Editing Interstate 535

{{short description|Interstate Highway in Wisconsin and Minnesota}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=I
|route=535
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=250|frame-lat=46.747|frame-long=-92.100|zoom=12|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 535}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-535 highlighted in red
|length_mi=2.78
|length_ref=<ref name=WI5/><ref name=logpoint1/>
|established=1971<ref name=CL6980/>
|spur_type=I
|spur_of=35
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a=5th Street in [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior, WI]]
|junction={{plainlist|<!-- Major junctions only; only 10 most major intersections and cities belong here; please read [[WP:USRD/STDS]] for more info -->
*{{jct|state=WI|US|53|WI|35}} in Superior, WI
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=MN|I|35|US|53}} in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth, MN]]
|states=[[Wisconsin]], [[Minnesota]]
|counties='''WI:''' [[Douglas County, Wisconsin|Douglas]]<br/>'''MN:''' [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|St. Louis]]
|system1={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=MN}}
|system2={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=WI}}
|browse={{mn browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=494|route=MN|next_type=MN|next_route=610}}{{wi browse|previous_type=WI|previous_route=441|route=WI|next_type=I|next_route=794}}
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;535''' ('''I-535''') is a {{convert|2.78|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] spur route of [[Interstate 35|I-35]] in the US states of [[Minnesota]] and [[Wisconsin]]. It is paired with [[U.S. Route 53|U.S. Highway 53]] (US&nbsp;53) along its entire route. The Interstate was part of the original 1956 [[Interstate Highway System]] and was completed in 1971. Since then, weight limits have been added to the [[Blatnik Bridge]] that carries the highway over [[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis Bay]] between [[Superior, Wisconsin]], and [[Duluth, Minnesota]].

==Route description==
I-535 begins in the city of [[Superior, Wisconsin]], at the junction of US&nbsp;53 and [[Wisconsin Highway 35|State Trunk Highway 35]] (WIS&nbsp;35) and continues northwest across the [[Blatnik Bridge]] over the [[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis Bay]] of [[Lake Superior]]. The freeway crosses from Wisconsin into Minnesota on the bridge and then meets an interchange for Garfield Avenue and the Port Terminal in the city of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]. I-535 ends at the junction of US&nbsp;53 and I-35, known locally as the "[[Can of Worms (Minnesota interchange)|Can of Worms]]" interchange, which features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight, and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.<ref name="google_canofworms">{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Duluth+MN&ll=46.765515,-92.12255&spn=0.005762,0.01663&t=h |title = Duluth, MN |access-date = February 22, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2007, the [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] (WisDOT) surveys measured a traffic along their segment of I-535 at 21,800–29,500&nbsp;vehicles daily, [[annual average daily traffic|on average]].<ref name=2007-WI-AADT-Superior>{{cite map |author= Wisconsin Department of Transportation |title= City of Superior |sheet= 1 |url= http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/counts/docs/douglas/superior2007pt1.pdf |format= PDF |year= 2007 |location= Madison |publisher= Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date= September 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120322030003/http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/counts/docs/douglas/superior2007pt1.pdf |archive-date= March 22, 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] (MnDOT) measured 29,500&nbsp;vehicles daily in their 2009&nbsp;survey.<ref name=2010-MN-AADT>{{cite map |url= http://www.dot.state.mn.us/traffic/data/maps/trunkhighway/2009/cities_over_5000/duluth3.pdf |format= PDF |author= Minnesota Department of Transportation |title= TH Traffic Volumes, City of Duluth |sheet= 3 |year= 2006 |location= St. Paul |publisher= Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date= September 18, 2011}}</ref> As an Interstate Highway, I-535 is a part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]], a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name=NHS>{{cite web |last= Adderly |first= Kevin |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515191424/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |title= The National Highway System |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |date= August 26, 2010 |access-date= January 1, 2011}}</ref> I-535 is part of the [[Falls-to-Falls Corridor]], a federally recognized trade corridor spanning from [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]]–[[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin]], to [[International Falls, Minnesota]]–[[Fort Frances, Ontario]].

==History==
I-535 was authorized in 1957 as part of the original [[Interstate Highway System]].<ref name=IHS57>{{cite map |author= Bureau of Public Roads |url= http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_October_17,_1957.jpg |title= Routes to be Added to the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |location= Washington, DC |publisher= Bureau of Public Roads |date= October 17, 1957 |access-date= September 18, 2011 |via= [[Wikimedia Commons]] }}</ref> The [[Blatnik Bridge]] was opened in 1961,<ref name=CL6981>{{cite web |author= District 1 Staff |title= Construction Log 6981 |url= http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/data/counties/county69/6981.pdf |publisher= Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date= September 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120914220942/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/data/counties/county69/6981.pdf |archive-date= September 14, 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> and the ramps to I-35 were completed in 1971.<ref name=CL6980>{{cite web |author= District 1 Staff |title= Construction Log 6980 |url= http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/data/counties/county69/6980.pdf |publisher= Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date= September 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120914221003/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/data/counties/county69/6980.pdf |archive-date= September 14, 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> I-535 and the Blatnik Bridge replaced a swinging toll bridge at generally the same location. That bridge existed from 1897 to 1962 and carried US&nbsp;53 from Connor's Point in Superior to Garfield Avenue in Duluth.<ref>{{cite news |last = Perrine |first = Matthew R. |date = May 18, 2007 |title = Discover Duluth: Interstate Bridge |url = https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/2012632-discover-duluth-interstate-bridge |work = Duluth News Tribune |access-date = September 13, 2020 }}</ref>

In November 2011, both MnDOT and WisDOT installed new signs to remind drivers that trucks over {{convert|40|ST|t}} [[gross vehicle weight]] cannot use the Blatnik Bridge; these vehicles will be rerouted to the nearby [[Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge|Bong Bridge]]. According to the press release, permitted, overweight vehicles have been restricted from using the Blatnik Bridge since early 2008 when inspections showed that corrosion and time were starting to affect the structure. Transportation officials say that the bridge is aging, and restriction of overweight vehicles will help to extend the life of the bridge. Drivers who disregard the posted weight limits will be ticketed.<ref name=burns-2011-11-12>{{cite web |last= Burns |first= Krista |url= http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/nw-wisconsin/Load-Limit-Signs-on-Blatnik-Bridge-134250238.html |title= Load Limit Signs on Blatnik Bridge |publisher= [[KBJR-TV]]/[[KDLH-TV]] |location= Duluth, MN |date= November 21, 2011 |access-date= December 10, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120524054901/http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/nw-wisconsin/Load-Limit-Signs-on-Blatnik-Bridge-134250238.html |archive-date= May 24, 2012 }}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{Jcttop|length_ref={{#tag:ref|Distance measurements reset at the state line.<ref name=WI5>{{cite book |author= Region 5 Staff |publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation |title=State Trunk Highway Log for Region 5 |page=680 |date= May 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=logpoint1>{{cite web |author=District 1 Staff |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/d1.pdf |title=Trunk Highway Logpoint Listing: Construction District 1 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |date=August 20, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204174552/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/logpoint/d1.pdf |archive-date=December 4, 2008 }}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}|unnum=yes|state_col=state}}
{{WIint
|sspan=2
|county=Douglas
|cspan=2
|location=Superior
|lspan=2
|mile=0.00
|type= 
|road=Fifth Street, Hammond Avenue
|notes=Roadway continues to the south as Hammond Avenue; southern end of freeway}}
{{WIint
|mile=0.12
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|53|dir1=south|US|2|dir2=east|to2=yes}}<br/>{{jct|state=WI|WI|35|dir1=south|US|2|dir2=west|to2=yes}}
|notes=Southern end of US 53 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{jctbridge
|river_wide=yes
|river=[[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis Bay]]
|mile=1.21
|mile2=0.000
|line=y
|bridge=[[John A. Blatnik Bridge|Blatnik Bridge]]<br>Minnesota–Wisconsin state line
}}
{{MNint
|sspan=4
|county=St. Louis
|cspan=4
|location=Duluth
|lspan=4
|mile=0.536
|mile2=0.705
|road=Garfield Avenue&nbsp;– [[Port Terminal, Duluth|Port Terminal]]
|notes=
}}
{{MNint
|mile=1.429
|mile2=1.457
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=MN|I|35|Tour|LSCT|dir1=north|to3=to|MN|61}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance, I-35 exit 255
}}
{{MNint
|mile=1.571
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=MN|I|35|Tour|LSCT|dir1=south|city1=Minneapolis|city2=Saint Paul}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-35 exit 255
}}
{{MNint
|mile=none
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MN|US|53|dir1=north|name1=21st Avenue West|city1=Virginia}}
|notes=Northern end of US 53 concurrency; Can of Worms interchange
}}
{{jctbtm|col=7|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Interstate 535}}
*{{Osmrelation-inline|1637692|Interstate 535}}
*[http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys400-894.html#I-535 I-535 at Wisconsin Highways]
*[http://www.steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r288-694.htm#535 I-535 at The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page]
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}

{{3di|35}}

[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|35-5]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Minnesota|35-5]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Wisconsin|35-5]]
[[Category:Interstate 35|5]]
[[Category:Transportation in Duluth, Minnesota]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 53]]
[[Category:Transportation in St. Louis County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Transportation in Douglas County, Wisconsin]]