Minnesota State Highway 95
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 95 (MN 95) is a highway
in east-central Minnesota
, which runs from its intersection
with State Highway 23
near St. Cloud
and continues east and south to its southern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 61
/ 10
(co-signed
) at Cottage Grove
.
This highway has two distinct segments (East/West section and a North/South section) that meet at Taylors Falls
.
Highway 95 is 127 miles (204.4 km) in length and passes through the cities of Princeton
, Cambridge
, North Branch
, Taylors Falls
, Stillwater
, and Lakeland
.
and Taylors Falls
, then finishing with a north–south section between Taylors Falls
and Cottage Grove
. In fact, the Minnesota Legislature originally authorized the east–west and the north–south routes as two separate highways. The Minnesota Highway Department decided to give them both the same route number.
This highway runs through mostly rural areas immediately north and east of the Twin Cities, although increasing development in the eastern suburbs of Saint Paul
may bring increased traffic to the highway. Primarily a two-lane highway, Highway 95 has short concurrencies
with State Highway 36
going into downtown Stillwater
; and with Interstate 94
between Woodbury
and the Wisconsin
state line, that make up the only divided highway
sections of Highway 95.
The 14 miles (22.5 km) section of Highway 95 from Cambridge
to North Branch
is officially designated the State Trooper Timothy J. Bowe Memorial Highway.
By 1940, Highway 95 was paved between Princeton
and North Branch
; and between Scandia and Afton
.
The route was completely paved by 1953.
In 1998, a change was made in the alignment on the south end of Highway 95, between Washington County Road 18 and I-94
. Previously, Highway 95 turned east on 40th Street South in Afton
and then turned north on the St. Croix Trail; present day Highway 95 now continues north along Manning Avenue (the Afton / Woodbury
border) and then runs together with I-94
briefly east to Lakeland
. The old route of Highway 95 for this section is now signed as County Road 18.
In an effort to maximize driver safety, a roundabout
was constructed at the intersection
of Highway 95 and County Road 29 in Princeton
. The project was completed in November 2010 at a cost of $6.7 million.
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 east-central 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 23
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 23 is a state highway that stretches from southwest to northeast Minnesota. At in length, it is the second longest state route in Minnesota, after MN 1....
near St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
and continues east and south to its southern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
/ 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...
(co-signed
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
) at Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,582 people, 9,932 households, and 8,462 families residing in the city. The population density was 899.9 people per square mile . There were 10,024 housing units at an average density of 295.0 per square mile...
.
This highway has two distinct segments (East/West section and a North/South section) that meet at Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 951 people, 369 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6 people per square mile . There were 386 housing units at an average density of 103.7 per square mile...
.
Highway 95 is 127 miles (204.4 km) in length and passes through the cities of Princeton
Princeton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,624 households, and 998 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.7 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile...
, Cambridge
Cambridge, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,520 people, 2,237 households, and 1,353 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.1 people per square mile . There were 2,373 housing units at an average density of 384.4 per square mile...
, North Branch
North Branch, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,023 people, 2,815 households, and 2,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 224.9 people per square mile . There were 2,900 housing units at an average density of 81.3 per square mile...
, Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 951 people, 369 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6 people per square mile . There were 386 housing units at an average density of 103.7 per square mile...
, Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
, and Lakeland
Lakeland, Minnesota
Lakeland is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,796 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. Interstate 94 and Minnesota State Highway 95 are two...
.
Route description
State Highway 95 has a somewhat unusual routing, starting with a west-to-east section between St. CloudSt. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
and Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 951 people, 369 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6 people per square mile . There were 386 housing units at an average density of 103.7 per square mile...
, then finishing with a north–south section between Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 951 people, 369 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6 people per square mile . There were 386 housing units at an average density of 103.7 per square mile...
and Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,582 people, 9,932 households, and 8,462 families residing in the city. The population density was 899.9 people per square mile . There were 10,024 housing units at an average density of 295.0 per square mile...
. In fact, the Minnesota Legislature originally authorized the east–west and the north–south routes as two separate highways. The Minnesota Highway Department decided to give them both the same route number.
This highway runs through mostly rural areas immediately north and east of the Twin Cities, although increasing development in the eastern suburbs of 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...
may bring increased traffic to the highway. Primarily a two-lane highway, Highway 95 has short concurrencies
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with State Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 36 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 35W in Roseville and continues east to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 64 upon crossing the St. Croix River...
going into downtown Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
; and 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...
between Woodbury
Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, and is a suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is situated east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94...
and 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, that make up the only 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...
sections of Highway 95.
The 14 miles (22.5 km) section of Highway 95 from Cambridge
Cambridge, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,520 people, 2,237 households, and 1,353 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.1 people per square mile . There were 2,373 housing units at an average density of 384.4 per square mile...
to North Branch
North Branch, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,023 people, 2,815 households, and 2,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 224.9 people per square mile . There were 2,900 housing units at an average density of 81.3 per square mile...
is officially designated the State Trooper Timothy J. Bowe Memorial Highway.
State Parks
Highway 95, on its north–south section, parallels the St. Croix River and is adjacent to, or close to, several state parks:- Wild River State ParkWild River State ParkWild River State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, curving along of the St. Croix River. This long, narrow park is shaped somewhat like a sideways 'S', with development largely concentrated in the lower third. The remote upper sections flank the mouth of a tributary called the Sunrise...
- Interstate ParkInterstate ParkInterstate Park comprises two adjacent state parks on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, both named Interstate State Park. They straddle the Dalles of the St. Croix River, a deep basalt gorge with glacial potholes and other rock formations. The Wisconsin park is and the Minnesota park is . The...
- William O'Brien State ParkWilliam O'Brien State ParkWilliam O'Brien State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, along the St. Croix River. Its hiking trails traverse rolling glacial moraine, riparian zones, restored oak savanna, wooded areas and bogs...
- Afton State ParkAfton State ParkAfton State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the St. Croix River in Washington County. Its hiking trails offer views of the river, rolling glacial moraine, and bluffland it preserves. It is a popular place for birdwatching, picnics, camping, and other typical outdoor recreational...
History
Both sections of State Highway 95 were authorized in 1933.By 1940, Highway 95 was paved between Princeton
Princeton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,624 households, and 998 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.7 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile...
and North Branch
North Branch, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,023 people, 2,815 households, and 2,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 224.9 people per square mile . There were 2,900 housing units at an average density of 81.3 per square mile...
; and between Scandia and Afton
Afton, Minnesota
Afton is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,886 at the 2010 census. It is located on a small bay where Valley Creek empties into the St. Croix River several miles north of the confluence with the Mississippi River....
.
The route was completely paved by 1953.
In 1998, a change was made in the alignment on the south end of Highway 95, between Washington County Road 18 and I-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...
. Previously, Highway 95 turned east on 40th Street South in Afton
Afton, Minnesota
Afton is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,886 at the 2010 census. It is located on a small bay where Valley Creek empties into the St. Croix River several miles north of the confluence with the Mississippi River....
and then turned north on the St. Croix Trail; present day Highway 95 now continues north along Manning Avenue (the Afton / Woodbury
Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, and is a suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is situated east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94...
border) and then runs together with I-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...
briefly east to Lakeland
Lakeland, Minnesota
Lakeland is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,796 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. Interstate 94 and Minnesota State Highway 95 are two...
. The old route of Highway 95 for this section is now signed as County Road 18.
In an effort to maximize driver safety, a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
was constructed 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 Highway 95 and County Road 29 in Princeton
Princeton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,624 households, and 998 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.7 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile...
. The project was completed in November 2010 at a cost of $6.7 million.