US Highway 2

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US Highway 2 road sign

map
Map of US Highway 2
Basic data
Overall length:  2579 mi / 4150 km
west section: 2119 mi / 3410 km
east section: 460 mi / 740 km
Opening:  1926
States: Washington
Idaho
Montana
North Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
New York
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
Starting point:  I-5.svg Everett, WA
End point:  I-95.svgat Houlton, ME
Important cities:  Spokane, WA
Grand Forks, ND
Duluth, MN

Burlington, VT
Montpelier, VT
Bangor, ME

The US Highway 2 is running in the east-west direction Highway through the northern part of the United States . It divides into a longer western section (3410 km) and a shorter eastern section (740 km). Both sections are connected by the trunk road system in southern Canada . Both sections together have a length of 4150 km. In contrast to most of the other highways, which have since been interrupted by the establishment of Interstate Highways or, for the most part, run on them today, the routing of both parts of Highway 2 still exists according to the original plan from 1926.

The western end point is the junction of Highway 2 with Interstate 5 not far from the Pacific coast in Everett north of Seattle in western Washington state . The eastern end of the western section is reached in St. Ignace , Michigan at the confluence with Interstate 75 . The western end point of the eastern section is on the Canadian border at Rouses Point in New York State . The eastern end of Highway 2 forms the junction with Interstate 95 at Houlton in eastern Maine .

The numbering indicates that Highway 2 is the northernmost east-west trunk road. Since it is a coast-to-coast connection, the numbering should actually end with a zero, but the intention was to avoid the name US Highway 0 .

course

The main crossings and junctions

The western section

State miles kilometre
Washington 331 533
Idaho 80 129
Montana 664 1,068
North Dakota 354 570
Minnesota 264 425
Wisconsin 120 193
Michigan 306 492
total 2119 3410

The western section connects the Pacific with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and runs essentially parallel to the route of the Great Northern Railway . Since this runs along the northern border of the USA, the name The Highline has also become popular for Highway 2.

The Adventure Cycling Association has laid out a 970 km route for cycle tourism along Highway 2. The most notable part of it is the 890 km stretch from Columbia Falls , Montana to Williston , North Dakota .

Washington

Highway 2 begins at the junction with Interstate 5 and Washington State Route 529 in Everett, 28 miles north of Seattle. About the 1236 m high Stevens Pass Highway 2 crossing the northernmost all-weather mountain pass through the Cascade Range ( Cascade Range ). Via Wenatchee , Spokane, the second largest city in Washington state, is reached on the further way in an easterly direction .

Northeast of Spokane, Highway 2 reaches Newport on the Pend Oreille River, the border between the states of Washington and Idaho .

Idaho

In Idaho, only the narrow strip of land called the Idaho Panhandle is crossed. Highway 2 now continues in an easterly direction along the Pend Oreille River to Lake Pend Oreille and the town of Sandpoint , where US Highway 95 joins from the south. Both highways now lead away from the bank in a northerly direction to Bonners Ferry . North of the city, Highway 2 branches off in an easterly direction from the joint route and after 25 km reaches the border between Idaho and Montana .

Montana

US 2 between Columbia Falls and West Glacier

Montana has by far the longest section. Highway 2 is a major thoroughfare for northern Montana. The road runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state, especially in its western half. Highway 2 passes through three Indian reservations and two more in the immediate vicinity. The Glacier National Park is also touched on its southern edge. Most of the section through Montana runs along the main line of the BNSF Railway . In Microsoft Train Simulator parts are to see the highway.

The mountains

Coming from Idaho from the northwest, the Kootenay River is the first at 1,800 ft (549 m) deepest point in the state of Montana. 16 km after that, Highway 2 comes to the town of Troy . Along the river, the road is now heading east towards Libby , where Highway 2 leaves the river in a southerly direction. In the Kootenai National Forest , the road turns back to an easterly course. After the road turns northeast after another turn, the town of Kalispell is reached, which is 15 km north of Flathead Lake , which is the largest freshwater lake in the area west of the Mississippi River . US Highway 93 crosses in the center of the city . We continue along the Flathead River in a northeasterly direction through the southern part of Glacier National Park .

About the 1588 m high Marias Pass which is Continental Divide of the Americas overcome. Before Highway 2 reaches East Glacier and leaves the Rocky Mountains , it crosses the border with the Black Footed Indian Reservation of Northern Montana.

The great plains

The further route to the east runs on the Great Plains . US Highway 89 crosses in Browning , the largest settlement on the reservation . The further route through Cut Bank to Shelby forms the northern border of the region of Montana known as the Golden Triangle , which is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country. Interstate 15 crosses at Shelby . Highway 2 now leads through a number of smaller towns before half of the section through Montana is reached in Havre . This is where the US Highway 87 joins . 24 km south of Highway 2 is the Rocky Boy's Reservation , a reserve of the Anishinabe and Cree .

Further east is the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine traversed before in Malta of US Highway 191 crosses. Then Highway 2 leads through Glasgow , which is 32 km north of Fort Peck Lake, a reservoir created by the damming of the upper Missouri River . East of Glasgow the road runs through the Fort Peck Indian Reservation of the Assiniboine and Sioux . Highway 2 runs parallel to the Missouri River a few kilometers away and reaches the border between the states of Montana and North Dakota .

North Dakota

North of the confluence of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri River, Highway 2 reaches North Dakota. In Williston opens US Highway 85 and, together with the Highway 2 north. After about 20 km, Highway 2 branches off from the common route and leads straight east to Minot , where US Highways 52 and 83 intersect.

The route further east leads to Rugby , which is the geographic center of North America.

Further east at Churchs Ferry, US Highway 281 crosses before Highway 2 comes to Devils Lake . Further east, Highway 2 comes to the intersection with Interstate 29 , which here runs on a joint route with US Highway 81 . Immediately thereafter, one arrives at the urban area of Grand Forks on the Red River of the North , which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota .

Highway 2 runs between 120 and 160 km north of the larger cities of North Dakota ( Dickinson , Bismarck / Mandan , Jamestown and West Fargo ) along Interstate 94 .

Minnesota

In East Grand Forks , Highway 2 comes from North Dakota to Minnesota. The highway now runs in a southeasterly direction and crosses in Crookston to US Highway 75 . The landscape gradually changes from the rather dry Great Plains into the water-rich woodland typical of Minnesota, and there are increasingly lakes and rivers along Highway 2. In Bemidji , Highway 2 comes to the upper Mississippi River for the first time . US Highway 71 crosses in Bemidji . From Bemidji to Cass Lake is officially designated as the Paul Bunyan Expressway . Further east, the Mississippi River and US Highway 169 crosses a second time in Grand Rapids .

Highway 2 now continues southeast and reaches the town of Duluth on Lake Superior , where it meets Interstate 35 and US Highway 53 . The 3,600 m long Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge leads from Duluth over Saint Louis Bay , part of Lake Superior , to Superior in Wisconsin .

Highway 2 through Minnesota has been expanded to a total of 235 km with four lanes. Most of it is in the northwest of the state.

Wisconsin

After Highway 2 has crossed the city of Superior, it leaves it in a south-easterly direction. In the further, now predominantly eastern course, the US Highway 63 joins before a few kilometers later in Ashland the shore of the Upper Lake is reached again. After another 59 km, Highway 2 passes the border between the states of Wisconsin and Michigan, not far from Hurley, immediately after the confluence of US Highway 51 .

Michigan

Highway 2 crosses the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan state from west to east.

Coming from Wisconsin the road crosses Ironwood and runs east of it through the Ottawa National Forest . There will cruise at Watersmeet of US Highway 45 . The road continues in a south-easterly and later in an easterly direction. In Crystal Falls , Highway 2 turns south with US Highway 141 . At Florence , both highways run together for a few kilometers through Wisconsin, before reaching the state of Michigan again at Iron Mountain . East of the city, Highway 141 leaves the joint route in a southerly direction. US Highway 8 joins a few kilometers later . From Powers , Highway 2 runs eastward together with US Highway 41 and reaches Escanaba on Lake Michigan . The road now runs along the north shore of Lake Michigan and, at the junction with Interstate 75 north of the Mackinac Bridge near St. Ignace, reaches the eastern end of the western section of Highway 2.

The eastern section

State miles kilometre
new York 0.88 1.42
Vermont 150.60 242.37
New Hampshire 35.43 57.02
Maine 273.64 440.38
total 460.55 741.19

The eastern section of Highway 2 runs through northern New England .

new York

North of Rouses Point , Highway 2 and US Highway 11 come from Canada to New York State and leave it on the bridge over Lake Champlain after less than two kilometers in the direction of Vermont .

To Vermont

US Route 2 in Vermont

After the bridge over the western part of Lake Champlain, Highway 2 runs through Grand Isle County , which is spread over several bridge-connected islands in Lake Champlain.

Highway 2 reaches the mainland again at Milton . At Colchester , the road meets Interstate 89 and US Highway 7 , before coming from the north, Burlington, Vermont's largest city, is crossed. In a southeast direction, Highway 2 runs parallel to Interstate 89 to Montpelier , the capital of Vermont. In Montpelier, Highway 2 branches off to the east and later to the northeast.

At St. Johnsbury , Highway 2 meets Interstate 91 and US Highway 5 . East of the city there is a short slip road to Interstate 93 . Further east, the road meets the Connecticut River and continues in a northeasterly direction. A few kilometers later, Highway 2 crosses the river that forms the border between the states of Vermont and New Hampshire .

New Hampshire

A few kilometers after the bridge over the Connecticut River, Highway 2 leads into Lancaster . In the city center is the intersection with US Highway 3 . Highway 2 now continues in a south-easterly direction. At the edge of the White Mountain National Forest , the direction changes to the east and passes through Gorham . There the New Hampshire State Route 16 crosses , which leads south to Mount Washington , the highest mountain in New England at 1917 m. From Gorham, the road runs east along the Androscoggin River to the nearby border between the states of New Hampshire and Maine .

Maine

Highway 2 continues east and exits the White Mountain National Forest. Via Rumford , Wilton and Farmington the route leads to Norridgewock and from there along the Kennebec River to Skowhegan , where US Highway 201 crosses. In Newport Highway 2 for first time on the Interstate 95 . From the city of Bangor , where Interstate 395 intersects, the road runs along the Penobscot River in a northeast direction parallel to Interstate 95. After alternating northeast and north, Highway 2 reaches the city of Houlton , where US Highway 1 intersects. A few kilometers beyond the city, the junction with Interstate 95 forms the eastern end point of Highway 2 just before the Canadian border .

history

A large part of the western and a smaller part of the eastern section follows the old Theodore Roosevelt International Highway , which ran from Portland (Oregon) to Portland (Maine) through the USA and Canada.

In 1926 the course of today's Highway 2 was determined. The parts of the old Theodore Roosevelt International Highway that led to Portland (Oregon) now have different names.

Eastern section

New England 15.svg
List from 1922

Before Highway 2 was marked, most of today's route through New England was known as New England Interstate Route 15 . It ran east from Danville , Vermont, to Maine. The portion of old New England Interstate Route 15 that was not part of today's Highway 2 has been designated as Vermont State Route 15 .

Other portions of Highway 2 in Vermont that were not part of New England Interstate Route 15 were parts of other old New England Interstate routes : Route 18 between Montpelier and Danville; Route 14 between Burlington and Montpelier; Route 30 between Alburgh and Burlington.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

Commons : US Route 2  - collection of images, videos and audio files
  1. ↑ US Highways ( Memento of the original of May 13, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.us-highways.com
  2. ^ Highway History
  3. ^ Montana Facts: The 41st State. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010 ; accessed on April 15, 2016 .
  4. ^ The Geographical Center of North America
  5. ↑ usends.com
  6. ^ Max J. Skidmore, Moose Crossing: Portland to Portland on the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, Hamilton Books, 2006, ISBN 0761835105
  7. ^ Clason Map Company Map of the Transcontinental Highways 1923