Special routes of U.S. Route 2

There are a number of special routes of U.S. Route 2. These special routes connect U.S. Route 2 to downtown areas, bypass city centers or provide alternate routes around an area.

U.S. Route 2
Highway system

Business routes

Williston, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business
LocationWilliston, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business (US 2 Bus.) in Williston, North Dakota, is a route that goes into the downtown area of Williston. This was formerly also signed as U.S. Route 85 Business.

Minot, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business
LocationMinot, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business (US 2 Bus.) in Minot begins at US 2 and US 52. US 2 is a bypass of the downtown area while US 2 Bus. goes through the downtown area. It intersects US 83 and a connector leading to US 52 before returning to US 2 east of downtown Minot.

Grand Forks, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business
LocationGrand Forks, North Dakota

U.S. Highway 2 Business (US 2 Bus.) begins at US 2 near US 2's intersection with US 81 Bus. US 2 Bus. continues to the southeast, passing through the town square of Grand Forks and intersecting ND 297. US 2 Bus. then enters Minnesota before terminating at US 2 in East Grand Forks.

Ironwood, Michigan
Main article: Business US 2 in Ironwood, Michigan

Business US Highway 2
LocationIronwood
Length1.270 mi[1] (2.044 km)
ExistedAugust 1942[2]–present

Business US Highway 2 (Bus. US 2) is a 1.27-mile (2.04 km) business route running through Ironwood, Michigan, to the Wisconsin state line on the Montreal River. The western terminus of Bus. US 2 is at the Wisconsin state line between Hurley and Ironwood on Silver Street. The eastern terminus is at the intersection with US 2 at the corner of Cloverland Drive and Douglas Street north of downtown.[1]

The business route was created in August 1942 when former M‑54 in Ironwood was renumbered as a business loop of US 2.[2] It was originally a bi-state business connection before the Wisconsin Department of Transportation decommissioned Bus. US 2 in Hurley westward along State Trunk Highway 77 and northward along US 51 in 2002.[3][4]

Montpelier, Vermont

U.S. Route 2 Business
LocationMontpelier, Vermont
Length0.687 mi[5] (1.106 km)

U.S. Route 2 Business (US 2 Bus.) is a 0.687-mile (1.106 km)[5] business route of US 2 located in Montpelier, Vermont. The route is co-extensive with State Street and the lower half of Main Street. The road begins when US 2 turns right to bypass downtown Montpelier. By following US 2 Bus., one will pass by the majority of the State Offices, including the Vermont State House. However, this road is barely signed as being "US 2 Bus." and is even less referred to as such.

Alternate routes

Orono-Old Town, Maine

U.S. Route 2A
LocationOrono-Old Town, Maine

U.S. Route 2A (US 2A), also known as U.S. Route 2 Alternate (US 2 Alt.), in Orono and Old Town, Maine, is a 4.5-mile (7.2 km)[6] alternate route of US 2. The southernmost terminus of the route is at US 2 in Orono. The northern terminus is at SR 43 and US 2 in Old Town. US 2A connects US 2 to the University of Maine.

Aroostook County, Maine

U.S. Route 2A
LocationAroostook County, Maine

U.S. Route 2A (US 2A), also known as U.S. Route 2 Alternate (US 2 Alt.), is a 44-mile (71 km) alternate route that runs from US 2 in Macwahoc Plantation to US 2 and US 1 in Houlton.

Unlike US 2, which runs north from Macwahoc Plantation and parallels Interstate 95 from Sherman to Houlton, US 2A veers to the south and east to serve an isolated area of the state. It is also the Haynesville Woods road made famous by country music singer Dick Curless in his song "A Tombstone Every Mile".[7]

Browse numbered routes
← US 2ME→ SR 3

Truck routes

Superior, Wisconsin

Truck US Highway 2
LocationSuperior, Wisconsin

Truck US Highway 2 (Truck US 2) is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) truck route used to divert heavy truck traffic out of downtown Superior, Wisconsin. It begins at a roundabout on US 2 and follows local streets bypassing downtown Superior to the north before meeting US 53 at an intersection. It runs concurrently with US 53 until the route meets back up with US 2.

Major intersections
The entire route is in Superior, Douglas County.

mikmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 US 2 westWestern terminus
WIS 35
US 53Western end of US 53 concurrency
2.03.2 US 2 eastEastern terminus; eastern end of US 53 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

U.S. Route 2 Truck
LocationSt. Johnsbury, Vermont
Length7.0 mi[8] (11.3 km)

U.S. Route 2 Truck (US 2 Truck) is a 7.0-mile-long (11.3 km) truck route used to divert heavy truck traffic around the town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It begins at an interchange with Interstate 91 (I-91) and US 2 in St. Johnsbury. It travels to the south-southeast, running concurrently with I-91, in the southern part of the city. The two routes have an interchange with US 5. Then, they cross over the Passumpsic River and leave the city limits of St. Johnsbury. They reach an interchange with I-93. At this interchange, US 2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-91, and begins one with I-93 to the northeast. I-93/US 2 Truck travel concurrently for one exit, an interchange with Vermont Route 18 (VT 18). At this interchange, US 2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-93, and begins a brief one with VT 18. The two highways have an intersection with US 2 on the northeastern edge of the city limits of St. Johnsbury. At this intersection, both US 2 Truck and VT 18 terminate.[8]

Navigating a semi-trailer truck through downtown St. Johnsbury via US 2 is tricky at best and dangerous at worst, with several sharp turns on narrow, downtown streets with one very steep grade involved on Eastern Avenue. The truck route was designated in an attempt to alleviate the truck traffic in the congested downtown area, which includes the campus of St. Johnsbury Academy, a private secondary school. "St. Johnsbury officials still hope to persuade the state to increase weight limits on Interstates in an effort to keep 18-wheelers away from St. Johnsbury Academy. Selectmen contend heavy trucks passing through the Academy campus present a danger to students, and a nuisance for drivers."[9]

Since the truck route utilizes two Interstate Highways, the maximum weight limit allowed was the same as the Interstates in Vermont, which was 80,000 pounds (36,000 kg). This posed a problem for local trucks loaded with logs and wood chips. Their weight typically exceeds Interstate limits, but is still within the limits for state and U.S. highways. This created a situation where the most dangerous and difficult-to-handle trucks were forced to use the main US 2 route through downtown St. Johnsbury. Signs at the junctions of Truck Route 2 and US 2 warned commercial drivers that the weight limits were limited to those on the Interstate Highway System. Federal legislation authored by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) included Vermont in a pilot program to allow Interstate weight limits to be increased for a period of one year, with evaluation of the program to follow. Vermont's state legislature quickly authored a measure to allow the heavier limits, which was signed into law by the governor on January 13, 2010.[10]

Major intersections
The entire route is in Caledonia County.

Locationmi[8]kmExitDestinationsNotes
St. Johnsbury0.00.021 I-91 north / US 2 – Lyndonville, DanvilleWestern terminus; western end of I-91 concurrency
1.82.920 US 5 – Barnet
2.43.919 I-91 south / I-93 south – White River JunctionEastern end of I-91 concurrency; northern terminus of I-93; western end of I-93 concurrency
Waterford6.310.11 I-93 south / VT 18 north – WaterfordEastern end of I-93 concurrency; western end of VT 18 concurrency
St. Johnsbury7.011.3 VT 18 north to US 2 (Theodore Roosevelt Highway) – KirbyEastern terminus; northern terminus of VT 18; eastern end of VT 18 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Michigan Department of Transportation & Michigan Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships (2009). MDOT Physical Reference Finder Application (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  2. "US 2 Business Route Through Ironwood". The Bessemer Herald. August 14, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved November 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (2001). Official State Highway Map (Map) (2001–2002 ed.). 1:823,680. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. § E2. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection.
  4. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (2003). Official State Highway Map (Map) (2003–2004 ed.). 1:823,680. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. § E2.
  5. Traffic Research Unit (May 2013). "2012 (Route Log) AADTs for State Highways" (PDF). Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development Division, Vermont Agency of Transportation. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  6. Google (August 14, 2020). "Overview of US 2A in Orono, ME" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. "The Dick Curless Legacy". Discover Maine Magazine. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  8. Google (December 5, 2013). "Route of US 2 Truck" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. Reed, T (June 16, 2008). "St. J Officials Hope to Reroute Trucks". The Caledonian-Record.
  10. Curran, John (January 14, 2010). "Heavier Trucks To Get Free Ride". The Caledonian-Record. Associated Press.
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