Western/Central Minnesota

This page covers MN 7 through western and central Minnesota, from US 12 at Ortonville, MN to MN 100 in St. Louis Park, MN.  Total length of this segment is approximately 168 miles.

General Description

MN 7 is almost completely a 2-lane corridor west of the Twin Cities metro area.  Although overshadowed by US 212 to the south and US 12 to the north, MN 7 is still designated as a Regional Corridor under MnDOT's IRC system.  It is also on the NHS between Ortonville and Montevideo, and also between I-494 and MN 100 within the Twin Cities metro.

Current Roadway Configuration

• 2-lane undivided from Ortonville to MN 41 near Excelsior, except for short 4-lane undivided segments in Montevideo and Hutchinson.
• 4-lane divided from MN 41 to MN 100.

MnDOT's Vision

The general vision for MN 7 is as a Preservation corridor outside the Metro area and as a Management corridor within the Metro area.  Some urban widening may occur in Montevideo and in Hutchinson.

While MnDOT would like to expand MN 7 to 4 lanes from near Lester Prairie to MN 41 and to either 6 lanes or a freeway between MN 41 and MN 100, it lacks the funding to do so.

Specific Future Projects

• Partial reconstruction in Montevideo is planned for 2008.
• Partial reconstruction in Hutchinson to a 5-lane section (generally in the vicinity of the MN 15 intersection) is planned for 2006.
• Reconstruction from Silver Lake to St. Bonifacius (including roundabouts at MN 25 and at Carver CSAH 10) is planned for 2007.

Froggie Suggests

• Potential turnback candidate between MN 28 and Ortonville.
• Upgrade to 4-lane expressway from near Ortonville to Montevideo, with bypasses of Correll, Appleton, Milan, and Watson.
• Upgrade (if further needed) to 4-lane urban arterial through Hutchinson.
• Upgrade to an Improved-2 lane highway from Montevideo to MN 22 North.
• Upgrade to 4-lane expressway from MN 22 North to MN 41, including a bypass of Hutchinson.
• Upgrade to 6-lane expressway from MN 41 to MN 100.

Links

• Back to Froggie's Minnesota Corridors
• Back to Twin Cities Highways

Last updated 03 February, 2006