Minnesota State Highway 115
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 115 is a highway
in central Minnesota
, which runs from its intersection
with U.S. Highway 10
in Randall
and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange
with Highway 371
at Camp Ripley Junction in Ripley Township
near the city of Little Falls
.
Highway 115 is 9 miles (14.5 km) in length.
, Camp Ripley
, and Ripley Township
.
The route passes by the entrance of, and therefore serves, the Camp Ripley Military Reservation
; north of the city of Little Falls
. A portion of Highway 115 serves as the southern border for Camp Ripley.
Highway 115 crosses the Mississippi River
near its junction
with Highway 371. The bridge also carries a railway line on the same surface as the road deck; this is the only remaining bridge over the Mississippi configured in this way.
The route is legally defined as Route 131 in the Minnesota Statutes. It is not marked with this number.
The route was paved by 1942.
The Highway 115 Mississippi River
bridge crossing, which also carries the railroad spur to Camp Ripley
, was rebuilt in 1998.
Before nearby Highway 371
was rebuilt as a four-lane freeway on its new alignment between the city of Little Falls
to just north of Camp Ripley Junction, the eastern terminus of Highway 115 at Highway 371 was previously a 3-way "Y" intermixed with railroad tracks. With construction on the new Highway 371 being complete in the early 2000s, Highway 115 now ends at an interchange
with Highway 371, with the roadway continuing eastbound as Morrison County Road 47 (which was re-aligned to connect to the new interchange). The old routing of Highway 371 in the immediate area has been turned-back to county maintenance as Morrison County Road 76. This old portion of Highway 371, including the former "Y"-intersection with Highway 115, has been reconstructed as a frontage road.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in central Minnesota
Central Minnesota
Central Minnesota is the name of the region consisting of the central portion of the state of Minnesota. Although no specific boundaries of the region exist, most definitions of what makes up the region would generally consist of the vast swath of land north of Interstate 94, east of U.S. Highway...
, which runs from its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. Highway 10
U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota
U.S. Route 10 is a major divided highway for almost all of its length in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The route runs through the central portion of the state, following closely the alignment of the former Northern Pacific Railway and connects the cities of Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Wadena, Little...
in Randall
Randall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 535 people, 217 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density was 256.9 people per square mile . There were 229 housing units at an average density of 110.0 per square mile...
and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Highway 371
Minnesota State Highway 371
Minnesota 371 was originally designated as US 371 from 1931 to 1973. During 1973, US 371 was re-designated Minnesota 371. The former US 371 designation was concurrent with US 2 from 1931 to 1973 between Cass Lake and Bemidji with a terminus at US 71.Subsequently,...
at Camp Ripley Junction in Ripley Township
Ripley Township, Morrison County, Minnesota
Ripley Township is a township in Morrison County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 692 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 48.4 square miles , of which, 47.7 square miles of it is land and...
near the city of Little Falls
Little Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,719 people , 3,197 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,232.5 people per square mile . There were 3,358 housing units at an average density of 536.2 per square mile...
.
Highway 115 is 9 miles (14.5 km) in length.
Route description
State Highway 115 serves as an east–west route in central Minnesota between the communities of RandallRandall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 535 people, 217 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density was 256.9 people per square mile . There were 229 housing units at an average density of 110.0 per square mile...
, Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley is a military and civilian training facility operated by the Minnesota National Guard located near the city of Little Falls in the central part of the state. The location of the camp was selected in 1929 by Ellard A. Walsh, Adjutant General of the State of Minnesota...
, and Ripley Township
Ripley Township, Morrison County, Minnesota
Ripley Township is a township in Morrison County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 692 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 48.4 square miles , of which, 47.7 square miles of it is land and...
.
The route passes by the entrance of, and therefore serves, the Camp Ripley Military Reservation
Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley is a military and civilian training facility operated by the Minnesota National Guard located near the city of Little Falls in the central part of the state. The location of the camp was selected in 1929 by Ellard A. Walsh, Adjutant General of the State of Minnesota...
; north of the city of Little Falls
Little Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,719 people , 3,197 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,232.5 people per square mile . There were 3,358 housing units at an average density of 536.2 per square mile...
. A portion of Highway 115 serves as the southern border for Camp Ripley.
Highway 115 crosses the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
near its junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
with Highway 371. The bridge also carries a railway line on the same surface as the road deck; this is the only remaining bridge over the Mississippi configured in this way.
The route is legally defined as Route 131 in the Minnesota Statutes. It is not marked with this number.
History
State Highway 115 was authorized on April 22, 1933.The route was paved by 1942.
The Highway 115 Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
bridge crossing, which also carries the railroad spur to Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley is a military and civilian training facility operated by the Minnesota National Guard located near the city of Little Falls in the central part of the state. The location of the camp was selected in 1929 by Ellard A. Walsh, Adjutant General of the State of Minnesota...
, was rebuilt in 1998.
Before nearby Highway 371
Minnesota State Highway 371
Minnesota 371 was originally designated as US 371 from 1931 to 1973. During 1973, US 371 was re-designated Minnesota 371. The former US 371 designation was concurrent with US 2 from 1931 to 1973 between Cass Lake and Bemidji with a terminus at US 71.Subsequently,...
was rebuilt as a four-lane freeway on its new alignment between the city of Little Falls
Little Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,719 people , 3,197 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,232.5 people per square mile . There were 3,358 housing units at an average density of 536.2 per square mile...
to just north of Camp Ripley Junction, the eastern terminus of Highway 115 at Highway 371 was previously a 3-way "Y" intermixed with railroad tracks. With construction on the new Highway 371 being complete in the early 2000s, Highway 115 now ends at an interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Highway 371, with the roadway continuing eastbound as Morrison County Road 47 (which was re-aligned to connect to the new interchange). The old routing of Highway 371 in the immediate area has been turned-back to county maintenance as Morrison County Road 76. This old portion of Highway 371, including the former "Y"-intersection with Highway 115, has been reconstructed as a frontage road.