Interstate 35E (Minnesota)

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Interstate 35E (abbreviated I-35E), an interstate highway, is the eastern half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Minnesota. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Burnsville. I-35E runs north for 41 miles (66 km), maintaining I-35's sequence of exit numbers. It runs through St. Paul before rejoining with I-35W to reform I-35 in Columbus Township.

Historically, other interstates were given directional suffixes. On every other interstate, the directional suffixes were phased out by giving the route a loop or spur designation. In the case of I-35, since both branches return to a unified interstate beyond the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the AASHTO committees allowed the suffixes to remain.

Cities

Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.

Intersections with other Interstates and other main roads

Interstate 35 splits into I-35E and I-35W in Burnsville, Minnesota
Interstate 494 in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Interstate 94 in downtown St. Paul
Interstate 694 in Little Canada, Minnesota
Interstate 35 reforms from I-35E and I-35W in Columbus Township, Minnesota

Notes

The interchange with Interstate 694 has the two roads briefly merging together and weaving before separating. An "Unweave the Weave" project to improve this interchange is due to begin in 2006.

No direct access from I-35E to I-35W is provided at either the southern or northern termini, although traffic from southbound I-35E can reach northbound I-35W via surface streets just before the southbound terminus.

The interchange between I-35E and I-94 in downtown St. Paul is incomplete, in that there is no direct access provided between I-94 eastbound and I-35E southbound or between I-35E northbound and I-94 westbound. These moves must be done using Kellogg Boulevard. This probably resulted because of the number of buildings in the vicinity. Also, I-35E and I-94 share a short duplex section between St. Peter Street and Jackson Street, but fortunately, no weaving is required.

The segment from MN-5 to I-94 in downtown St. Paul was delayed for over 15 years due to litigation between local residents and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. A court settlement eventually resulted in the construction of a "parkway" section, which included a truck prohibition and a maximum speed limit of 45mph (presumably to control noise). Legislation has been proposed over the years to lift these restrictions, but they have not passed due to continued local opposition.

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Auxiliary routes of Interstate 35

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