Madison Area

[peterj920]

I highly doubt US 151 will be rerouted within the Madison area. There really is no need to. Utilizing US 12/18 and Interstates 39/90/94 is sufficient to make an all-freeway journey around the Madison area without rerouting the US 151 designation.

If US 151 remained within the City of Madison, it would make more sense to route it along John Nolen Dr to The Beltline. Once it travels on Proudfit, W Washington, and Park St, the route isn't the most direct route to anywhere. Even on Park St. Fish Hatchery Rd is the quicker route to rejoin The Beltline heading southwest or Northeast.

[GeekJedi]

Received an email today saying that WIDOT is considering moving US-151 onto the interstate and the Beltline as part of this project.

I've always thought that the route from the freeway to the capital should be "WI-1". Yes, I know it breaks the rules, and it doesn't really matter - I just think it would be cool!

No words on any potential number for the 'old' road, I assume (ie, 'WI 251', 'WI 451','BR US 151', etc).  I would support this proposal, too, BTW.

Mike

Boy, did I mess up my formatting!

What my post originally said was that I wouldn't be against revising the legislation and allowing the highway to the Capitol be renamed "WI-1" if 151 was moved. Just my $.02 (and bordering on fictional).

[SSOWorld]

Received an email today saying that WIDOT is considering moving US-151 onto the interstate and the Beltline as part of this project.

I've always thought that the route from the freeway to the capital should be "WI-1". Yes, I know it breaks the rules, and it doesn't really matter - I just think it would be cool!

No words on any potential number for the 'old' road, I assume (ie, 'WI 251', 'WI 451','BR US 151', etc).  I would support this proposal, too, BTW.

Mike

Boy, did I mess up my formatting!

What my post originally said was that I wouldn't be against revising the legislation and allowing the highway to the Capitol be renamed "WI-1" if 151 was moved. Just my $.02 (and bordering on fictional).

But WI does not go below 10.

[mgk920]

Received an email today saying that WIDOT is considering moving US-151 onto the interstate and the Beltline as part of this project.

I've always thought that the route from the freeway to the capital should be "WI-1". Yes, I know it breaks the rules, and it doesn't really matter - I just think it would be cool!

No words on any potential number for the 'old' road, I assume (ie, 'WI 251', 'WI 451','BR US 151', etc).  I would support this proposal, too, BTW.

Mike

Boy, did I mess up my formatting!

What my post originally said was that I wouldn't be against revising the legislation and allowing the highway to the Capitol be renamed "WI-1" if 151 was moved. Just my $.02 (and bordering on fictional).

But WI does not go below 10.

US 2 and US 8?   I can see the legislature trying 'WI 1' (no federal rules against that).

Mike

[Molandfreak]

Never understood why there are no single-digit state highways in WI. If they wanted every community to be equal, they really should've started numbering at 100 and tried their best to opt out of the US highway system.

If any community is worthy of "highway 1,"  Madison is it.

[SSOWorld]

Received an email today saying that WIDOT is considering moving US-151 onto the interstate and the Beltline as part of this project.

I've always thought that the route from the freeway to the capital should be "WI-1". Yes, I know it breaks the rules, and it doesn't really matter - I just think it would be cool!

No words on any potential number for the 'old' road, I assume (ie, 'WI 251', 'WI 451','BR US 151', etc).  I would support this proposal, too, BTW.

Mike

Boy, did I mess up my formatting!

What my post originally said was that I wouldn't be against revising the legislation and allowing the highway to the Capitol be renamed "WI-1" if 151 was moved. Just my $.02 (and bordering on fictional).

But WI does not go below 10.

US 2 and US 8?   I can see the legislature trying 'WI 1' (no federal rules against that).

Mike

WI couldn't deny the use of those, not in the state system per se. (one level above it)

[Molandfreak]

Received an email today saying that WIDOT is considering moving US-151 onto the interstate and the Beltline as part of this project.

I've always thought that the route from the freeway to the capital should be "WI-1". Yes, I know it breaks the rules, and it doesn't really matter - I just think it would be cool!

No words on any potential number for the 'old' road, I assume (ie, 'WI 251', 'WI 451','BR US 151', etc).  I would support this proposal, too, BTW.

Mike

Boy, did I mess up my formatting!

What my post originally said was that I wouldn't be against revising the legislation and allowing the highway to the Capitol be renamed "WI-1" if 151 was moved. Just my $.02 (and bordering on fictional).

But WI does not go below 10.

US 2 and US 8?   I can see the legislature trying 'WI 1' (no federal rules against that).

Mike

WI couldn't deny the use of those, not in the state system per se. (one level above it)

But the fact that they do exist means that there is no longer any reason to continue the practice of avoiding single-digit highways. "Community equality"  was impossible after 1926.

[The Ghostbuster]

This page should give some insight on why no State Highway is lower than 10 (excluding US 2 and US 8): http://wisconsinhighways.org/indepth/first_memo.html.

[mgk920]

Nearby, IL 1 does not enter Springfield.  It starts on the far south side of Chicago and runs southward for nearly the rest of the length of the state through mostly rural land not far from the Indiana state line.

Mike

[Molandfreak]

This page should give some insight on why no State Highway is lower than 10 (excluding US 2 and US 8): http://wisconsinhighways.org/indepth/first_memo.html.

Exactly, it's an outdated practice that was made hilarious as soon as the US Highway system was established. Why, again, can the status quo never change?

Who in 2023 would be upset if WIS 1 was established in Madison?

[skluth]

This page should give some insight on why no State Highway is lower than 10 (excluding US 2 and US 8): http://wisconsinhighways.org/indepth/first_memo.html.

Exactly, it's an outdated practice that was made hilarious as soon as the US Highway system was established. Why, again, can the status quo never change?

Who in 2023 would be upset if WIS 1 was established in Madison?

In today's political climate, some idiot would make a major issue out of it. I have no idea how or why, but considering the crazy crap that counts for being offended these days (like showing Michelangelo's statue of David to a high school class) I just don't think it's worth the effort.

[triplemultiplex]

Well I think it's a bit of a moot point to invoke a single digit number since Wisconsin has a few 2 digits laying around unused currently like 62 or 99.

[Big John]

Well I think it's a bit of a moot point to invoke a single digit number since Wisconsin has a few 2 digits laying around unused currently like 62 or 99.

plus 74 and 84.

[The Ghostbuster]

Plus, there are plenty of three-digit numbers that could be used again, at least for shorter routes.

[SEWIGuy]

I also think the "honor" of having a single digit route meant a lot more when the system was introduced over 100 years ago. I doubt many would care now.

[hobsini2]

If it was up to me, the single digit numbers would have been placed on the state highways that are considered the backbone to the system at least in some parts of the current highway. Wis 29 from Prescott to Kewaunee with Elk Mound to Green Bay being a major player. Wis 35 from Dubuque to Superior with Dubuque to Hudson being important. Wis 21 from Sparta to Oshkosh with Tomah to Oshkosh being important. And so on. This would not replace any of the US Highways or Interstates.

[invincor]

I've wondered also if the state highways that are at least 4-lane could be given a different color shield, just to denote their expressway status.  Same shape, but something other than white.

[Molandfreak]

I also think the "honor" of having a single digit route meant a lot more when the system was introduced over 100 years ago. I doubt many would care now.

Has anyone found evidence that a single digit state highway anywhere in the country caused a public outcry? It seems like they were trying to prevent a completely imaginary scenario.

[SEWIGuy]

I also think the "honor" of having a single digit route meant a lot more when the system was introduced over 100 years ago. I doubt many would care now.

Has anyone found evidence that a single digit state highway anywhere in the country caused a public outcry? It seems like they were trying to prevent a completely imaginary scenario.

It was imaginary, or a better word would be hypothetical, since Wisconsin was the first to number highways.

[SEWIGuy]

I've wondered also if the state highways that are at least 4-lane could be given a different color shield, just to denote their expressway status.  Same shape, but something other than white.

I have thought the same...especially with WI-29.

[SSOWorld]

Keep in mind, that when a highway designation is made, there must be compensation by either removing or reducing another one.

[SEWIGuy]

Keep in mind, that when a highway designation is made, there must be compensation by either removing or reducing another one.

In the hypothetical we are talking about, if US-151 is routed over the interstate and the Beltline, and WI-1 (or whatever) replaces it on the city streets, there is a net gain of zero miles.

If they use John Nolen Drive for WI-1 to get to the Beltline instead of US-151's current routing west of downtown, there would actually be a net reduction in miles.

[hobsini2]

Keep in mind, that when a highway designation is made, there must be compensation by either removing or reducing another one.

I always thought that was a dumb rule.

[skluth]

Keep in mind, that when a highway designation is made, there must be compensation by either removing or reducing another one.

I always thought that was a dumb rule.

I agree it's a dumb rule. Unfortunately, it's probably needed because otherwise the state's supported highway mileage would have ballooned out of control because legislators like nothing better than getting the state to pay for their districts' road projects.

[hobsini2]

Keep in mind, that when a highway designation is made, there must be compensation by either removing or reducing another one.

I always thought that was a dumb rule.

I agree it's a dumb rule. Unfortunately, it's probably needed because otherwise the state's supported highway mileage would have ballooned out of control because legislators like nothing better than getting the state to pay for their districts' road projects.

The highways are run through legislation and voted on before they become reality. Correct?