Standard county road markers |
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| Highway names | |
|---|---|
| Interstates: | Interstate X (I-X) |
| US Routes: | U.S. Highway X (US X) |
| State: | Trunk Highway X (MN X or TH X) |
| County State-Aid Highways: | County State-Aid Highway X (CSAH X) |
| County roads: | County Road X (CR X) |
| System links | |
| Minnesota Trunk Highways Interstate • U.S. • State Inter-County • County roads • Legislative routes |
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County roads in Minnesota are roads locally maintained by county highway departments in Minnesota. County roads span a wide variety of road types, varying from A-minor arterials that carry large volumes of traffic to an improved road.
Most county roads in Minnesota are designated with numbers that are unique only within a county. Although most counties designate with only numbers, a few in Dodge County utilize letters instead, and two in Isanti County utilize a combination of a number and letter.
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County roads in Minnesota are marked with a general white square shield with black lettering and route number. Though route numbers are unique only within a county, due to historical reasons, some county routes maintain their number from one county to another, such is the case with Chisago County Road 1 and Pine County Road 1 (following a historical road named Kettle River Trail from the early part of Minnesota's history) or Pine County Road 61 and Carlton County Road 61 (following former U.S. Highway 61).
Some county routes are designated as County State Aid Highways (CSAH). These routes are constructed and maintained by counties, but they are eligible for funding from the County State Aid Highway Fund. Differences in signage between CSAH routes and other county roads depends on the county. Some counties, such as Stearns County, delineate between the two by using the "standard" M1-6 blue pentagon shield for CSAH designated routes and Minnesota's general white square shield for other county routes.[1] The M1-6 blue pentagon shield's route number may be shown in either white or gold, depending on the county. In many counties, CSAH are given low route designation numbers and non-CSAH are given higher route designation numbers, but this is not a rule, for example, Hennepin County Road 26 is a non-CSAH, but other county roads in this series are CSAH.
A few roads that cross county borders are also signed with an "inter-county" designation and a letter, but this system is not shown on most maps.[2] However, as these highways provide important alternate routes to the state highway system, the Minnesota Department of Transportation have recommended a local route numbering / labeling system that clearly identifies county routes that are continuous into neighboring counties.[3] These routes, if marked, are marked with either a white square shield or a blue pentagon shield, with a blue square shield containing the route letter directly under shield with the route number. Like the M1-6 blue pentagon shield's route number, the inter-county route letter may be shown in either white or gold, depending on the county.
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