Minnesota State Highway 23
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| Trunk Highway 23 |
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| Length: | 340 mi[1] (547 km) | ||||||||
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| Formed: | 1920[1] | ||||||||
| Decomd.: | -- | ||||||||
| Southwest end: |  I-90 in Beaver Creek |
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| Northeast end: |  I-35 in Duluth |
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| Major cities: | Mora, Milaca, St. Cloud, Waite Park, Cold Spring, Paynesville, Willmar, Granite Falls, Marshall, Pipestone | ||||||||
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Minnesota State Highway 23 is a state highway in Minnesota.
[edit] Termini
Minnesota State Highway 23 extends from I-90's Exit 1, (13 miles east of Sioux Falls) at the southern terminus, through the cities of Marshall, Willmar, and Saint Cloud to the northern terminus at Grand Avenue and I-35 in the western portion of Duluth.
(Note: When traveling northbound on I-35 into Duluth there is not an exit for Highway 23/Grand Avenue, however when traveling southbound on I-35 in Duluth there is an exit for Highway 23/Grand Avenue. This is worth mentioning because the north terminus of Highway 23 is at this point.)
In 1997, Mn/Dot changed the official northern terminus of Highway 23 to I-35 at Grand Avenue in Duluth. Prior to 1997, Highway 23 continued farther into Duluth proper as a business route via the following local arteries: (Michigan Street/West 1st Street/East 2nd Street/East 3rd Street/East Superior Street.) The former northern terminus for Highway 23 was at Minnesota Highway 61 and 60th Avenue East in Duluth.
Highway 23 is 340-miles in length. This route runs diagonally across Minnesota from southwest to northeast, indirectly connecting Duluth to Sioux Falls.
Portions of Highway 23 have been upgraded to a four-lane expressway in Willmar, New London, Spicer, Cold Spring, and Waite Park (Saint Cloud).
50 miles of Highway 23 that travels through Carlton, Pine, and St. Louis counties is officially designated Veterans Evergreen Memorial Scenic Drive. The northern terminus for this designation is in the Gary-New Duluth neighborhood of Duluth (near the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 39 / McCuen Street). This 50 mile scenic route is dedicated to the veterans of Carlton, Pine, and St. Louis counties. The route passes nearby Jay Cooke State Park, as well as several waysides.
[edit] Notes
Minnesota State Highway 23 has the rare distinction of being a state highway that passes through another state. At 133rd Avenue West, the southern edge of Duluth, Hwy. 23 crosses the St. Louis River into Wisconsin for half a mile before re-entering Minnesota. On some maps, this section is designated "WISC-23", despite there being another Highway 23 in southern Wisconsin. There is no signage, however, along the route that indicates that the road is even in Wisconsin at all. Nearby is the junction of Hwy. 23 with Minn. Hwy. 210 and Jay Cooke State Park.
