Minnesota State Highway 197

Trunk Highway 197
Route information
Maintained by Mn/DOT
Length:	6.997 mi[1] (11.261 km)
Existed:	1985 – present
Major junctions
South end:	U.S. 2 / U.S. 71 near Bemidji
North end:	U.S. 2 / U.S. 71 at Bemidji
Location
Counties:	Beltrami
Highway system
Minnesota Trunk Highways Interstate • U.S. • State Inter-County • County roads • Legislative routes ← MN 194 MN 200 →

Minnesota State Highway 197 is a highway in northwest Minnesota, which runs from its first interchange with U.S. Highways 2 and 71 on the southeast edge of Bemidji and continues north and then west to its second interchange with U.S. Highways 2 and 71 on the northwest edge of Bemidji.

The route is 7 miles (11 km) in length and runs through the heart of the city of Bemidji.

Highway 197 is also known as Washington Avenue, Bemidji Avenue, and Paul Bunyan Drive at various points throughout its route.

Route description

Highway 197 serves as a north–south and an east–west business route through the city of Bemidji. The roadway functions essentially as a business route for U.S. Highways 2 and 71.

Highway 197 passes in between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji on the south side of the city.

History

Highway 197 was originally numbered 2 and 71 as part of old U.S. Highways 2 and 71 through the city of Bemidji.^[2]

In the mid 1980s, the new Highway 2 / 71 four-lane bypass of Bemidji was constructed. The original route through the city was renumbered 197 at this time.^[2]

The original route through Bemidji (now 197) had been paved by the 1930s.^[2]

197 had been marked as "Highway 197 Thru City" on both ends. In 2004, the new signs no longer read "Thru City".^[2]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Beltrami County.

Location	Mile[1]	Destinations	Notes
Bemidji Township	0.000	US 2 / US 71	Interchange
	0.541	CR 11 west, CR 44 east (Carr Lake Road)
Mississippi River	2.805-2.844	Paul Bunyan Drive Bridge
Bemidji	6.130-6.138	US 71
	6.997	US 2	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/Former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Trunk Highway Log Point Listing - Construction District 2" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. August 23, 2010. http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/d2.pdf. Retrieved November 22, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Riner, Steve. "Details of routes 152-218". The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. http://www.steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r152-218.htm#197. Retrieved November 22, 2010. ^{[unreliable source]}