MN 101 Northwest Metro Fringe

Northwest Metro Fringe

This page covers MN 101 from the I-94 interchange in Rogers to the US 10/169 interchange in Elk River. Total length of this section is approximately 6.8 miles.

Description

This section of MN 101 is all that remains of a route that once stretched from Elk River to Savage, a casualty to the changing priorities within MnDOT. The section that remains, between Rogers and Elk River, is a major connector between I-94 and US 10/169. Chronically clogged as a 2-lane highway (especially on Fridays and Sundays during the summer), MN 101 was widened to 4-lanes in the mid '90s and access consolidated to 7 intersections. This has greatly improved the traffic situation, but heavy traffic is still very noticeable on summer weekends as people travel to/from the northern lake and resort areas.

Roadway Configuration

Map will be part of a future update

4-lane expressway
Auxiliary lanes between I-94 and CSAH 49

Traffic

Map will be part of a future update

Light to moderate throughout

Average Daily Traffic Counts

Location	1992	1994	1996	1998	2000
N of I-94	24,000	26,000	30,000	36,500	41,000
N of CSAH 49	22,500	24,500	28,500	35,000	35,000
N of 141st Ave N/CSAH 144	20,000	23,000	25,000	33,500	32,500
N of Crow River Bridge	20,000	22,300	24,000	34,300	34,300
N of CSAH 36	18,700	22,300	24,000	34,300	34,300
N of CSAH 42	18,700	19,500	21,500	34,500	36,500
N of CSAH 39	20,100	19,500	21,500	38,300	40,300

Speed Limit

Map will be part of a future update

40 MPH from I-94 to CSAH 49
55 MPH from CSAH 49 to CSAH 144
65 MPH from CSAH 144 to .4 mi N of CSAH 39
50 MPH from .4 mi N of CSAH 39 to US 10/169

History

Realigned along current alignment in 1968.
Stoplights added at CSAH 49 and CSAH 39 sometime during the 1980s.
Widened to 4 lanes and stoplight added at CSAH 42 sometime in the early 1990s.
Reconstructed, widened to 4 lanes, and stoplights added between I-94 and US 10/169 in the mid 1990s.

Current Construction

None that I know of.

Future Plans

Per a recent IRC corridor study, the long-range goal for MN 101 is to upgrade it to a 6-lane freeway. A step towards this goal will be construction of interchanges and an overpass on the Wright County segment (CSAH 36/37/39 interchanges, CSAH 42 overpass) in the 2005-2008 timeframe. Funding for other improvements has not been identified.

Froggie Suggests:

Upgrade to a 6-lane freeway, with interchanges at I-94 (directional), CSAH 49 (local-access), 141st Ave/CSAH 144 (folded diamond), CSAH 36 (folded diamond), CSAH 37 (diamond), CSAH 39 (SPUI), and US 10/169 (cloverleaf with SB-EB flyover for SB 169 traffic).

Links

Last updated 9/29/04