuming that 12 mile section of the route.
The route was completely paved by 1940.
In the late 1960s, old U.S. Highway 16
was decommissioned
in the Albert Lea area. Highway 13 was then extended east on Main Street in Albert Lea between its intersection
with U.S. 69
to its intersection with U.S. 65
.
In 1994, the nearby Mendota Bridge was rebuilt between Mendota Heights and Fort Snelling. Highway 13 was rerouted in Mendota Heights
at this time so it could intersect with State Highway 55
and State Highway 110
. The old alignment of Highway 13 in the southwest corner of Mendota Heights (Sibley Memorial Drive) is still under state maintenance and has the unmarked designation of Highway 913-A.
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 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...
that runs from its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. Highway 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...
in Albert Lea
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 149
Minnesota State Highway 149
Minnesota State Highway 149 is a highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with State Highway 3 in Inver Grove Heights to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 5 in Saint Paul. The route is in length....
at the West St. Paul
West St. Paul, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,405 people, 8,645 households, and 4,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,874.2 people per square mile . There were 8,779 housing units at an average density of 1,752.7 per square mile...
/ Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
city boundary line.
Highway 13 is 112 miles (180.2 km) in length.
Route description
State Highway 13 serves as a north–south route between Albert Lea, Waseca, Prior Lake, Savage, Burnsville, Eagan, Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, and the "West Side" neighborhood of Saint Paul.The southern terminus of the route is at the intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
of Main Street and Broadway Avenue (U.S. 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...
/ Business Loop 35) in the city of Albert Lea.
The northern terminus of Highway 13 is at the intersection of Annapolis Street and Smith Avenue (Highway 149
Minnesota State Highway 149
Minnesota State Highway 149 is a highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with State Highway 3 in Inver Grove Heights to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 5 in Saint Paul. The route is in length....
) at the West St. Paul / Saint Paul city boundary line.
Highway 13 is built as a divided highway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
between Savage, Burnsville, and Eagan. This portion of the route is a busy metro area corridor paralleling 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....
. Highway 13 is also built as a divided highway in Mendota Heights between I-494 (no interchange / junction) to State Highway 55. The section of Highway 13 north of State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 55 is a highway in west-central, central, and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the North Dakota state line near Tenney and continues east and southeast to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
at Mendota is far less busy.
Highway 13 is also known as Sibley Memorial Highway in Lilydale, Mendota, and Eagan.
The Sibley House Historic Site
Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley was the first Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota.-Early life and education:...
museum in Mendota
Mendota, Minnesota
Mendota is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The name comes from the Dakota word for "where the waters meet." The population was 198 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, overlooking Fort Snelling
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
Fort Snelling, originally known as Fort Saint Anthony, was a military fortification located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and Mississippi River in Hennepin County, Minnesota...
, is located immediately north of the junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
of Highways 13 and 110
Minnesota State Highway 110
Minnesota State Highway 110 is a short connector highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with State Highway 55 in Mendota Heights and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with Interstate 494 in Inver Grove Heights, south of downtown Saint Paul.Highway 110 is in...
. The museum is on Highway 13.
Highway 13 is also known as Langford Avenue in Spring Lake Township and Cedar Lake Township in Scott County.
The route follows Main Street and 4th Avenue SW in New Prague
New Prague, Minnesota
As of the 2010 Census, there were 7,321 people and 2,711 occupied housing units in the city. The population density was 1,731.3 people per square mile . There were 2,862 total housing units at an average density of 658.9 per square mile . The population on the city limit signs state that New...
. Highway 13 follows 4th Street in Montgomery
Montgomery, Minnesota
Montgomery is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, in the United States, 45 miles south of Minneapolis. It was named after Richard Montgomery, an Irish-American soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The population was 2,956 at the 2010...
.
In the city of Waseca
Waseca, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,493 people, 3,388 households, and 2,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,215.6 people per square mile . There were 3,563 housing units at an average density of 929.5 per square mile...
, Highway 13 is also known as State Street.
The 200MW (with possible expansion to 400MW) Bent Tree Wind Farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
is scheduled to be built in 2009 along Highway 13 between Manchester and Hartland. The farm being developed by Wind Capital
Tom Carnahan
Tom Carnahan is the founder of Wind Capital Group, a privately owned builder and developer of wind farms in the Midwest and in 2008 produced the power for the first 100 per cent wind powered city in the United States....
and Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation is a public utility holding company that incorporated in Madison, Wisconsin in 1981. It consists of two subsidiaries:...
would be the biggest wind farm in the state of Minnesota.
History
State Highway 13 was authorized in 1920 from Albert LeaAlbert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
to 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...
. In 1934, the segment between New Prague
New Prague, Minnesota
As of the 2010 Census, there were 7,321 people and 2,711 occupied housing units in the city. The population density was 1,731.3 people per square mile . There were 2,862 total housing units at an average density of 658.9 per square mile . The population on the city limit signs state that New...
and Jordan was redesignated Highway 21
Minnesota State Highway 21
Minnesota State Highway 21 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 60 in Faribault and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with U.S...
, and Highway 13 moved to the east and extended north through Prior Lake, Savage, and Burnsville; then northeast to its northern terminus in West Saint Paul.
From 1934 to 1935, Highway 13 also ran from Albert Lea
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
south to the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state line. In 1935, U.S. Highway 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
was extended north into Minnesota, assuming that 12 mile section of the route.
The route was completely paved by 1940.
In the late 1960s, old U.S. Highway 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
was decommissioned
Decommissioned highway
A decommissioned highway is a highway that has been removed from service, shut down or has had its authorization as a federal or state highway removed. Decommissioning can include the complete or partial demolition or abandonment of an old highway structure because the old roadway has lost its...
in the Albert Lea area. Highway 13 was then extended east on Main Street in Albert Lea between its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
to its intersection with U.S. 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...
.
In 1994, the nearby Mendota Bridge was rebuilt between Mendota Heights and Fort Snelling. Highway 13 was rerouted in Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 11,434 people, 4,178 households and 3,237 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,222.2 per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 454.5 per square mile...
at this time so it could intersect with State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 55 is a highway in west-central, central, and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the North Dakota state line near Tenney and continues east and southeast to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
and State Highway 110
Minnesota State Highway 110
Minnesota State Highway 110 is a short connector highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with State Highway 55 in Mendota Heights and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with Interstate 494 in Inver Grove Heights, south of downtown Saint Paul.Highway 110 is in...
. The old alignment of Highway 13 in the southwest corner of Mendota Heights (Sibley Memorial Drive) is still under state maintenance and has the unmarked designation of Highway 913-A.