Interstate 535

Interstate 535
Interstate 535 highlighted in red
Route information
Length:	2.78 mi (4.47 km)
Existed:	1971 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 53 / WIS 35 in Superior, WI
North end:	I-35 / US 53 in Duluth, MN
Location
States:	Wisconsin, Minnesota
Counties:	WI: Douglas MN: Saint Louis
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business Minnesota Trunk Highways Interstate • US • State • Legislative routes Wisconsin Highways Interstates • U.S. • State County • Bannered • Rustic ← I-494 MN MN 610 → ← WIS 441 WI I-794 →

Interstate 535 (I-535) is a 2.78 miles (4.47 km) long Interstate Highway spur route of Interstate 35 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, in the United States. It is paired with U.S. Highway 53 (US 53) along its entire route.

Route description

I-535 begins in the city of Superior, at the junction of US 53 and Wisconsin Highway 35 (WIS 35) and continues northwest across the John Blatnik Bridge over the 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. I-535 ends at the junction of US 53 and I-35 known locally as the "Can of Worms" interchange, which features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight, and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.

I-535 is the shortest Interstate in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. It also is the only Interstate in the two states with no exit numbers. I-535 in Wisconsin is one of the few instances in the United States of a three-digit Interstate Highway entering a state that its parent two-digit Interstate does not enter. Other examples include Interstate 275 near Cincinnati, Ohio, Interstate 287, and Interstate 129.

In 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) surveys measured an annual average daily traffic along their segment of I-535 at 21,800–29,500 vehicles daily. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) measured 29,500 vehicles daily in their 2009 survey. As an Interstate Highway, I-535 is a part of the National Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility. I-535 is part of the Falls-to-Falls Corridor, a federally-recognized trade corridor spanning from Eau Claire – Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to International Falls, Minnesota – Fort Frances, Ontario.

History

Interstate 535 was authorized in 1957 as part of the original Interstate Highway System. The Blatnik Bridge was opened in 1961, and the ramps to I-35 were completed in 1971.

I-535 and the Blatnik Bridge replaced a toll bridge at generally the same location.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2011, both Mn/DOT and WisDOT installed new signs to remind drivers that trucks over 40 short tons (36 t) gross vehicle weight cannot use the Blatnik Bridge; these vehicles will be rerouted to the nearby 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.

Exit list

All exits are unnumbered.

State	County	Location	Mile	km	Destinations	Notes
Wisconsin	Douglas	Superior	0.00	0.00	Fifth Street, Hammond Avenue	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			0.12	0.19	US 53 south / WIS 35 south	Southern end of US 53 concurrency southbound exit and northbound entrance
Saint Louis Bay			1.21 0.000	1.95 0.000	Blatnik Bridge Minnesota–Wisconsin state line
Minnesota	St. Louis	Duluth	0.536– 0.705	0.863– 1.135	Garfield Avenue – Port Terminal
			1.429– 1.457	2.300– 2.345	I-35 north to MN 61	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			1.571	2.528	I-35 south – Minneapolis, Saint Paul	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			1.571	2.528	US 53 north (21st Avenue West)	Northern end of US 53 concurrency; Can of Worms interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

External links

• Geographic data related to Interstate 535 at OpenStreetMap
• I-535 at Wisconsin Highways
• I-535 at The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page