Minnesota State Highway 120
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 120 is a highway
in Minnesota
, which runs from its interchange
with Interstate Highway 94
in Maplewood
(near Landfall
) and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection
with State Highway 244
and Ramsey County Road 15 at the White Bear Lake
/ Mahtomedi
boundary line. The route is 8 miles (12.9 km) in length.
Highway 120 is also known as Century Avenue, Geneva Avenue, and Division Street at various points throughout its route.
The route runs along the county line for Washington
and Ramsey
counties for its entire length.
The Gateway Bicycle Trail
crosses Highway 120 near Highway 36
at the North St. Paul / Oakdale boundary line.
Highway 120 mostly parallels I-694
throughout its route. Highway 120 also has an interchange with I-694 at the White Bear Lake / Mahtomedi boundary line.
The route is legally defined as Route 117 in the Minnesota Statutes. It is not marked with this number.
(hence the name Century Avenue) from 1934 to 1965.
This route was originally part of the Highway 100 Beltway
circling the entire Twin Cities during the 1940s and 1950s.
Highway 120 was numbered as a derivative of Highway 100.
The state began turning the route over to Washington
and Ramsey
counties in 2001. The portion of the route south of I-94 has been removed, but the rest of the highway is still marked and the legal definition of its legislative route has not been changed.
At one time, Highway 120 had continued farther south. Before 2002, the route had continued south of I-94
on present day County 72 / County 25 (the Maplewood / Woodbury boundary line) until reaching Valley Creek Road in Woodbury
. Highway 120 then briefly followed Valley Creek Road (present day County 16) eastbound until its interchange with I-494
.
and Washington
counties.
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 Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which runs from 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 Interstate Highway 94
Interstate 94 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the central portion of the state. The route connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St...
in Maplewood
Maplewood, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,947 people, 13,758 households, and 9,190 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,017.5 people per square mile . There were 14,004 housing units at an average density of 808.5 per square mile...
(near Landfall
Landfall, Minnesota
Landfall is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 686 at the 2010 census and is the smallest community in Washington County in terms of area. It lies on the eastern shore of Tanner's Lake on Interstate 94....
) and continues north to its northern terminus at 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 State Highway 244
Minnesota State Highway 244
Minnesota State Highway 244 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 120 and Ramsey County Road 15 at the White Bear Lake / Mahtomedi city boundary line and continues briefly east and then north to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway...
and Ramsey County Road 15 at the White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 23,797 at the 2010 census. The city is located on White Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Minneapolis-St...
/ Mahtomedi
Mahtomedi, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,563 people, 2,503 households, and 2,027 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,095.4 people per square mile . There were 2,581 housing units at an average density of 715.1 per square mile...
boundary line. The route is 8 miles (12.9 km) in length.
Highway 120 is also known as Century Avenue, Geneva Avenue, and Division Street at various points throughout its route.
The route runs along the county line for Washington
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
and Ramsey
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
counties for its entire length.
Route description
Highway 120 serves as a north–south route between the communities of Maplewood, Oakdale, North St. Paul, White Bear Lake, and Mahtomedi.The Gateway Bicycle Trail
Gateway State Trail
The Gateway State Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail in Minnesota, USA, running from Saint Paul to Pine Point Regional Park through urban landscapes of eastern Saint Paul in Ramsey County and rural farmland and forests in Washington County...
crosses Highway 120 near Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 36
Minnesota State Highway 36 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 35W in Roseville and continues east to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 64 upon crossing the St. Croix River...
at the North St. Paul / Oakdale boundary line.
Highway 120 mostly parallels I-694
Interstate 694
Interstate 694 is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with Interstate 94 and Interstate 494 in Maple Grove...
throughout its route. Highway 120 also has an interchange with I-694 at the White Bear Lake / Mahtomedi boundary line.
The route is legally defined as Route 117 in the Minnesota Statutes. It is not marked with this number.
History
The present day Highway 120 was established in 1965. Previously, this route was part of Highway 100Minnesota State Highway 100
Minnesota State Highway 100 is a state highway in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 494 in Bloomington and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with I-694 in Brooklyn Center...
(hence the name Century Avenue) from 1934 to 1965.
This route was originally part of the Highway 100 Beltway
Minnesota State Highway 100
Minnesota State Highway 100 is a state highway in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 494 in Bloomington and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with I-694 in Brooklyn Center...
circling the entire Twin Cities during the 1940s and 1950s.
Highway 120 was numbered as a derivative of Highway 100.
The state began turning the route over to Washington
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
and Ramsey
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
counties in 2001. The portion of the route south of I-94 has been removed, but the rest of the highway is still marked and the legal definition of its legislative route has not been changed.
At one time, Highway 120 had continued farther south. Before 2002, the route had continued south of I-94
Interstate 94 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the central portion of the state. The route connects the cities of Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St...
on present day County 72 / County 25 (the Maplewood / Woodbury boundary line) until reaching Valley Creek Road in Woodbury
Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, and is a suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is situated east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94...
. Highway 120 then briefly followed Valley Creek Road (present day County 16) eastbound until its interchange with I-494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
.
Major intersections
The entire route follows the line between RamseyRamsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
and Washington
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
counties.