Minnesota State Highway 336
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 336 is a short highway
in northwest Minnesota
, which runs from its interchange
with Interstate 94
near Moorhead
and continues north to its interchange with U.S. Highway 10
near Dilworth
and Glyndon
.
The route is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) in length.
and U.S. 10
, immediately east of the city of Moorhead
. It is almost entirely located in Glyndon Township, except for briefly passing through the city limits of Dilworth
. The unincorporated community of Watts is located along the route. Highway 336 is located within the Fargo–Moorhead metro area.
Highway 336 is built as a four-lane divided highway
with interchanges
at each end. The roadway has always been a vital connection between Interstate 94 and U.S. 10, providing a gateway to nearby Detroit Lakes
, a recreation destination area. Because it is a significant connector
route with a high traffic volume, the short route is classified as part of the National Highway System
.
The route is legally defined as Route 336 in the Minnesota Statutes.
Constant train activity and excessive weekend traffic not only deteriorated the roadway, but also caused major traffic headaches. In 2002, a reconstruction project began that expanded the roadway to four-lanes and added off-ramps to its junction
with U.S. Highway 10
near Dilworth
, as well as a new overpass constructed over the railroad crossing. In addition, the last 1/4 mile of Highway 336 at the north end was moved 350 feet (106.7 m) to the east to avoid demolition of a grain silo and an old farmstead which has since burned down.
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 northwest 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...
, which runs from its 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 Interstate 94
Interstate 94 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the central portion of the state. The route connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St...
near Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
and continues north to its interchange with U.S. Highway 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...
near Dilworth
Dilworth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,001 people, 1,160 households, and 787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,510.6 people per square mile . There were 1,238 housing units at an average density of 623.2 per square mile...
and Glyndon
Glyndon, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,049 people, 359 households, and 283 families residing in the city. The population density was 693.5 people per square mile . There were 403 housing units at an average density of 266.4 per square mile...
.
The route is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) in length.
Route description
Highway 336 serves as a short north–south route in northwest Minnesota, connecting Interstate 94Interstate 94 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the central portion of the state. The route connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St...
and 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...
, immediately east of the city of Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
. It is almost entirely located in Glyndon Township, except for briefly passing through the city limits of Dilworth
Dilworth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,001 people, 1,160 households, and 787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,510.6 people per square mile . There were 1,238 housing units at an average density of 623.2 per square mile...
. The unincorporated community of Watts is located along the route. Highway 336 is located within the Fargo–Moorhead metro area.
Highway 336 is built as a four-lane 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...
with interchanges
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...
at each end. The roadway has always been a vital connection between Interstate 94 and U.S. 10, providing a gateway to nearby Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
-Demographics:As of the official census of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families permanently residing in the city. The population density was 980.4 people per square mile . There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 504.6 per square mile...
, a recreation destination area. Because it is a significant connector
Connector (road)
A connector is a highway or freeway road that connects to another highway or freeway. It can be part of an interchange such as the MacArthur Maze or a longer roadway such as the 13 mi Interstate 635 ....
route with a high traffic volume, the short route is classified as part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
.
The route is legally defined as Route 336 in the Minnesota Statutes.
History
Highway 336 was authorized on June 4, 1991. It was routed along what was formerly part of County Road 11. It was paved prior to becoming a state highway.Constant train activity and excessive weekend traffic not only deteriorated the roadway, but also caused major traffic headaches. In 2002, a reconstruction project began that expanded the roadway to four-lanes and added off-ramps to its 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:...
with U.S. Highway 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...
near Dilworth
Dilworth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,001 people, 1,160 households, and 787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,510.6 people per square mile . There were 1,238 housing units at an average density of 623.2 per square mile...
, as well as a new overpass constructed over the railroad crossing. In addition, the last 1/4 mile of Highway 336 at the north end was moved 350 feet (106.7 m) to the east to avoid demolition of a grain silo and an old farmstead which has since burned down.