Northfield and Farmington areas. All other sections are posted at 55 mph or lower, particularly through cities and curvier portions of the highway. Speed studies were conducted on the highway in 2015 on the Northfield to Eagan section, and in 2018 on the Faribault to Northfield section. The studies authorized a new maximum allowed speed limit of 60 mph from Faribault to the south end of Rosemount. History MN 3 was established in 1963, from the southern portion of former MN 218. This route was originally numbered 65 as part of old U.S. Highway 65 (US 65) from 1927 to 1934. It was built between Faribault and MN 149 in Inver Grove Heights and was paved as early as 1929. The route was renumbered 218 in 1934 as part of old US 218 from 1934 to 1935, which was eventually redesignated MN 218 from 1935 to 1963. The route was renumbered MN 3 in 1963. The route was once part of the Jefferson Highway, an automobile highway stretching through the central U.S. until the late 1920s. MN 3 is still part of unmarked Constitutional Route 1. From the late 1970s to 1994, MN 3 was previously routed on the Lafayette Freeway through South St. Paul / West St. Paul to downtown Saint Paul. Nearby US 52 was routed on a stretch of Robert Street during this period of time. The Lafayette Freeway was completely constructed in 1994, US 52 was then rerouted along that route and MN 3 was shortened to a northern terminus at its junction with MN 62 in Inver Grove Heights. Recently MnDOT has indicated it considers the stretch of Robert Street from downtown St. Paul through West St. Paul to be Highway 3, and has recently signed the road in West St. Paul with Minnesota Highway 3 shields and reflects the roadway as MN-3 on their project web pages. Major intersections References External links Highway 3 at Minnesota Highway Endings 003 Transportation in Rice County, Minnesota Transportation in Dakota County, Minnesota Transportation in Ramsey County, Minnesota Streets in Saint Paul, Minnesota U.S. Route 65