US 8 Northeast Metro Fringe

Northeast Metro Fringe

This page covers US 8 from the I-35 interchange in Minneapolis to the St. Croix River bridge in Taylors Falls. This section includes approximately a 4 mile duplex with MN 95. Total length of this section is approximately 23 miles.

Description

US 8 serves as a gateway from the Twin Cities area to the lakes areas of Chisago County, and further out into western Wisconsin. Not only does it see heavy summertime traffic heading to the lakes of western Wisconsin, but it also sees heavy commuter traffic as well. The 2-lane design, though improved with paved shoulders and turn lanes, still goes through the small (but rapidly growing) towns along the corridor, and has numerous driveways and local streets, which further serve to degrade performance. Average daily traffic counts are over 15,000 between I-35 and Lindstrom, which is too much for a rural 2-lane route.

Roadway Configuration

4 lane freeway from I-35 to just east of US 61
2 lane highway from just east of US 61 into Wisconsin
Occasional 3 lane sections within Chisago City, Lindstrom, and Center City

Average Daily Traffic Counts

Location	1980	1990	1996	1998	2000	2002	2004	2006	10-yr '96-'06 Change
E of I-35	6,200	10,500	16,000	17,000	19,000	19,000	21,000	20,000	+25%
E of US 61	8,200	13,800	19,500	20,700	22,000	22,000	25,000	21,200	+9%
Washington/Chisago Co Ln	7,600	13,100	19,500	20,700	22,000	22,000	25,000	21,200	+9%
SW of CSAH 23	N/A	N/A	16,000	17,700	18,800	19,100	19,900	19,400	+21%
NE of CSAH 23	N/A	N/A	13,400	13,200	15,400	15,000	15,600	13,900	+4%
NE of CSAH 22	N/A	N/A	15,400	16,200	17,700	17,900	18,100	16,700	+8%
Eastern Chisago City	N/A	N/A	16,900	16,300	16,300	18,900	18,000	16,700	-1%
Western Lindstrom	N/A	N/A	16,900	15,500	17,000	18,700	18,500	17,700	+5%
Central Lindstrom	N/A	N/A	16,000	15,600	16,800	16,700	17,300	19,200	+20%
Center City	N/A	N/A	13,600	13,400	15,500	15,600	15,100	14,800	+9%
E of CSAH 9	N/A	N/A	10,500	10,100	12,200	11,000	11,500	10,800	+3%
E of CSAH 26	N/A	N/A	8,500	8,600	9,400	9,800	9,400	9,000	+6%
E of CSAH 21	N/A	N/A	7,300	7,300	8,100	8,400	7,800	7,800	+7%
E of MN 95 SOUTH	N/A	N/A	9,900	10,000	10,300	11,400	10,400	10,300	+4%
St Croix River Bridge	N/A	N/A	12,500	13,500	14,900	14,900	14,400	15,300	+22%

Speed Limit

55 MPH in the rural areas
Lower limits within Chisago City, Lindstrom, Center City, and Taylors Falls

History

Ongoing maintenance/paving/safety work along the corridor.
Bridge over the St. Croix River replaced in 1955.

Future Plans

MnDOT and Chisago County are continuing ongoing studies of the corridor. While earlier studies looked at the possibility of a bypass, the current studies are focusing on the existing alignment. In the meantime, interim safety improvements will be pursued. A long-range goal suggests ultimate 4-laning between I-35 and Lindstrom.

Froggie Suggests:

Reconstruct the I-35 interchange to provide full movement.
Construct a 4-lane controlled-access freeway generally south of the Chisago Lakes area, and a new bridge across the St. Croix River approximately where US 8/MN 95 hits the edge of the river bluff. Provide interchanges at US 61 (existing), CSAH 23/existing US 8, CSAH 24, CSAH 25, CSAH 26, a relocated MN 95, WI 35 SOUTH, existing US 8 (east of St Croix Falls), and WI 35 NORTH (end of my proposed freeway). An exit list of my proposed freeway can be found here.

Links

Last updated 12 May, 2008