U.S. Route 52

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U.S. Route 52
Length:	2072 mi[1] (3335 km)
Formed:	1926[1]
West end:	SK 39 at Portal, ND
Major junctions:	I-35W in Minneapolis, MN I-35E in St. Paul, MN I-90 at Rochester, MN I-80 at Joliet, IL I-65/I-69/I-70 in Indianapolis, IN I-74/I-75 in Cincinnati, OH I-64 at Huntington, WV I-40 in Winston-Salem, NC I-85 in Spencer, NC I-95 near Florence, SC
South end:	I-26/US 17 in Charleston, SC
United States Numbered Highways U.S. Routes - Bannered - Divided - Replaced

U.S. Route 52 (abbreviated U.S. 52 or US 52) is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S. Highways, US 52 primarily follows a northwest-southeast route, and is signed north-south or east-west depending on the local orientation of the route.

[edit] Termini

The highway's northwestern terminus is at Portal, North Dakota on the Canadian border, where it continues as Saskatchewan Highway 39. The southeastern terminus of US 52 is in Charleston, South Carolina, where it becomes E. Bay Street along the Charleston Harbor.

[edit] States traversed

U.S. Route 52 passes through the following states:

[edit] North Dakota

In North Dakota, US 52 continues from Saskatchewan Highway 39 from the Canada-United States border at North Portal, Saskatchewan and Portal, North Dakota to the Red River in Fargo, a distance of 361 miles (581 km). US 52 passes through Burke, Ward, McHenry, Pierce, Sheridan, Wells, Foster, Stutsman, Barnes, and Cass counties.

US 52 is a two lane highway in most areas, except for four lane segments between Burlington and Minot, Jamestown and Buchanan, and Jamestown and Fargo. Some segments in Fargo are six lanes.

US 52 is co-signed with US 2 near Minot, where it also intersects with US 83. US 52 is also co-signed with US 281 for 44 miles (71 km) between Jamestown and Carrington. The 93.5 miles (150 km) between Jamestown and Fargo are co-signed with Interstate 94.

[edit] Minnesota

Main article: U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota

In the state of Minnesota, U.S. 52 enters the state with Interstate 94 at Fargo, North Dakota and follows the Interstate southeast all the way to the Twin Cities. From there, it continues on its own southeast to Rochester and the Iowa line. South of the Twin Cities and through Rochester to Interstate 90, the road is being gradually improved to a freeway. From the Twin Cities to the North Dakota border, it is poorly signed.

[edit] Iowa

U.S. 52 enters Iowa north of the unincorporated community of Burr Oak. It passes on the west side of Decorah. At Calmar the road turns to a southwest-northeast orientation. It joins with U.S. Route 18 just to the west of Postville. The two highways are multiplexed until a point east of the unincorporated community of Froelich. U.S. 52 roughly parallels the Mississippi River for the rest of its path through Iowa. At Luxemburg it joins with Iowa Highway 3. The two highways run together to downtown Dubuque.

South of Dubuque U.S. 52 and U.S. Highway 61 share a freeway routing until 52 departs in Key West to remain close to the Mississippi River. Just west of Sabula the highway turns to an east-west orientation at the junction of Iowa Highway 64 and the northern terminus of U.S. Route 67. In Sabula, the highway becomes a 'wrong way' road. Northbound traffic travels south, and vice versa, from Sabula to the Savanna-Sabula Bridge, where U.S. 52 crosses into Illinois.

The entire length of U.S. 52 in Iowa is located within the unglaciated Driftless Area.

[edit] Illinois

In Illinois, U.S. 52 runs from the Savanna-Sabula Bridge with Iowa Highway 64 and Illinois Route 64 at Savanna southeast to the Indiana state line east of Watseka, multiplexed with U.S. Route 24.

U.S. 52 passes through the cities of Dixon, Amboy and Mendota. It then passes through the far southern portion of Joliet, avoiding the city of Chicago proper. It joins with U.S. Route 45 through Kankakee, and with U.S. Route 24 east of Watseka.

[edit] Indiana

U.S. 52 as it crosses the Wabash River between Lafayette, Indiana and West Lafayette, Indiana.

In Indiana, U.S. 52 runs in a northwest-southeast direction. It passes through Lafayette, Indiana and state capital Indianapolis, Indiana. North of Indianapolis, U.S. 52 runs along the same general area as, and is considered an alternative route to, Interstate 65. South of Indianapolis, it is considered an alternative to Interstate 74 before joining (co-signed) Interstate 74 on the way to Cincinnati, Ohio.

[edit] Ohio

U.S. 52 enters Ohio concurrently with Interstate 74 in northwestern Hamilton County. U.S. 52 then parallels Interstate 75 from Interstate 74's terminus into and through downtown Cincinnati. It skirts the Cincinnati riverfront along Pete Rose Way, in the vicinity of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park. From this point eastward, U.S. 52 generally follows the Ohio River. There is a brief multiplex with Interstate 275 near California, a suburb of Cincinnati. Around Portsmouth and Ironton U.S. 52 has several freeway or expressway sections. At Chesapeake U.S. 52 crosses the Ohio River into Huntington, West Virginia.

[edit] Kentucky

U.S. 52 enters Kentucky twice along the Williamson, West Virginia bypass, in order to prevent the blasting of several hillsides in West Virginia. These stretches were completed in 1996 as part of the Corridor G (U.S. Route 119) project. The speed limit in West Virginia is 65 MPH, but drops to 55 MPH along the Kentucky portions.

[edit] West Virginia

Main article: U.S. Route 52 in West Virginia

US 52 serves western and southern portions of West Virginia, running from Huntington to Bluefield. The highway is undergoing a major expansion project as of 2007.

[edit] Virginia

Main article: U.S. Route 52 in Virginia

In Virginia, US 52 closely follows Interstate 77. It enters southwestern Virginia near Bluefield and passes through Wytheville and Hillsville before leaving the state south of Cana.

[edit] North Carolina

The North-South directions of US 52 in Winston-Salem.

US 52 enters North Carolina at Mount Airy. Through the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina US 52 mostly a limited access freeway. The route shares Interstate 85 through Salisbury, North Carolina and joins Interstate 85 Business into Lexington, North Carolina. The segment of US 52 from Interstate 40 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Lexington is currently being upgraded to Interstate highway standards for the future Interstate 285 corridor. The segment from northern Winston-Salem to just south of Mount Airy is expected to form part of the Interstate 74 corridor through North Carolina.

South of the Triad area after splitting from Interstate 85 in Salisbury, US 52 is typically a two-lane route linking some of the state's smaller cities and towns. Albemarle is the largest municipality along this segment of US 52 to the South Carolina state line.

[edit] South Carolina

U.S. 52 enters South Carolina northeast of Cheraw. From Darlington southward it is an expressway, passing through Florence, Lake City, Kingstree, Moncks Corner, and North Charleston before U.S. 52's terminus at East Bay Street in Charleston.

[edit] Major intersections

Along U.S. 52's route, there are many places where the route crosses an Interstate (intersection), and many places where U.S. 52 shares its route with an Interstate (multiplex).

• Interstate 94 multiplex between Jamestown, North Dakota and St. Paul, Minnesota (signed multiplex in North Dakota, unsigned in Minnesota)
• Interstate 29 in Fargo, North Dakota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 694 multiplex in Minneapolis, Minnesota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 494 in Maple Grove, Minnesota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 394 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 35W in Minneapolis, Minnesota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 35E multiplex in St. Paul, Minnesota (while multiplexed with I-94)
• Interstate 494 in South St. Paul, Minnesota
• Interstate 90 near Rochester, Minnesota
• Interstate 88 in Dixon, Illinois
• Interstate 39 in Troy Grove, Illinois
• Interstate 55 in Joliet, Illinois
• Interstate 80 in Joliet, Illinois
• Interstate 57 in Kankakee, Illinois
• Interstate 65 multiplex between Lebanon, Indiana and Zionsville, Indiana
• Interstate 865 multiplex in Zionsville, Indiana
• Interstate 465 multiplex between Zionsville, Indiana and Warren Park, Indiana
• Interstate 69 in Indianapolis, Indiana (while multiplexed with I-465)
• Interstate 70 in Indianapolis, Indiana (while multiplexed with I-465)
• Interstate 74 multiplex between the Indiana/Ohio border and Cincinnati, Ohio
• Interstate 275 multiplex in Miamitown, Ohio (while multiplexed with I-74)
• Interstate 75 brief multiplex in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Interstate 275 brief multiplex near California, Ohio
• Interstate 64 multiplex between Huntington, West Virginia and Kenova, West Virginia
• Interstate 77 multiplex between Bluefield, West Virginia and Rocky Gap, Virginia
• Interstate 81 multiplex between Wytheville, Virginia and Fort Chiswell, Virginia (with Interstate 77)
• Interstate 74 in Mount Airy, North Carolina
• Interstate 40 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Interstate 85 multiplex between Lexington, North Carolina and Salisbury, North Carolina
• Interstate 95 in Florence, South Carolina

[edit] Notes

US Highway 52 crosses the Mississippi River at Savanna, Illinois and Sabula, Iowa. Shown here is the Savanna-Sabula Bridge.

• Historically, US 52 was routed along University Avenue between Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the 1980s and 1990s, the highway was gradually shifted onto its present route along Interstate 94. However, there was a gap in the definition of the highway for a few years until 1995. Since then, it has been routed along the interstate between the Twin Cities, although as of 2007, there was still a sign on University Avenue entering Hennepin County telling motorists to follow County Highways 36 and 37 to reach US 52 -- which kept them on University, then on 4th St. for historic westbound US 52. Historic westbound US 52 then crossed the Central Avenue bridge (current Minnesota State Highway 65) and turned onto the current routing of County Highway 81 northwest to Osseo. It then followed the current route of U.S. Highway 169 north to Anoka.

• In Rochester, Minnesota, US 52 was recently expanded to six lanes. Long term plans have US 52 from St. Paul to Interstate 90 becoming a freeway, and some have suggested that when the conversion is complete, the freeway should become a spur route for Interstate 90. Currently, Interstate 90 has no spur routes in Minnesota. Also, US 52's route through Rochester has exit numbers, presently the only non-Interstate in Minnesota to have them.
  • Rochester US 52 Project Note: This project was completed in the fall of 2005.
  • Highways and Gas Stations- US 52 End of Construction Page

• North of Dubuque, Iowa, US 52 is routed on to a narrow and often winding road. While scenic, the road has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years owing to this nature.

• US 52 is one of five U.S. highways to cross the Mississippi River more than once. It crosses the river three times: at Minneapolis via the Dartmouth Bridge, at St. Paul by the Lafayette Bridge, and between Iowa and Illinois by the Savanna-Sabula Bridge. (The others are U.S. Route 61, which crosses the Mississippi four times, U.S. Route 169, which crosses three times, and U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 67, which each cross two times.)

• US 52 passes through Mount Airy, North Carolina, the childhood home of American actor Andy Griffith, and the inspiration for the fictional community Mayberry (the setting of The Andy Griffith Show). The US 52 bypass around the town is named Andy Griffith Parkway.

[edit] See also

• Interstate 74

[edit] Related U.S. routes

• U.S. Highway 152
• U.S. Highway 52 Spur in Charleston, SC.

[edit] External links

• Illinois Highway Ends: US 52
• Indiana Highway Ends: US 52

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Droz, Robert V. U.S. Highways : From US 1 to (US 830). URL accessed 02:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC).

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