Minnesota State Highway 127 is a short connector highway

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 west-central 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 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 Orange Township 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 27

Minnesota State Highway 27

Minnesota State Highway 27 is a highway in west-central and east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 28 in Browns Valley and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with Interstate 35 in Moose Lake....

 in Osakis

Osakis, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,567 people, 661 households, and 405 families residing in the city. The population density was 779.4 people per square mile . There were 760 housing units at an average density of 378.0 per square mile...

.

Highway 127 is 2.5 miles (4 km) in length and passes through Orange Township, Osakis Township, and the city of Osakis

Osakis, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,567 people, 661 households, and 405 families residing in the city. The population density was 779.4 people per square mile . There were 760 housing units at an average density of 378.0 per square mile...

.

Route description

Highway 127 serves as a short north–south connector route between Interstate 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...

 and State Highway 27

Minnesota State Highway 27

Minnesota State Highway 27 is a highway in west-central and east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 28 in Browns Valley and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with Interstate 35 in Moose Lake....

 at Osakis

Osakis, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,567 people, 661 households, and 405 families residing in the city. The population density was 779.4 people per square mile . There were 760 housing units at an average density of 378.0 per square mile...

.

History

Highway 127 was added to the state highway system in 1967 when 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...

 was completed. I-94 replaced old U.S. Highway 52

U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota

U.S. Highway 52 enters the state of Minnesota at the unincorporated community of Prosper, north of the town of Burr Oak, Iowa. The route is marked north–south in Minnesota along its independent segment from the Iowa state line to downtown St. Paul...

 in west-central Minnesota. U.S. 52 had previously ran through Osakis in this area. 127 was added to connect Osakis with the interstate.

127 had been paved prior to it becoming a state highway. The route is a part of Minnesota Constitutional Route 3 from St. Cloud

St. Cloud, Minnesota

St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...

 to Alexandria

Alexandria, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...

, continuing southward from 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:...

 at I-94 as County 3, and west of the former U.S. 52 as State Highway 27 to Alexandria. Present day Highway 127 was not part of old U.S. 52 between St. Cloud and Alexandria. State Highway 127 is numbered as a spur

Spur route

A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...

of State Highway 27.

Major intersections