Highway 75 runs north and south through Luverne. It is a major highway in the region. Many years of my life were spent along this road. My first house as an infant and young child was right along the road. My parents built a house along 75 south of town when I was17. My undergrad college in Moorhead was along 75. The University of Manitoba was right along 75, as was my first Winnipeg apartment, although it was called Pembina Highway north of the border. It was called the Palm to Pine Highway, as I think it started in Texas.
On April 15, Highway 75 through the center of Luverne will be closed for several months for resurfacing and new sewer pipes. This is described as progress. They culled 100 year old trees for the project. The MN road department has assured residents that homes and businesses along the route will not be hemmed in. We shall see. It will be huge problem for the marching band festival in September. Much of the diverted traffic will go on the Blue Mound Avenue, just off our street. I know this needs to be done, but what a huge pain to live through.
Any annoying road conconstruction by you this summer? What are your most sentimental highways?
Trail Baboon 
Naturally.
My kitchen is decorated with Route 66 signs and pictures.
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Perfect!
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I loved Highway 61 on the North Shore from the very first time I ever took it. That was many years ago, before the tunnels were blasted through Silver Creek Cliff. It’s wider, faster, and somewhat straighter now, but I think it’s even more dangerous. People are just in a hurry, and can’t drive the speed limit. They tailgate and make driving that beautiful road really stressful. I’ve gotten to the age in which I just want to slow down and see every tree, rock, and glint of sunlight on the lake. I’m probably the dangerous one, driving the speed limit and all that.
There is a state bicycle trail that is being built through Northfield and Dundas now. It comes into Northfield on the northeast corner, near the Carleton Arboretum. Then it crosses Highway 19 and follows Spring Creek Road down to the intersection of Wall Street. I know people who live in that neighborhood. They tried and tried to get them to put the trail somewhere else. The City was going to remove old growth pines near one of the two cemeteries there, but the community outcry stopped that massacre. The trail planners didn’t want to harm the golf course, so they directed the trail along Spring Creek Road, removing trees, plants, and landscaping features. A friend of mine had trees and all her landscaping removed. They removed a culvert and put in a larger one. Flow will be accelerated in Spring Creek, and now my friend fears that her house will be in danger of flooding. I’m talking about the million dollar homes near the golf course – one of the most expensive neighborhoods in town. The trail will continue south of there, cut through busy neighborhoods and come out near Hwy 3. It will cross Hwy3, then follow the existing Mill Towns State Trail which comes out a few blocks from where I live. I always support trails. I see them as progress, and as an alternative way of transportation. If you live in Dundas, you can ride a bike to work in Northfield. In Northfield, you can ride a bike just about anywhere, and people do. Soon you will be able to ride a bike from Red Wing to Mankato on this trail. It will join the Sakatah Trail in Faribault. I love trails and trail systems like this, but the way in which they are putting it through Northfield, in the face of lots of unhappy people, surprises me. They could have kept it just east of Northfield and put it through farm land – it would have been much easier and less expensive.
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I had to think a minute about sentimental highways but it came to me. The Honoapiilani Highway (I don’t know what number it holds) that goes west from the Maui airport to the Kaanapali side of the island is sentimental for me. Almost always the drive was accompanied by sunny days, blue skies and sparkling seas. It didn’t hurt that when I was driving this on my own, 95% of the time it was in a convertible with the top down!
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been there done that
it is great
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The road construction that will annoy me this summer is already annoying me as it has begun already. The Nicollet bridge over Minnehaha Creek is being re-done… they keep using the word “rehabilitated”. It’s a very small stretch but it’s one of my usual routes and will be closed until fall of 2027. I believe that the parkway underneath will also be closed, although they say the trails will be open. Not sure why it’s safe for hikers/bikers but not for cars. Hmmmmm.
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Rise and Shine, Baboons,
I probably have 3 sentimental highways:
Highway 87 from Fountain HIlls AZ to Payson AZ, from the foothills into the Superstition Mountains. We drove that many times during our Arizona winters and enjoyed the scenery, the elevation, and the barbecue place in Payson.
Renee’s Highway 75 from LeMars, IA to Pipestone, MN to see our grandparents. When we were little this was a wonderful adventure. Dad would tell us as we got into Pipestone that Grandma had climbed the watertower to wave at us. She lived across the street from that landmark. Pipestone also had a swimming pool in the park where the family picnicked. That pool was our beloved destination.
Lincoln Highway from Ames, Iowa to Nevada, Iowa to visit Dad’s family we had our landmarks there, too, including Iowa State University, his cousin’s farm, the railroad, and places he had lived. There is a novel called Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles about a stretch further west.
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And then there is this from the Highway Men. Willie is the only one left.
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Happy Birthday, Krista!
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