Minnesota State Highway 77

Trunk Highway 77
Cedar Avenue
Route information
Maintained by Mn/DOT
Length:	11 mi[1] (18 km)
Existed:	1949, 1980[1] – present
Major junctions
South end:	138th Street in Apple Valley, at Dakota County Road 23, near Dakota County Road 42
	I-35E at Apple Valley / Eagan MN 13 at Eagan I-494 , MN 5 at Bloomington
North end:	MN 62 and Hennepin C.R. 152 in Minneapolis
Location
Counties:	Dakota, Hennepin
Highway system
Minnesota Trunk Highways Interstate • U.S. • State Inter-County • County roads • Legislative routes ← MN 76 MN 78 →

Minnesota State Highway 77 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with 138th Street (near Dakota County Road 42) in Apple Valley and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with State Highway 62 in Minneapolis. The route is 11 miles (18 km) in length. Highway 77 is also known as Cedar Avenue.

The southern end of Highway 77 continues in Apple Valley as Dakota County Road 23 (Cedar Avenue). At the north end, Highway 77 continues in Minneapolis as Hennepin County Road 152 (Cedar Avenue).

Route description

State Highway 77 serves as a north–south route between the cities of Apple Valley, Eagan, Bloomington, Richfield, and Minneapolis. The route is constructed to freeway standards over its entire length. Most of the route is posted 65 MPH speed limit. The route is located in Dakota County and Hennepin County.

Highway 77 is concurrent with the right of way of Cedar Avenue between County 38 (McAndrews Road) in Apple Valley and Highway 62 in south Minneapolis.

South of Old Shakopee Road, which is just north of the Minnesota River, Highway 77 is co-signed "Cedar Avenue" at all interchanges.

The route crosses the Minnesota River at the Cedar Avenue Bridge between Bloomington and Eagan.

The most notable landmark along the length of the route is the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, which sits just northeast of the junction of Highway 77 and Interstate 494.

History

State Highway 77 was authorized in 1949; and was originally numbered 36 from 1949 to 1980 as part of State Highway 36. The section of the route between Highway 13 at Eagan and Highway 62 at Minneapolis was renumbered 77 in 1980. Present day State Highway 36 still runs from Roseville to Stillwater.

From 1980 to 1985, the southern terminus of Highway 77 was previously at its junction with Interstate 35E at the Apple Valley / Eagan boundary line.

From 1985 to 1994, the southern portion of Highway 77 previously followed McAndrews Road (present day County 38) eastbound along its route to the Minnesota Zoo, where the route had its then southern terminus. In 1985, Highway 77's mile markers were calibrated with "Mile 0" at the Zoo. In the present day, the mile markers are calibrated with the zero point at the intersection of Dakota County Roads 23 and 42.

Much of the original Cedar Avenue is still in existence, beginning at its intersection with Washington Avenue at the University of Minnesota and ending in Northfield, with the only major change being the upgrade of Highway 77 as a freeway. Cedar Avenue is signed as Galaxie Avenue and Foliage Avenue between Eureka Township and Northfield.

Exit list

County	Location	Mile[2]	Destinations	Notes
Dakota	Apple Valley	1.571	CR 38 – Zoo
		1.977	127th Street, Palomino Drive	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Eagan	2.846	I-35E – St. Paul, Albert Lea
		3.692	CR 32 (Cliff Road)
		4.707	CR 30 (Diffley Road)
		5.446	MN 13 – St. Paul, Shakopee
Hennepin	Bloomington	7.587	CR 1 (Old Shakopee Road)
		8.415	Killebrew Drive, Lindau Lane
		9.081	I-494 / MN 5
		10.097	Diagonal Boulevard	Southbound exit and entrance
	Richfield	10.559	CR 53 (66th Street) / 63rd Street
	Minneapolis	11.393	MN 62

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Riner, Steve. "Details of Routes 76-100". The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. http://www.steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r76-100.htm. Retrieved April 3, 2006. 
2. ^ "Trunk Highway Logpoint Listing - Construction District 5". Minnesota Department of Transportation. June 25, 2009. http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/metrolpt.pdf. Retrieved 2010=04-27.