Minnesota State Highway 13

Trunk Highway 13
Length:	114 mi (183 km)
Formed:	1933
South end:	U.S. 65 , Business Loop 35 at Albert Lea
Major junctions:	U.S. 69 at Albert Lea I-90 near Albert Lea MN 30 at New Richland U.S. 14 at Waseca MN 60 at Waterville MN 21 at Montgomery , New Prague MN 19 at New Prague I-35W at Burnsville MN 77 at Eagan MN 55 , MN 110 at Mendota Heights I-35E at Lilydale
North end:	MN 149 at West St. Paul / Saint Paul
Minnesota State Highways < US 12 US 14 >

Minnesota State Highway 13 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 65 in Albert Lea and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 149 at the West St. Paul / Saint Paul city boundary line.

Highway 13 is 114 miles (183 km) in length and passes through the communities of:

Route description

State Highway 13 serves as a north-south route between Albert Lea, Waseca, Prior Lake, Savage, Burnsville, Eagan, Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, and the "West Side" neighborhood of Saint Paul.

The route passes through the counties of:

The southern terminus of the route is at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Avenue (U.S. 65 / Business Loop 35) in the city of Albert Lea.

The northern terminus of Highway 13 is at the intersection of Annapolis Street and Smith Avenue (Highway 149) at the West St. Paul / Saint Paul city boundary line.

Highway 13 is built as a divided highway between Savage, Burnsville, and Eagan. This portion of the route is a busy metro area corridor paralleling the Minnesota River. Highway 13 is also built as a divided highway in Mendota Heights between I-494 (no interchange / junction) to State Highway 55. The section of Highway 13 north of State Highway 55 at Mendota is far less busy.

Highway 13 is also known as Sibley Memorial Highway in Lilydale, Mendota, and Eagan.

The Sibley House Historic Site museum in Mendota, overlooking Fort Snelling, is located immediately north of the junction of Highways 13 and 110. The museum is on Highway 13.

Highway 13 is also known as Langford Avenue in Spring Lake Township and Cedar Lake Township in Scott County.

The route follows Main Street and 4th Avenue SW in New Prague. Highway 13 follows 4th Street in Montgomery.

In the city of Waseca, Highway 13 is also known as State Street.

The 200MW (with possible expansion to 400MW) Bent Tree Wind Farm is scheduled to be built in 2009 along Highway 13 between Manchester and Hartland. The farm being developed by Wind Capital and Alliant Energy would be the biggest wind farm in the state of Minnesota.^[1]

History

State Highway 13 was authorized in 1933. The section of the route between Albert Lea and New Prague was originally constitutional route 13.

In 1934, the highway was extended north to include its current routing through Prior Lake, Savage, Burnsville; and continuing northeast to its northern terminus at the "West Side" neighborhood of Saint Paul.

The route was completely paved by 1940.

From 1934 to 1935, Highway 13 also ran from Albert Lea south to the Iowa state line. In 1935, U.S. Highway 69 was extended north into Minnesota, assuming that 12 mile section of the route.

In the late 1960s, old U.S. Highway 16 was decommissioned in the Albert Lea area. Highway 13 was then extended east on Main Street in Albert Lea between its intersection with U.S. 69 to its intersection with U.S. 65.

In 1994, the nearby Mendota Bridge was rebuilt between Mendota Heights and Fort Snelling. Highway 13 was rerouted in Mendota Heights at this time so it could intersect with State Highway 55 and State Highway 110. The old alignment of Highway 13 in the southwest corner of Mendota Heights (Sibley Memorial Drive) is still under state maintenance and has the unmarked designation of Highway 913-A.

References

• Steve Riner (July 26, 2003). Details of Routes 1-25. Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Accessed March 28, 2006.
• Mn/DOT Trunk Highway Log Point files, updated July 2006