MN 77/CSAH 23 Cedar Ave

Cedar Ave

This page covers MN 77 from the MN 62 interchange in Minneapolis to the MN 77/CSAH 38 interchange in Apple Valley and Dakota CSAH 23 from that same interchange to the CSAH 42/CSAH 23 intersection in Apple Valley. Total length of this section is approximately 11.5 miles.

Description

Locally known as Cedar Ave, the MN 77 corridor is one that has undergone a lot of change. Originally just a two-lane rural highway, known as MN 36 north of MN 13, the Cedar Ave corridor has undergone a lot of change in the past 40 years, starting with the opening of the 4-lane freeway between MN 62/then-CSAH-62 and I-494 in the 1960s, then the new 6-lane Minnesota River bridge in 1980 (at which time the route designation changed from MN 36 to MN 77), and eventual extension of the freeway during the 1980s to its present terminus, while a 6-lane CSAH 23 "expressway" continues down to CSAH 42.

This route serves as a connection between MSP airport, the Mall of America (opened in 1992), and the rapidly growing suburbs of Dakota County.

Roadway Configuration

Map will be part of a future update

4 lanes from MN 62 to I-494
4 lanes plus C/D roads from I-494 to Killebrew Dr
6 lanes from Killebrew Dr to Diffley Rd
5 lanes (2 NB, 3 SB) from Diffley Rd to end of the freeway at about 138th St
6 lane expressway from 138th St to CSAH 42
Auxillary lane SB between Diagonal Blvd and I-494
Auxillary lanes between Killebrew Dr and CSAH 1/Old Shakopee Rd
Auxillary lanes between I-35E and 127th St

Traffic

Map will be part of a future update

Moderate throughout

Average Daily Traffic Counts

Location	1980	1990	1998	2000	2010 Proj.	2020 Proj.	'80-'90 Change	'90-'00 Change	'80-'00 Change	'00-'20 Proj.
S of MN 62	25,400	42,600	67,000	71,000	91,500	104,000	+68%	+67%	+180%	+46%
S of 63rd St	24,600	40,000	65,000	68,000	85,000	98,500	+63%	+70%	+176%	+45%
S of 66th St	25,900	42,800	70,000	74,000	N/A	N/A	+65%	+73%	+186%	N/A
S of Diagonal Blvd	26,500	42,800	70,000	74,000	97,500	110,000	+62%	+73%	+179%	+49%
S of I-494	25,800	52,000	96,000	95,000	N/A	N/A	+102%	+83%	+268%	N/A
S of 81st St	22,500	52,000	92,000	95,000	N/A	N/A	+131%	+83%	+322%	N/A
S of Killebrew Dr	20,200	52,000	88,000	89,000	115,000	150,000	+157%	+71%	+341%	+69%
S of Old Shakopee Rd	33,000*	65,000	97,000	98,000	128,000	170,500	+97%	+51%	+197%	+74%
S of MN 13	10,500	54,000	73,000	76,000	N/A	N/A	+414%	+41%	+624%	N/A
S of Diffley Rd	11,100	51,000	66,000	70,000	N/A	N/A	+359%	+37%	+531%	N/A
S of Cliff Rd	11,700	48,000	63,000	67,000	N/A	85,000	+310%	+40%	+473%	+27%
S of I-35E	9,800	45,500	57,000	69,000	N/A	N/A	+364%	+52%	+604%	N/A
S of 127th St	9,400	40,000	51,000	63,000	N/A	N/A	+326%	+58%	+570%	N/A
S of McAndrews Blvd	9,400	36,500	39,000	54,000	N/A	74,000	+288%	+48%	+474%	+37%
S of 140th St	9,800	34,000	37,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	+247%	N/A	N/A	N/A
S of 145th St	11,500	32,900	37,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	+186%	N/A	N/A	N/A

Traffic projections from the Minnesota River north are from the Hennepin County Transportation System Plan.
Traffic projections south of the Minnesota River are from the Dakota County 2020 Transportation Policy Plan.
1980/1990 equivalent locations for some areas are shown for comparison.
1980 S of Old Shakopee Rd reflects the new river crossing. Remainder of 1980 reflects route as it was at that time.

Average Daily Traffic Counts on Cedar Ave/CSAH 23 south of CSAH 42 (shown for reflection)

Location	1980	1990	1998	2020 Proj.	'80-'90 Change	'90-'98 Change	'80-'98 Change	'98-'20 Proj.
S of CSAH 42	10,700	25,500	30,500	N/A	+138%	+20%	+185%	N/A
S of CSAH 46	8,000	18,500	22,500	37,000	+131%	+22%	+181%	+164%
S of 164th St	5,900	14,500	18,000	N/A	+146%	+24%	+205%	N/A
S of 170th St	4,200	9,600	13,300	N/A	+129%	+39%	+217%	N/A
S of CSAH 9	3,900	8,300	12,000	19,000	+113%	+45%	+208%	+58%
S of CR 64	3,950	7,900	12,000	N/A	+100%	+52%	+204%	N/A
S of CSAH 50	3,100	5,900	8,800	14,000	+90%	+49%	+184%	+59%
S of CSAH 70	1,600	3,900	5,800	N/A	+144%	+49%	+263%	N/A

Click HERE for the Exit List

Speed Limit

Map will be part of a future update

55 MPH north of the Mall of America area
65 MPH between Killebrew Dr and 137th St
45 MPH south of 137th St

Current Construction

Ongoing work on the northbound side north of I-494, related to the new runway construction at MSP Int'l.

Future Plans

The upcoming, planned "77th Street underpass" project will affect MN 77 traffic during its construction.
Reconstruction of the west side of the 66th St interchange is also planned. This project will complete the reconstruction of the interchange as a diamond.

Froggie Suggests:

Reconstruct the MN 62 interchange to provide a NB 77 to WB 62 "flyover ramp".
Widen to 6 lanes between MN 62 and I-494.
Add a SB 77 to EB 494 flyover ramp at the I-494 interchange.
Reconstruct the MN 13 and I-35E interchanges to include C/D roads.
Reconstruct the Diffley Rd and Cliff Rd interchanges into single-point interchanges.
Fill in the "3rd lane gap" northbound between 137th and Diffley Rd.
Access management south of 137th St.
Look into the feasibility of providing an interchange or a grade separation at CSAH 42.
Extend MN 77 designation south to CSAH 42.

Links

Last updated 5/25/04