View source for Special routes of U.S. Route 2

{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox road list
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=2
|list_type=Special routes
}}
There are a number of '''special routes of U.S. Route&nbsp;2''' (US&nbsp;2). These [[special route]]s connect [[U.S. Route 2|US&nbsp;2]] to downtown areas, bypass city centers, or provide alternate routes around an area.
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==Cashmere business route==
{{empty section|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox road small
|state=WA
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Cashmere, Washington]]
}}
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==Williston business loop==
{{infobox road small
|state=ND
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Williston, North Dakota]]
}}
'''U.S. Highway&nbsp;2 Business''' ('''US&nbsp;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 (Williston, North Dakota)|US&nbsp;85 Bus.]]
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==Minot business loop==
{{infobox road small
|state=ND
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Minot, North Dakota]]
}}
'''U.S. Highway&nbsp;2 Business''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Bus.''') in [[Minot, North Dakota]], begins at [[U.S. Route 2 in North Dakota|US&nbsp;2]] and [[U.S. Route 52 in North Dakota|US&nbsp;52]]. US&nbsp;2 is a bypass of the downtown area while US&nbsp;2 Bus. goes through the downtown area. It intersects [[U.S. Route 83 in North Dakota|US&nbsp;83]] and a connector leading to US&nbsp;52 before returning to US&nbsp;2 east of downtown Minot.
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==Minot bypass route==
{{empty section|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox road small
|state=WA
|type=US-Byp
|route=2
|location=[[Minot, North Dakota]]
|header_type=former
}}
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==Grand Forks–East Grand Forks business loop==
{{infobox road small
|state=ND
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]–[[East Grand Forks, Minnesota]]
}}
'''U.S. Highway&nbsp;2 Business''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Bus.''') begins at [[U.S. Route 2 in North Dakota|US&nbsp;2]] in North Dakota near US&nbsp;2's intersection with [[U.S. Route 81 Business (Grand Forks, North Dakota)|US&nbsp;81 Bus.]] US&nbsp;2 Bus. continues to the southeast, passing through the town square of [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]], and intersecting [[North Dakota Highway 297]] (ND&nbsp;297). US&nbsp;2 Bus. then enters [[Minnesota]] before terminating at US&nbsp;2 in [[East Grand Forks, Minnesota|East Grand Forks]].
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==Superior truck route==
{{Infobox road small
|type=US-Truck
|state=WI
|route=2
|location=[[Superior, Wisconsin]]
|length_mi=2.5
}}
'''Truck U.S. Highway&nbsp;2''' ('''Truck US&nbsp;2''') is a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[truck route]] used to divert heavy truck traffic out of downtown [[Superior, Wisconsin]]. It begins at a roundabout on US&nbsp;2 and follows local streets bypassing downtown Superior to the north before meeting [[U.S. Route 53 in Wisconsin|US&nbsp;53]] at an intersection. It [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with US&nbsp;53 until the route meets back up with US&nbsp;2.

'''Major intersections'''<br/>
{{jcttop|state=WI|county=Douglas|location=Superior}}
{{WIint
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|2|dir1=west}}
|notes=Western terminus
}}
{{WIint
|mile=
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|35}}
|notes=
}}
{{WIint
|mile=
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|53}}
|type=concur
|notes=Western end of US 53 concurrency
}}
{{WIint
|mile=2.0
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|2|dir1=east}}
|type=concur
|notes=Eastern terminus; eastern end of US 53 concurrency
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
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==Ashland alternate route==
{{infobox road small
|state=WI
|type=US-Alt
|route=2
|location=[[Ashland, Wisconsin]]
}}
'''Alternate U.S. Highway&nbsp;2''' ('''Alt. US&nbsp;2''') in [[Ashland, Wisconsin]], is an [[alternate route]] of [[U.S. Route 2 in Wisconsin|US&nbsp;2]]. Alt. US&nbsp;2 begins at US&nbsp;2 west of Ashland at the western terminus of [[Wisconsin Highway 137|State Trunk Highway&nbsp;137]] (WIS&nbsp;137), heading west along WIS&nbsp;137, as well as [[Wisconsin Highway 13A|WIS&nbsp;13A]], in a [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]]. After passing the intersection with Lindblad Road, Alt. US&nbsp;2/WIS&nbsp;13A/WIS&nbsp;137 gains the name Gold Course Road, traveling west until the intersection with Sanborn Avenue in Ashland, where WIS&nbsp;137 ends its concurrency at its eastern terminus. Alt. US&nbsp;2/WIS&nbsp;13A continue north along Sanborn Avenue/[[Wisconsin Highway 112|WIS&nbsp;112]], where Alt. US&nbsp;2 ends at US&nbsp;2.
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==Ironwood business spur==
{{main|U.S. Route 2 Business (Ironwood, Michigan)|l1 = Business US Highway 2 in Ironwood, Michigan}}
{{infobox road small
|state=MI
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Ironwood, Michigan]]
|length_mi=1.270
|length_ref=<ref name=PRFA/>
|formed=August 1942<ref name="us2bus">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3593754/us_2_busm54_august_14_1942/ |title=US-2 Business Route Through Ironwood |date=August 14, 1942 |work=[[The Bessemer Herald]] |pages=7 |access-date=November 9, 2015 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
'''Business US Highway&nbsp;2''' ('''Bus. US&nbsp;2''') is a {{convert|1.27|mi|km|adj=on}} [[business route]] running through [[Ironwood, Michigan]], to the [[Wisconsin]] state line on the [[Montreal River (Wisconsin–Michigan)|Montreal River]]. The western terminus of Bus. US&nbsp;2 is at the Wisconsin state line between [[Hurley, Wisconsin]], and Ironwood on Silver Street. The eastern terminus is at the intersection with US&nbsp;2 at the corner of Cloverland Drive and Douglas Street north of downtown.<ref name="PRFA">{{cite MDOT PRFA |link = yes |access-date = September 14, 2010 }}</ref>

The business route was created in August 1942 when former M‑54 in Ironwood was renumbered as a business loop of US&nbsp;2.<ref name="us2bus" /> It was originally a bistate business connection before the [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] decommissioned Bus. US&nbsp;2 in Hurley westward along [[Wisconsin Highway 77|State Trunk Highway&nbsp;77]] and northward along [[U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin|US&nbsp;51]] in 2002.<ref name="WisDOT01-02">{{cite WisDOT map |year = 2001 |section = E2 |link = yes }}</ref><ref name="WisDOT03-04">{{cite WisDOT map |year = 2003 |section = E2 }}</ref>
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==Montpelier business loop==
{{infobox road small
|state=VT
|type=US-Bus
|route=2
|location=[[Montpelier, Vermont]]
|length_mi=0.687
|length_ref=<ref name="VT Route Log">{{cite web|url=http://vtransplanning.vermont.gov/sites/aot_policy/files/Final%20Web.pdf|title=2012 (Route Log) AADTs for State Highways|author=Traffic Research Unit|date=May 2013|publisher=Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development Division, Vermont Agency of Transportation|access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref>
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;2 Business''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Bus.''') is a {{convert|0.687|mi|km|adj=on}}<ref name="VT Route Log" /> business route of [[U.S. Route 2 in Vermont|US&nbsp;2]] located in [[Montpelier, Vermont]]. The route is coextensive with State Street and the lower half of Main Street. The road begins when US&nbsp;2 turns right to bypass downtown Montpelier. By following US&nbsp;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&nbsp;2 Bus." and is even less referred to as such.
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==St. Johnsbury truck route==
{{Infobox road small
|type=US-Truck
|state=VT
|route=2
|length_mi=7.0
|length_ref=<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=I-91+S+to:I-91+S+to:I-93+S+to:VT-18+N&hl=en&ll=44.420234,-71.993837&spn=0.052046,0.132093&sll=44.42962,-71.962206&sspn=0.001626,0.004128&geocode=FbTzpQId-Me0-w%3BFfaZpQIdkvy0-w%3BFYt9pQId7BC1-w%3BFdDcpQIdTgW2-w%3BFQbzpQIdLO61-w&mra=dme&mrsp=4&sz=19&t=h&z=14|title=Route of US&nbsp;2 Truck|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
|location=[[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]]
}}
{{Attached KML|from=U.S. Route 2 Truck (St. Johnsbury, Vermont)}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;2 Truck''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Truck''') is a {{convert|7.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[truck route]] used to divert heavy truck traffic around the town of [[St. Johnsbury, Vermont]]. It begins at an interchange with [[Interstate 91 in Vermont|I-91]] and [[U.S. Route 2 in Vermont|US&nbsp;2]] in St. Johnsbury. It travels to the south-southeast, [[Concurrency (road)|running concurrently]] with I-91, in the southern part of the city. The two routes have an interchange with [[U.S. Route 5 in Vermont|US&nbsp;5]]. Then, they cross over the [[Passumpsic River]] and leave the city limits of St. Johnsbury. They reach an interchange with [[Interstate 93 in Vermont|I-93]]. At this interchange, US&nbsp;2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-91 and begins one with I-93 to the northeast. I-93/US&nbsp;2 Truck travel concurrently for one exit, an interchange with [[Vermont Route 18]] (VT&nbsp;18). At this interchange, US&nbsp;2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-93 and begins a brief one with VT&nbsp;18. The two highways have an [[Intersection (road)|intersection]] with US&nbsp;2 on the northeastern edge of the city limits of St. Johnsbury. At this intersection, both US&nbsp;2 Truck and VT&nbsp;18 terminate.<ref name="Google"/>

Navigating a [[semitrailer truck]] through downtown St. Johnsbury via US&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite news |last= Reed |first= T |title= St. J Officials Hope to Reroute Trucks |work= The Caledonian-Record <!--|volume= 170 |issue= 266--> |date= June 16, 2008 }}{{page needed|date=October 2017}}</ref>

Since the truck route utilizes two [[Interstate Highway]]s, the maximum weight limit allowed was the same as the Interstates in Vermont, which was {{convert|80000|lb|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&nbsp;2 route through downtown St. Johnsbury. Signs at the junctions of US&nbsp;2 Truck and US&nbsp;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]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|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.<ref>{{cite news |last= Curran |first= John |agency= Associated Press |title= Heavier Trucks To Get Free Ride |work= The Caledonian-Record <!--|volume= 172 |issue= 134--> |date= January 14, 2010}}{{page needed|date=October 2017}}</ref>

'''Major intersections'''<br/>
{{VTinttop|county=Caledonia|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>|exit}}
{{VTint|exit
|location=St. Johnsbury
|lspan=3
|mile=0.0
|exit=21
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=VT|I|91|US|2|dir1=north|city1=Lyndonville|city2=Danville}}
|notes=Western terminus; western end of I-91 concurrency
}}
{{VTint|exit
|mile=1.8
|exit=20
|road={{jct|state=VT|US|5|city1=Barnet}}
|notes=
}}
{{VTint|exit
|mile=2.4
|exit=19
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=VT|I|91|I|93|dir1=south|dir2=south|city1=White River Junction}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-91 concurrency; northern terminus of I-93; western end of I-93 concurrency}}
{{VTint|exit
|location=Waterford
|mile=6.3
|exit=1
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=VT|I|93|VT|18|dir2=north|city1=Waterford}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-93 concurrency; western end of VT&nbsp;18 concurrency}}
{{VTint|exit
|location=St. Johnsbury
|mile=7.0
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=VT|VT|18|US|2|dir1=south|name2=[[Theodore Roosevelt]] Highway|city1=Kirby}}
|notes=Eastern terminus; northern terminus of VT&nbsp;18; eastern end of VT&nbsp;18 concurrency}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
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==Orono–Old Town alternate route==
{{infobox road small
|state=ME
|type=US
|route=2A
|location=[[Orono, Maine|Orono]]–[[Old Town, Maine|Old Town]], Maine
|length_mi=4.5
|length_ref=<ref name="Orono-Old Town length">{{Google maps|accessdate=August 14, 2020|title=Overview of US 2A in Orono, ME|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/44.8877719,-68.6695952/44.9348226,-68.6457618/@44.9116662,-68.6880766,13z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-68.6833992!2d44.9147078!3s0x4cafb727da672845:0x4144a41fddd53a59!1m0!3e0}}</ref>
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;2A''' ('''US&nbsp;2A'''), also known as '''U.S. Route&nbsp;2 Alternate''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Alt.'''), in [[Orono, Maine|Orono]] and [[Old Town, Maine|Old Town]], Maine, is a {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}}<ref name="Orono-Old Town length" /> alternate route of [[U.S. Route 2 in Maine|US&nbsp;2]], which connects it to the [[University of Maine]]. At its southern terminus near downtown Orono, the route splits from US&nbsp;2 to follow College Avenue, then turns onto Stillwater Avenue to reach Old Town. The northern terminus is at the intersection of Center Street (US&nbsp;2A) and Main Street (US&nbsp;2) in downtown Old Town, where US&nbsp;2A rejoins US&nbsp;2 to cross the [[Penobscot River]] into [[Milford, Maine|Milford]], while Main Street continues north in Old Town as [[Maine State Route 43|State Route&nbsp;43]].
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==Aroostook County alternate route==
{{infobox road small
|state=ME
|type=US
|route=2A
|location=[[Aroostook County, Maine]]
|length_mi=44
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;2A''' ('''US&nbsp;2A'''), also known as '''U.S. Route&nbsp;2 Alternate''' ('''US&nbsp;2 Alt.'''), is a {{convert|44|mi|km|adj=on}} alternate route that runs from [[U.S. Route 2 in Maine|US&nbsp;2]] in [[Macwahoc Plantation, Maine]], to US&nbsp;2 and [[U.S. Route 1 in Maine|US&nbsp;1]] in [[Houlton, Maine|Houlton]].

Unlike US&nbsp;2, which runs north from Macwahoc Plantation and parallels [[Interstate 95 in Maine|Interstate&nbsp;95]] (I-95) from [[Sherman, Maine|Sherman]] to Houlton, US&nbsp;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]]".<ref name="curless">{{cite web|url=http://discovermainemagazine.com/shop/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=12&products_id=42 |title=The Dick Curless Legacy |work= Discover Maine Magazine |access-date=April 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020223816/http://discovermainemagazine.com/shop/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=12&products_id=42 |archive-date=October 20, 2010 }}</ref>

{{start srbox}}
{{me browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=2|route=[[list of Maine numbered highways|ME]]|next_type=ME|next_route=3}}
{{s-end}}
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.state-ends.com/vermont/bus2/ Business US 2 at State-ends.com]

{{US 2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bannered Routes Of U.S. Route 2}}
[[Category:Special routes of the United States Numbered Highway System|*02]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 2]]
[[Category:Transportation in Penobscot County, Maine]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in North Dakota]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Vermont]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Maine]]
[[Category:Transportation in Aroostook County, Maine]]