Minnesota State Highway 43
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 43 is a highway
in southeast Minnesota
, which runs from its intersection
with State Highway 44
in Mabel
and continues north to its northern terminus at the Wisconsin
state line at Winona
, where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 54 upon crossing the Mississippi River
.
Highway 43 is 45 miles (72.4 km) in length.
, Rushford
, and Winona
in southeast Minnesota.
The route crosses the Root River
in Fillmore County.
Highway 43 passes through the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
.
The northern terminus of Highway 43 is at the Mississippi River
at Winona, where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 54 upon crossing the Main Channel
and North Channel
bridges over the river to Wisconsin
.
and Winona
. The remainder of the route between Rushford and Mabel
was authorized in 1933.
Highway 43 was paved from Wilson
to Winona
by 1929. The only gravel section remaining by 1940 was south of Rushford
. The route was completely paved by 1953.
A major project in the 1980s to rebuild Highway 43 from Interstate 90
to Winona
as an expressway ran out of money. Only one carriageway was actually paved. There is still visible road bed and bridges east of the roadway in this section.
In response to the I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, all Minnesota bridges were ordered to be inspected. During an inspection, "gusset plate corrosion
issues" were discovered in the Main Channel Bridge
(Highway 43 / Highway 54), which crosses the Mississippi River
between Winona, MN
and nearby Fountain City, WI
. The Main Channel Bridge (Bridge #5900) was closed to traffic on June 3, 2008. Mn/DOT
made a statement this was due to gusset plate
corrosion issues similar to those that caused the I-35W Bridge to collapse. The Main Channel Bridge reopened to car traffic on June 14, 2008. Commercial vehicles were still directed to find alternate routes across the river. The bridge was scheduled for replacement in 2017, which has been moved up to 2014.
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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 southeast 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 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 State Highway 44
Minnesota State Highway 44
Minnesota State Highway 44 is a highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with U.S. 52 in Canton Township, near Prosper, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 16 in Hokah, near La Crescent.Highway 44 is in length.-Route...
in Mabel
Mabel, Minnesota
Mabel is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 780 at the 2010 census.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Transportation:...
and continues north to its northern terminus at the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state line at Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
, where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 54 upon crossing the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Highway 43 is 45 miles (72.4 km) in length.
Route description
State Highway 43 serves as a north–south route between MabelMabel, Minnesota
Mabel is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 780 at the 2010 census.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Transportation:...
, Rushford
Rushford, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families residing in the city. The population density is 988.5 people per square mile . There are 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6 per square mile...
, and Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
in southeast Minnesota.
The route crosses the Root River
Root River (Minnesota)
The Root River flows for through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. It is an excellent river for canoeing...
in Fillmore County.
Highway 43 passes through the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest is a reserve of current and former forest in Minnesota's Driftless Area. Only of the land is state owned, with the remainder owned by private individuals and community groups, governed by easements...
.
The northern terminus of Highway 43 is at the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
at Winona, where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 54 upon crossing the Main Channel
Main Channel Bridge (Winona)
Main Channel Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Winona, Minnesota and Fountain City, Wisconsin. Construction on the bridge was started just before the United States entered World War II, and the construction was hastened to finish in November 1942, despite labor...
and North Channel
North Channel Bridge
For the former North Channel Bridge in Queens County, New York, see Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge.The North Channel Bridge bridge connects Winona, Minnesota with Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It is an automobile bridge that traverses the Mississippi River...
bridges over the river to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
History
State Highway 43 was authorized in 1920 between RushfordRushford, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families residing in the city. The population density is 988.5 people per square mile . There are 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6 per square mile...
and Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
. The remainder of the route between Rushford and Mabel
Mabel, Minnesota
Mabel is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 780 at the 2010 census.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Transportation:...
was authorized in 1933.
Highway 43 was paved from Wilson
Wilson Township, Winona County, Minnesota
Wilson Township is a township in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.0 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were...
to Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
by 1929. The only gravel section remaining by 1940 was south of Rushford
Rushford, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families residing in the city. The population density is 988.5 people per square mile . There are 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6 per square mile...
. The route was completely paved by 1953.
A major project in the 1980s to rebuild Highway 43 from Interstate 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...
to Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
as an expressway ran out of money. Only one carriageway was actually paved. There is still visible road bed and bridges east of the roadway in this section.
In response to the I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, all Minnesota bridges were ordered to be inspected. During an inspection, "gusset plate corrosion
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
issues" were discovered in the Main Channel Bridge
Main Channel Bridge (Winona)
Main Channel Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Winona, Minnesota and Fountain City, Wisconsin. Construction on the bridge was started just before the United States entered World War II, and the construction was hastened to finish in November 1942, despite labor...
(Highway 43 / Highway 54), which crosses the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
between Winona, MN
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
and nearby Fountain City, WI
Fountain City, Wisconsin
Fountain City is a city in Buffalo County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 983 at the 2000 census.-History:Fountain City was originally called Holmes' Landing, after Thomas Holmes, who settled there in 1839...
. The Main Channel Bridge (Bridge #5900) was closed to traffic on June 3, 2008. 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...
made a statement this was due to gusset plate
Gusset plate
Gusset plates are thick sheets of steel that are used to connect beams and girders to columns or to connect truss members . A gusset plate can be fastened to a permanent member either by bolts, rivets or welding or a combination of the three . Gusset plates not only serve as a method of joining...
corrosion issues similar to those that caused the I-35W Bridge to collapse. The Main Channel Bridge reopened to car traffic on June 14, 2008. Commercial vehicles were still directed to find alternate routes across the river. The bridge was scheduled for replacement in 2017, which has been moved up to 2014.
Major intersections
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Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
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