Minnesota State Highway 610
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 610 (MN 610) is an east–west freeway in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota
; located in northern Hennepin County
and southern Anoka County
. The freeway currently connects U.S. Highway 169
(US 169) and U.S. Highway 10
(US 10). MN 610 crosses the Mississippi River
on the Richard P. Braun Bridge
between suburban Brooklyn Park
and Coon Rapids
. The highway is currently 9.828 miles (15.8 km) in length.
The freeway was authorized in 1975, and most of the currently open sections were completed by 2000 (7.197 miles (11.6 km)); the 2.631 miles (4.2 km) section westward to County Road 81
(CR 81) in Maple Grove
was completed and opened in 2011. There is a segment that is planned to extend farther to end at Interstate 94
(I-94), but the Minnesota Department of Transportation
(Mn/DOT) has not funded that segment.
on the west bank of the Mississippi River. After MN 252 interchange, the MN 610 freeway turns to the northeast and crosses the Mississippi River on the dual-span, eight-lane Richard P. Braun Bridge.
Across the river, the freeway runs along the south side of the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park before curving around to the east. It continues through suburban Coon Rapids
as a six-lane freeway to a partial interchange with northbound MN 47
. This interchange is used by eastbound traffic transitioning to westbound US 10. The final section east to US 10 in Blaine
is four lanes. The second interchange along this section of the freeway with University Avenue is used to connect with MN 47 southbound. The last interconnected interchange is at the eastern terminus as traffic defaults onto US 10 eastbound.
Legally, MN 610 is defined as Route 333 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.115(264). The highway is not marked with this legislative route number along the actual highway. The entire route of MN 610 has been listed on the National Highway System
, a system of roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
West of MN 252, the freeway construction started in June 1997. The freeway was opened to traffic in 2000, with a traffic light at the intersection of MN 610 and US 169 initially. Construction on the second bridge over the Mississippi River for eastbound traffic started in 1999, to be completed in 2002.
Construction of the portion between US 169 and CR 81 was estimated to cost $48 million in 2010, of which $27 million is being funded by federal stimulus money. The project began in October 2009, and it was scheduled to be completed in July 2011. The remainder of the highway to I-94 is not on a Mn/DOT schedule to be built. The new western terminus will be located at Elm Creek Boulevard in Maple Grove. The freeway continues westward from this point in the median of CR 81, but this section will be an unused stub end past the ramps that connect to CR 81 During the 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown
, construction on MN 610 was halted for 20 days. Until work stopped on July 1, 2011, a ribbon-cutting ceremony had been scheduled to open the new freeway section on July 12. The ribbon cutting ceremony was on August 17 and the road officially opened on August 19.
Going forward, there are worries about traffic after the last extension was opened in 2011. The local mayors are concerned with the traffic levels on CR 81 now that MN 610 is opened. "County Road 81" is already a fairly busy road without this additional traffic, and now there will be a substantial increase in traffic," according to Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson; he is urging Mn/DOT to complete the remainder of the freeway to I-94 to alleviate these traffic concerns.
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...
; located in northern Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
and southern Anoka County
Anoka County, Minnesota
Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka...
. The freeway currently connects U.S. Highway 169
U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota
U.S. Route 169 is a major north–south highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, connecting the Minnesota River valley with the Twin Cities and the Iron Range. Much of the route is built to expressway or freeway standards.-Route description:U.S...
(US 169) and 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...
(US 10). MN 610 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...
on the Richard P. Braun Bridge
Richard P. Braun Bridge
Richard P. Braun Bridge is a pair of 10-span concrete girder bridges spanning the Mississippi River between Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The eastbound span was built in 1985 to connect Minnesota State Highway 252 with Minnesota State Highway 610 in Coon Rapids...
between suburban Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
According to the 2010 census, there were 75,781 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 52% White, 24% African American, 1% Native American, 15% Asian, 42 residents identifying themselves as Pacific Islander, 4% from other races, and 4% from two or more races...
and Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,627 people, 22,578 households, and 16,572 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,718.1 people per square mile . There were 22,828 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 per square mile...
. The highway is currently 9.828 miles (15.8 km) in length.
The freeway was authorized in 1975, and most of the currently open sections were completed by 2000 (7.197 miles (11.6 km)); the 2.631 miles (4.2 km) section westward to County Road 81
County Road 81 (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
County State-Aid Highway 81 or County Road 81 is a county highway in Hennepin County, Minnesota, which runs from its junction with Interstate 94 , CR 66, and CR 152 in the city of Minneapolis, and continues northwest to its terminus at Main Street in suburban...
(CR 81) in Maple Grove
Maple Grove, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 50,365 people , 17,532 households, and 13,955 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,532.3 people per square mile . There were 17,745 housing units at an average density of 539.9 per square mile...
was completed and opened in 2011. There is a segment that is planned to extend farther to end at 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...
(I-94), but the Minnesota Department of Transportation
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...
(Mn/DOT) has not funded that segment.
Route description
MN 610 currently starts at its interchange with CR 81 in Maple Grove. From this starting point, the freeway runs eastbound through the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. MN 610 is four lanes in width and has several interchanges with local streets and county roads before expanding to six lanes and meeting the northern terminus of MN 252Minnesota State Highway 252
Minnesota State Highway 252 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highways 94 and 694 in Brooklyn Center and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with State Highway 610 in Brooklyn Park...
on the west bank of the Mississippi River. After MN 252 interchange, the MN 610 freeway turns to the northeast and crosses the Mississippi River on the dual-span, eight-lane Richard P. Braun Bridge.
Across the river, the freeway runs along the south side of the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park before curving around to the east. It continues through suburban Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,627 people, 22,578 households, and 16,572 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,718.1 people per square mile . There were 22,828 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 per square mile...
as a six-lane freeway to a partial interchange with northbound MN 47
Minnesota State Highway 47
Minnesota State Highway 47 is a highway in east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with Central Avenue in Minneapolis and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 169 in Aitkin....
. This interchange is used by eastbound traffic transitioning to westbound US 10. The final section east to US 10 in Blaine
Blaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile...
is four lanes. The second interchange along this section of the freeway with University Avenue is used to connect with MN 47 southbound. The last interconnected interchange is at the eastern terminus as traffic defaults onto US 10 eastbound.
Legally, MN 610 is defined as Route 333 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.115(264). The highway is not marked with this legislative route number along the actual highway. The entire route of MN 610 has been listed on 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...
, a system of roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
History
MN 610 was first proposed in the middle of the 1960s as a "North Crosstown" freeway. Studies for the highway started in the 1970s. The highway was first authorized on June 2, 1975. The westbound span of the Mississippi River bridge was built in 1985, and, along with the existing freeway east of MN 252, was opened in October 1987. Officials in Minnesota proposed tolls as a means to fund the construction on the highway in 1989. Local officials supported the highway construction, but opposed the tolling plans.West of MN 252, the freeway construction started in June 1997. The freeway was opened to traffic in 2000, with a traffic light at the intersection of MN 610 and US 169 initially. Construction on the second bridge over the Mississippi River for eastbound traffic started in 1999, to be completed in 2002.
Construction of the portion between US 169 and CR 81 was estimated to cost $48 million in 2010, of which $27 million is being funded by federal stimulus money. The project began in October 2009, and it was scheduled to be completed in July 2011. The remainder of the highway to I-94 is not on a Mn/DOT schedule to be built. The new western terminus will be located at Elm Creek Boulevard in Maple Grove. The freeway continues westward from this point in the median of CR 81, but this section will be an unused stub end past the ramps that connect to CR 81 During the 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown
2011 Minnesota state government shutdown
The 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown was a government shutdown affecting the U.S. state of Minnesota, due to a fiscal dispute between the Governor and the state legislature. The shutdown started at midnight, July 1, 2011...
, construction on MN 610 was halted for 20 days. Until work stopped on July 1, 2011, a ribbon-cutting ceremony had been scheduled to open the new freeway section on July 12. The ribbon cutting ceremony was on August 17 and the road officially opened on August 19.
Future
MN 610 is planned to extend west to I-94 in Maple Grove, and the freeway's mile markers reflect these plans, with the zero point calibrated to this future terminus. A portion of this new section is very unusual; it is routed down the middle of the median of CR 81 in Maple Grove, forming a roadway within a roadway.Going forward, there are worries about traffic after the last extension was opened in 2011. The local mayors are concerned with the traffic levels on CR 81 now that MN 610 is opened. "County Road 81" is already a fairly busy road without this additional traffic, and now there will be a substantial increase in traffic," according to Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson; he is urging Mn/DOT to complete the remainder of the freeway to I-94 to alleviate these traffic concerns.