Minnesota State Highway 68
Minnesota State Highway 68 (MN 68) is a 141.026-mile-long (226.959 km) highway in southwest and south-central Minnesota, which runs from South Dakota Highway 22 at the South Dakota state line near Canby, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 60 in South Bend Township near Mankato.
Trunk Highway 68 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
MN 68 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MnDOT | ||||
| Length | 141.026 mi[1] (226.959 km) | |||
| Existed | 1920–present | |||
| Tourist routes | Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  SD 22 at Fortier Township,at Minnesota — South Dakota state line | |||
 US 75 at Canby
  US 14 / MN 15 at New Ulm | ||||
| East end |   US 169 / MN 60 near Mankato | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Minnesota | |||
| Counties | Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Brown, Blue Earth | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Route description
State Highway 68 serves as an east–west route in southwest and south-central Minnesota between Canby, Minneota, Marshall, Morgan, Sleepy Eye, New Ulm, and Mankato.
Minneopa State Park is located five miles (8 km) west of Mankato. The park entrance is located on Highway 68 near its intersection with U.S. Highway 169.[2]
Highway 68 has concurrencies with:
- U.S. Highway 59, in Marshall.
- State Highway 19, in and east of Marshall.
- U.S. Highway 71, in Redwood County.
- U.S. Highway 14, west of New Ulm.
- State Highway 15, south of New Ulm.
History
Highway
Trunk Highway 272 | |
|---|---|
| Location | East of Marshall to Morgan |
| Length | 36 mi (58 km) |
| Existed | 1949–1963 |
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Trunk Highway 93 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Morgan to North of Sleepy Eye |
| Length | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Existed | 1934–1963 |
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Trunk Highway 83 | |
|---|---|
| Location | South of New Ulm to Mankato |
| Length | 25 mi (40 km) |
| Existed | 1934–1963 |
Highway 68 was authorized in 1920 between Canby and Marshall.[3]
Its western terminus was extended to the South Dakota state line in 1934.
In 1963, Highway 68 was expanded easterly between Marshall and Mankato by consolidating former State Highway 272, State Highway 93, and State Highway 83, and re-numbering them 68.[4]
Highway 68 was paved from Marshall to Canby by 1940. Many remaining sections of the present day Highway 68 were still gravel by 1953. The present day route was completely paved by 1960.[4]
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Medicine | Fortier Township | 0.000 | 0.000 | SD 22 – Clear Lake | Western terminus; Continuation into South Dakota |
| Canby | 8.926 | 14.365 | US 75 | ||
| Lyon | Marshall | 38.653 | 62.206 |   US 59 north | Western end of US 59 concurrency |
| 39.214 | 63.109 |     US 59 south / MN 19 west | Eastern end of US 59 concurrency; western end of MN 19 concurrency | ||
 MN 23 – Pipestone, Granite Falls | |||||
| Redwood | Westline Township | 51.055 | 82.165 |  MN 19 east – Redwood Falls | Eastern end of MN 19 concurrency |
| New Avon Township | 76.321 | 122.827 |  US 71 south – Windom | Western end of US 71 concurrency | |
| 76.820 | 123.630 | US 71 north – Redwood Falls | Eastern end of US 71 concurrency | ||
| Morgan | 86.924 | 139.891 |  MN 67 west – Redwood Falls | Eastern terminus of MN 67 | |
| Brown | Home Township | 99.010 | 159.341 |   MN 4 north – Fairfax | Western end of MN 4 concurrency |
| Sleepy Eye | 102.034 | 164.208 |   MN 4 south / US 14 west | Eastern end of MN 4 concurrency; western end of US 14 concurrency | |
| New Ulm | 115.842 | 186.430 |  US 14 east / MN 15 north / Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway – Mankato, Winthrop | Eastern end of US 14 concurrency; western end of MN 15 concurrency | |
| Cottonwood Township | 119.708 | 192.651 | MN 15 south – Madelia | Eastern end of MN 15 concurrency | |
| Blue Earth | South Bend Township | 141.228 | 227.284 | US 169 / MN 60 / Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway – Mankato | Eastern terminus |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- "Statewide Logpoint Listing" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- Minnesota DNR web page for Minneopa State Park - Link
- Minnesota State Legislature (2010). "§ 161.114, Constitutional Trunk Highways". Minnesota Statutes. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- Riner, Steve. "Details of routes 51–75". The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Retrieved October 26, 2010.