Trunk Highway 197 marker

Trunk Highway 197

MN 197 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MnDOT
Length6.997 mi[1] (11.261 km)
Existed1985–present
Tourist
routes		 Great River Road
Major junctions
South end US 2 / US 71 near Bemidji
North end US 2 / US 71 at Bemidji
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesBeltrami
Highway system
  • Minnesota Trunk Highway System
← MN 194→ MN 200

Minnesota State Highway 197 (MN 197) is a 6.997-mile-long (11.261 km) highway in northwest Minnesota, which runs from its first interchange with U.S. Highways 2 and 71 on the southeast edge of Bemidji and continues north and then west to its second interchange with U.S. Highways 2 and 71 on the northwest edge of Bemidji.

The route passes through the heart of the city of Bemidji.

Highway 197 is also known as Washington Avenue, Bemidji Avenue, and Paul Bunyan Drive at various points throughout its route.

Route description

Highway 197 serves as a north–south and an east–west business route through the city of Bemidji. The roadway functions essentially as a business route for U.S. Highways 2 and 71.

Highway 197 passes in between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji on the south side of the city.

History

Highway 197 was originally numbered 2 and 71 as part of old U.S. Highways 2 and 71 through the city of Bemidji.[2]

In the mid 1980s, the new Highway 2 / 71 four-lane bypass of Bemidji was constructed. The original route through the city was renumbered 197 at this time.[2]

The original route through Bemidji (now 197) had been paved by the 1930s.[2]

197 had been marked as "Highway 197 Thru City" on both ends. In 2004, the new signs no longer read "Thru City".[2]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Beltrami County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Bemidji Township0.0000.000 US 2 / US 71 – Park Rapids, Grand RapidsInterchange
Bemidji

 Great River Road (National Route) south (1st Street)		Southern end of Great River Road overlap
Mississippi River2.805–
2.844		4.514–
4.577		Paul Bunyan Drive Bridge
Bemidji

 Great River Road (National Route) north (5th Street)		Northern end of Great River Road overlap
6.130–
6.138		9.865–
9.878		 US 71 – International Falls
6.99711.261
 US 2 west – Crookston		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

Template:Attached KML/Minnesota State Highway 197
KML is from Wikidata
  1. 1 2 Minnesota Department of Transportation. "Statewide Trunk Logpoint Listing" (PDF). St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Riner, Steve. "Details of routes 152–218". The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
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