Interstate 94 in Minnesota

Interstate Highway in Minnesota, United States

This article is about the section of Interstate 94 in Minnesota. For the entire route, see Interstate 94.

Interstate 94

Blue Star Memorial Highway
Purple Heart Trail

I-94 highlighted in red

Route information
Maintained by MnDOT
Length| 259.49 mi[1] (417.61 km)
NHS| Entire route
Restrictions| No hazardous goods allowed in the Lowry Hill Tunnel
Major junctions
West end|  I-94 / US 52 at the North Dakota state line in Moorhead
Major intersections|

* US 75 at Moorhead
* US 59 at Fergus Falls
* US 71 at Sauk Centre
* I-494 / I-694 at Maple Grove
* US 169 at Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove
* I-394 / US 12 at Minneapolis
* I-35W at Minneapolis
* I-35E / US 10 at St. Paul
* US 10 / US 61 at St. Paul

* I-494 / I-694 at Woodbury

East end|  I-94 / US 12 at the Wisconsin state line in Lakeland
Location
Country| United States
State| Minnesota
Counties| Clay, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Todd, Stearns, Wright, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington
Highway system

* Interstate Highway System

* Main
* Auxiliary
* Suffixed
* Business
* Future

* Minnesota Trunk Highway System

* Interstate
* US
* State
* Legislative
* Scenic

| ←  MN 93| | →  MN 95

|
|

Interstate 94 (I-94) in the US state of Minnesota runs 259 miles (417 km) east–west through the central portion of the state. The highway connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul. Authorized in 1956, it was mostly constructed in the 1960s. For its whole length, it runs concurrently with either US Highway 52 (US 52) or US 12.

## Route description

[edit]

Lowry Hill Tunnel in Minneapolis

I-94 enters the state from North Dakota at the city of Moorhead and heads southeast after serving Moorhead.

Traveling southeast from Moorhead, there are several places where the elevation of I-94 rises slightly; these are "beaches" that formed as the glacial lake rose or fell. Finally, at Rothsay, I-94 climbs the last beach line and enters terrain more typical for Minnesota. From Rothsay to the Twin Cities, the terrain of I-94 is rolling with frequent lakes visible from the highway.

I-94 traverses by Fergus Falls, Alexandria, and Sauk Centre on its way to St. Cloud. The "original main street" in Sauk Centre near I-94 commemorates the Sinclair Lewis novel that skewered this town.

Monticello is roughly the midpoint exurb for both St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Between exits 201 (Albertville) and 194 (Monticello) sits the Minnesota Road Research Facility.

Upon arrival to the Twin Cities, I-94 first approaches Minneapolis from the north, then the highway turns east after passing through the Lowry Hill Tunnel and heads to Saint Paul while traveling east.

The road crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis between the Prospect Park and Seward neighborhoods. The highway joins Minneapolis and Saint Paul together where it meets Minnesota State Highway 280 (MN 280). In Saint Paul, the routing of I-94 is set through the historic Rondo neighborhood, which, prior to the highway's construction, was the largest Black community in Saint Paul.[2][3][4]

Upon leaving Saint Paul, the route travels through suburban Washington County and exits the state into Wisconsin between Lakeland, Minnesota, and Hudson, Wisconsin, while crossing the St. Croix River.

Legally, the Minnesota section of I-94 is defined as unmarked Legislative Route 392 in the Minnesota Statutes § 161.12(4).[5] I-94 is not marked with this legislative number along the actual highway.

### Transit

[edit]

Intercity bus service is provided along the entire length of the I-94 corridor. Service northwest of the Twin Cities is provided by Jefferson Lines, while Greyhound, Flixbus, and Wisconsin Coach Lines provide service east of the Twin Cities.[6][7] Local bus services operated by Metro Transit and Maple Grove Transit also utilize I-94 in the Twin Cities metro.[8]

## History

[edit]

I-94 in Minnesota was authorized as part of the original Interstate System in 1956. It was mostly constructed in the 1960s.

I-94 follows the original route of old US Highway 52 (US 52) from Moorhead to St. Cloud, then I-94 stays south of the Mississippi River along the former route of old MN 152 between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. I-94 then passes through both downtowns and exits toward Wisconsin along the former route of old US 12.

The first section of I-94 in Minnesota constructed was between Moorhead and Albany in the early 1960s, as an extension of the existing highway in North Dakota.[citation needed]

The section of I-94 between Minneapolis and Saint Paul was completed in 1968 and dedicated December 9.[9] In the Twin Cities, the construction of the highway was politically charged. The highway was built primarily through many working-class and Black neighborhoods.[10][4] In Saint Paul, the routing of I-94 displaced the historic Rondo Neighborhood, which, prior to the highway's construction, was the largest Black community in Saint Paul.[3][2][4]

The section of I-94 between Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center was completed in 1969, between St. Augusta and Maple Grove in 1973 and between Albany and St. Augusta in 1977.[citation needed]

The section of I-94 from Brooklyn Center through north Minneapolis was completed in 1984. Like the Rondo neighborhood in the 1960s, this segment was through a primarily Black and working-class neighborhood.[10]

The last section of I-94 in Minnesota constructed was the 10 miles (16 km) between its junction with I-494/I-694 at Woodbury and the Wisconsin state line at Lakeland. This was completed in 1985.[11]

In 2004, a third lane was constructed between Brooklyn Boulevard at Brooklyn Center and Hemlock Lane at Maple Grove. This is located immediately east of the I-494/I-694/I-94 interchange in Maple Grove, also known locally as the Fish Lake Interchange.[citation needed]

From September 2007 to October 2008, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) added a temporary extra lane to I-94 between northbound I-35W and MN 280 in the Twin Cities to help relieve traffic congestion caused by the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge. As a result, this portion of I-94 was not up to Interstate Highway standards during this time period.[citation needed]

### Rethinking I-94

[edit]

In 2016, MnDOT launched a project known as Rethinking I-94, which is aimed at reconnecting neighborhoods, revitalizing communities, and ensuring that residents have a voice in transportation decisions.[12] The construction of I-94 between Minneapolis and Saint Paul was controversial and has been a political debate for many years. MnDOT is considering reconnecting those neighborhoods that were destroyed and separated in 1960.

## Exit list

[edit]

County| Location| mi| km| Exit| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

Red River of the North| 0.000| 0.000| |

I-94 west / US 52 west – Fargo, Bismarck| Continuation into North Dakota
North Dakota–Minnesota state line
Clay| Moorhead| 0.577| 0.929| 1A|  US 75 – Moorhead, Breckenridge| Breckenridge only signed eastbound; also access to Heritage-Hjemkomst Center, Concordia College, Minnesota State University, Bluestem Trollwood
1.538| 2.475| 1B| 20th Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only
2.709| 4.360| 2|
I-94 BL west (34th Street) / CSAH 52 (Main Avenue Southeast)| Signed as exits 2A (Main Avenue Southeast) and 2B (34th Street) eastbound
Glyndon Township| 6.075| 9.777| 6|  MN 336 / CSAH 11 – Sabin| Sabin only signed eastbound; also access to US 10, Detroit Lakes, Airport, Glyndon, Dilworth
Elkton Township| 15.239| 24.525| 15|  CSAH 10 – Downer, Sabin| Sabin only signed westbound
Barnesville–Humboldt
township line| 22.700| 36.532| 22|  MN 9 – Barnesville| Barnesville only signed eastbound
Barnesville| 24.542| 39.497| 24|  MN 34 – Detroit Lakes, Barnesville| Detroit Lakes only signed eastbound and Barnesville only signed westbound
Wilkin| Prairie View Township| 32.500| 52.304| 32|  MN 108 / CSAH 30 – Pelican Rapids|
Wilkin–Otter Tail
county line| Rothsay| 38.226| 61.519| 38| Rothsay|
Otter Tail| Fergus Falls Township| 50.479–
50.899| 81.238–
81.914| 50|
US 59 north / CSAH 88 – Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Detroit Lakes| Northern end of US 59 overlap; Fergus Falls only signed eastbound, and Pelican Rapids/Detroit Lakes only signed westbound
Fergus Falls| 54.167| 87.173| 54|
MN 210 west – Fergus Falls, Breckenridge| Western end of MN 210 overlap; also access to Lincoln Avenue, Airport, Central Lakes State Trail
55.860| 89.898| 55|  CSAH 1 – Fergus Falls, Wendell| Wendell only signed eastbound
Buse Township| 57.888| 93.162| 57|
MN 210 east / CSAH 25 – Fergus Falls| Eastern end of MN 210 overlap; also access to Lake Region Hospital
Buse–Dane Prairie
township line| 61.677| 99.260| 61|
US 59 south / CSAH 82 – Elbow Lake, Fergus Falls| Southern end of US 59 overlap; Elbow Lake only signed eastbound, and Fergus Falls only signed westbound
Tumuli Township| 67.624| 108.830| 67|  CSAH 35 – Dalton|
Grant| Pelican Lake Township| 77.099| 124.079| 77|  MN 78 / CSAH 10 – Ashby, Barrett| Also access to Battle Lake, Prairie Ridge Hospital
Douglas| Evansville Township| 82.908| 133.427| 82|
MN 79 west / CSAH 41 – Evansville, Elbow Lake|
Brandon Township| 90.096| 144.995| 90|  CSAH 7 – Brandon|
La Grand Township| 97.415| 156.774| 97|
MN 114 south / CSAH 40 – Garfield, Lowry|
Alexandria| 100.685| 162.037| 100|
MN 27 west / CSAH 46 – Alexandria| Western end of MN 27 overlap; Alexandria only signed eastbound; also access to Alomere Health Hospital
103.037| 165.822| 103|  MN 29 – Alexandria, Glenwood| Also access to Alexandria Tech & Community College, Central Lakes State Trail, Alomere Health Hospital
Orange Township| 114.361| 184.046| 114|
MN 27 east / CSAH 3 – Osakis, Westport| Eastern end of MN 27 overlap; also access to Central Lakes State Trail
Todd| West Union Township| 119.148| 191.750| 119|  CSAH 46 – West Union|
Stearns| Sauk Centre Township| 124.730| 200.733| 124|  CSAH 72 (Sinclair Lewis Avenue)| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only
Sauk Centre| 127.179| 204.675| 127|  US 71 / MN 28 – Sauk Centre, Willmar, Glenwood| Willmar only signed eastbound, Glenwood only signed westbound; also access to Sauk Centre Hospital
Melrose Township| 131.079| 210.951| 131|
MN 4 south – Meire Grove, Paynesville|
Melrose| 134.974| 217.220| 135|  CSAH 13 – Melrose| Also access to Melrose Area Hospital
Oak Township| 137.864| 221.871| 137|  CSAH 12 / CSAH 65 – New Munich|
Freeport| 140.865| 226.700| 140|  CSAH 11 – Freeport|
Albany| 146.916| 236.438| 147|  MN 238 / CSAH 10 – Albany|
Avon| 153.313| 246.733| 153|  CSAH 9 – Avon| Also access to Holdingford
Avon Township| 156.531| 251.912| 156|  CR 159 – St. John's University|
St. Joseph Township| 158.142| 254.505| 158|  CSAH 75 – St. Cloud| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only; also access to St. Cloud Hospital
160.436| 258.197| 160|  CSAH 2 – St. Joseph, Cold Spring|
164.514| 264.760| 164|  MN 23 – St. Cloud, Rockville, Waite Park, Paynesville| Signed as "St. Cloud, Rockville" eastbound and "Waite Park, Paynesville" westbound
St. Cloud| 167.137| 268.981| 167|  MN 15 – St. Cloud, Kimball| Signed as exits 167A (south) and 167B (north); also access to Waite Park
171.223| 275.557| 171|  CSAH 75 – St. Augusta, St. Cloud| Also access to St. Cloud Hospital
173.674| 279.501| 173| Opportunity Drive (CSAH 75)|
Wright| Clearwater| 178.953| 287.997| 178|  MN 24 – Clearwater, Annandale| Also access to Clear Lake
Silver Creek Township| 184.131| 296.330| 183|  CSAH 8 – Hasty, Silver Creek| Also access to Maple Lake
Monticello| 194.075| 312.333| 193|  MN 25 – Monticello, Buffalo| Also access to Big Lake, Lake Maria State Park
195.577| 314.751| 194|  CSAH 18 / CSAH 39 – Monticello| Also access to Monticello Hospital
Albertville| 201.939| 324.989| 201|  CSAH 19 – Albertville, St. Michael| Eastbound exit is a collector–distributor ramp for exits 201 and 202
202.693| 326.203| 202|  CSAH 37 – Albertville| Westbound exit is a distributor ramp for exits 202 and 201 and signed as 202&201
St. Michael| 205.679| 331.008| 205|
MN 241 west / CSAH 36 – St. Michael| Separate exit ramps westbound; Signed as 205A (MN 241) and 205B (CR 36)
Hennepin| Rogers| 208.352| 335.310| 207|  MN 101 (North Bypass) / CSAH 81 – Elk River, Rogers| Westbound exit signed as 207A (south CR 81 and north MN 101) and 207B (north MN 101 flyover ramp bypassing Diamond Lake Road); eastbound signed as exits 207A and 207B; also access to Otsego
Dayton| | | 210| Dayton Parkway| Diverging diamond interchange opened November 5, 2021[13]
Maple Grove| | | 212|
MN 610 east| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; opened December 2016
214.367| 344.990| 213|  CSAH 30 (Maple Grove Parkway)|
216.326| 348.143| 215|  CSAH 109 (Weaver Lake Road)|
216.990–
217.593| 349.212–
350.182| 216|

I-494 south / I-694 east| Western end of I-694 overlap; I-494/I-694 exit 27
218.084| 350.972| 28|  CSAH 61 (Hemlock Lane)|
Maple Grove–Brooklyn Park
city line| 219.603| 353.417| 29|  US 169| Signed as exits 29A (south) and 29B (north)
Brooklyn Park| 220.153| 354.302| 30| Boone Avenue|
221.078| 355.791| 31|  CSAH 81 (Bottineau Boulevard)|
Brooklyn Center| 223.103| 359.049| 33|  CSAH 152 (Brooklyn Boulevard)|
224.258| 360.908| 34|
Shingle Creek Parkway to MN 100|
223.816–
225.620| 360.197–
363.100| 225|

I-694 east / MN 252 north| Eastern end of I-694 overlap, I-694 exit 35B; Minneapolis–St. Paul Bypass
Minneapolis| 226.350–
227.351| 364.275–
365.886| 226| 53rd Avenue North/49th Avenue North|
228.519| 367.766| 228| Dowling Avenue North|
230.246–
230.590| 370.545–
371.099| 229|
CSAH 81 west (West Broadway Avenue) / CSAH 66 / CSAH 152 (North Washington Avenue)| Washington Avenue not signed eastbound
231.350| 372.322| 230|
MN 55 west (Olson Memorial Highway) / 4th Street North/7th Street North| Western end of MN 55 overlap
231.929–
232.234| 373.254–
373.744| 231A|
I-394 / US 12 west| Western end of US 12 overlap; no access to I-394/12 east; I-394 exit 8B
232.403–
232.688| 374.016–
374.475| Lowry Hill Tunnel
232.862| 374.755| 231B|
CSAH 22 south (Lyndale Avenue) / Hennepin Avenue| Virginia Triangle
233.609| 375.957| 233B|
I-35W south| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-35W exit 16A; access via old MN 65
233.737| 376.163| 233A| 11th Street| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
233.696| 376.097| 233C|
I-35W north| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-35W exit 16A
| | | 5th Avenue| Eastbound entrance only
233.904| 376.432| 233B|
I-35W south| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-35W exit 16B
234.473| 377.348| 234A|
MN 55 east (Hiawatha Avenue)| Eastern end of MN 55 overlap
234.473| 377.348| 234B| 7th Street| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
234.730| 377.761| 234C|  CSAH 152 (Cedar Avenue)| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
235.296–
235.433| 378.672–
378.893| 235A|  25th Avenue / Riverside Avenue| Also access to Augsburg University, M Health Fairview
235.716–
235.906| 379.348–
379.654| Dartmouth Bridge over the Mississippi River
235.951–
236.085| 379.726–
379.942| 235B| Huron Boulevard|
Ramsey| Saint Paul| 237.081| 381.545| 236|  MN 280 / University Avenue/Pelham Boulevard|
237.757| 382.633| 237| Cretin Avenue/Vandalia Street|
239.065| 384.738| 238|  MN 51 / Snelling Avenue|
239.564| 385.541| 239A| Hamline Avenue| Westbound exit only
240.063| 386.344| 239B|  CSAH 51 (Lexington Parkway)|
241.059| 387.947| 240|  CSAH 53 (Dale Street)|
241.868| 389.249| 241A|
CSAH 56 north (Marion Street) / Kellogg Boulevard – State Capitol| Also access to Saint Paul College
242.040| 389.526| 241B|  10th Street / 5th Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; also access to Regions Hospital
242.045| 389.534| 242A|  12th Street – State Capitol| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only; also access to Regions Hospital
242.252–
242.554| 389.867–
390.353| 241C|
I-35E south| Western end of I-35E overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance only; I-35E exit 107B
242.768–
243.146| 390.697–
391.306| 242B|

I-35E north / US 10 west| Eastern end of I-35E overlap; western end of US 10 overlap; I-35E exit 107A
243.067| 391.178| 242C| 7th Street| Eastbound exit only
243.448| 391.792| 242D|
US 52 south / 6th Street| Eastern end of US 52 overlap; 6th Street not signed eastbound
244.070| 392.793| 243|
US 61 north (Mounds Boulevard) / Kellogg Boulevard| Western end of US 61 overlap
245.566| 395.200| 244|

US 10 east / US 61 south| Eastern end of US 10/US 61 overlap
246.370| 396.494| 245|  CSAH 65 (White Bear Avenue)|
246.866| 397.292| 246A| Ruth Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only
Saint Paul–Maplewood
city line| 247.370| 398.103| 246|  CSAH 68 (McKnight Road)|
Maplewood| 248.328| 399.645| 247|

MN 120 north / CSAH 23 south / Century Avenue|
Washington| Woodbury–Oakdale
city line| 249.449–
249.848| 401.449–
402.091| 249|

I-494 south / I-694 north| Minneapolis–St. Paul Bypass via I-694
Woodbury–Lake Elmo
city line| 250.838| 403.685| 250|  CSAH 13 (Inwood Avenue, Radio Drive)|
251.378| 404.554| 251|  CSAH 19 (Keats Avenue, Woodbury Drive)|
253.377| 407.771| 253|
MN 95 south / CSAH 15 (Manning Avenue)| Western end of MN 95 overlap
Lakeland| 258.918| 416.688| 258|
MN 95 north / CSAH 18 – Stillwater| Eastern end of MN 95 overlap
St. Croix River| 259.663| 417.887| Minnesota–Wisconsin state line

I-94 east / US 12 east – Eau Claire| Continuation into Wisconsin
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

* Concurrency terminus
* Incomplete access

## Auxiliary routes

[edit]

* I-394, direct link between Minneapolis and western suburbs
* I-494, southern/western portion of beltway loop
* I-694, northern/eastern portion of beltway loop

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
2. ^ a b "Rondo Neighborhood & I-94: Overview". Minnesota History Center, Gale Family Library. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
3. ^ a b Yuen, Laura (April 29, 2010). "Central Corridor: In the Shadow of Rondo". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
4. ^ a b c Rupar, Aaron (August 19, 2014). "St. Paul Map Shows How I-94 Cut Through Heart of City's African-American Neighborhood". City Pages. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
5. ^ "Sec. 161.12 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
6. ^ "Jefferson Lines Minnesota Map" (PDF). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
7. ^ "Wisconsin Intercity Bus Map" (PDF). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
8. ^ "Metro Transit map" (PDF). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
9. ^ Snow, Dick (Fall 1968). Minnesota Highways, Fall 1968. Minnesota Department of Highways. p. 24. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
10. ^ a b Rupar, Aaron (August 18, 2014). "'Racist' Twin Cities Maps Make Point About Interstate Highways". City Pages. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
11. ^ Baden, Mathias (March 25, 2017). "Woodbury history snapshots". Republican Eagle. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
12. ^ "Rethinking I-94 — Minneapolis to St. Paul". Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
13. ^ Miller, Alicia (November 11, 2021). "Dayton Parkway Interchange opens to fanfare". Press & News. Adams Publishing Group.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/Interstate 94 in Minnesota

KML is from Wikidata

* Steve Riner Details of Routes 76 to 100. Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page.

Interstate 94

Previous state:
North Dakota |  Minnesota  | Next state:
Wisconsin
*[NHS]: National Highway System
*[mi]: Miles
*[km]: Kilometers