Wisconsin notes

[dvferyance]

There's also a couple miles of Wis 50 that is freed up.

Better yet why doesn't WISDOT do a full evaluation of its state highways and try to get rid of some that are not needed like Wis 127 or 134?

This comes up from time to time, and there are two reasons. The first is that there's no incentive to remove highway mileage unless you need to add new mileage. The second is that removed mileage usually has to come from the same DOT region as the new mileage, or else whichever region lost mileage will kick up a political fuss. (In practice this usually works against the more populous southeast region, but that's state politics for you.)

I don't get why they can't just add a little extra millage in the SE region? The rest of the state yes I get it but the SE region is where most of the state's population lives. Frankly the most logical demoting of all would be WI-26 through Waupun. That would have been a far more logical choice than the northern most 4 miles of WI-83. Just reroute it onto US-151 I am sure that nobody follows it through town anyways unless you are unfamiliar with the area. I don't get why when something is added what has to be taken away always has to be in the same vicinity? Why should that even matter?

[dvferyance]

Google Maps now shows STH 195 along former CTH KR east of Interstates 41/94. STH 75 has yet to be changed to CTH BD.

I just noticed that today. Since WI-75 was 12 miles long and WI-195 is only 7 miles long that means they still have an extra 5 miles. So why not use those 5 miles to extend WI-142 back out to WI-31? I think that is more worthy of a state highway than KR ever was with the Amazon plant by the interstate.

Wasn't the WI-311 addition part of this "transaction" as well?

Was that with the trunkation of STH 83 in Hartford?

Don't forget they did extend WI-145 a little bit.

[dvferyance]

Google Maps now shows STH 195 along former CTH KR east of Interstates 41/94. STH 75 has yet to be changed to CTH BD.

I just noticed that today. Since WI-75 was 12 miles long and WI-195 is only 7 miles long that means they still have an extra 5 miles. So why not use those 5 miles to extend WI-142 back out to WI-31? I think that is more worthy of a state highway than KR ever was with the Amazon plant by the interstate.

Wasn't the WI-311 addition part of this "transaction" as well?

I don't think so hasn't WI-311 been around for like 4 years now? Besides the argument for making KR a state highway because it has the feeling of one. So does Hwy S between 94 and 31. It feels like a state highway it's now a major route because of Amazon and Uhline you have an extra 5 miles so it would make sense to use it on that. Hwy 75 should have become an extension of Hwy S since that is what the road is north of 20. This would free up S in Kenosha County then the entire fmr route of 75 could become Hwy S. Would make more sense than BD.

KR was already a temporary state highway because of the Foxconn project. They just kept it and dropped WI-75.

There are dozens of county highways that "feel" like state highways so CTH-S is in good company.

Wasn't the reconstruction of Hwy S also done by Wisdot just like KR was? It has Wisdot signage.

[peterj920]

Google Maps now shows STH 195 along former CTH KR east of Interstates 41/94. STH 75 has yet to be changed to CTH BD.

I just noticed that today. Since WI-75 was 12 miles long and WI-195 is only 7 miles long that means they still have an extra 5 miles. So why not use those 5 miles to extend WI-142 back out to WI-31? I think that is more worthy of a state highway than KR ever was with the Amazon plant by the interstate.

Wasn't the WI-311 addition part of this "transaction" as well?

I don't think so hasn't WI-311 been around for like 4 years now? Besides the argument for making KR a state highway because it has the feeling of one. So does Hwy S between 94 and 31. It feels like a state highway it's now a major route because of Amazon and Uhline you have an extra 5 miles so it would make sense to use it on that. Hwy 75 should have become an extension of Hwy S since that is what the road is north of 20. This would free up S in Kenosha County then the entire fmr route of 75 could become Hwy S. Would make more sense than BD.

KR was already a temporary state highway because of the Foxconn project. They just kept it and dropped WI-75.

There are dozens of county highways that "feel" like state highways so CTH-S is in good company.

Wasn't the reconstruction of Hwy S also done by Wisdot just like KR was? It has Wisdot signage.

County S was a Kenosha County project. The state does give out grants for county projects and WISDOT signs are being seen more and more on county roads, Brown County especially.

Wis 145 originally ended at US 41, then was truncated to US 45, then extended to Wis 175 over the part WISDOT gave up a few years later.

[The Ghostbuster]

In the old days (prior to 1953), STH 145 was part of STH 55, although STH 55 never went east of 20th St. in Milwaukee (it was co-designed with STH 57 south to US 18, as STH 145 was until it was extended onto the Park East Freeway in the early 1980's). STH 55 also never went west of the present-day intersection of STH 145/CTH P/Shadow Ln. intersection just east of US 45's Exit 60. I think STH 55 should have been truncated to its present southern terminus in 1934, when US 45 and US 151 were both extended and duplexed with STH 55 between Milwaukee and Brothertown, and what is now STH 145 should have gotten a new number at that time. Instead, the duplex with US 45 lasted until 1953, and the duplex with US 151 lasted until 1965.

[US 12 fan]

STH 142 used to go past STH 31 and go into Kenosha and end at STH 32 but they changed that in 1991. It wouldn't surprise me if they extend 142 back to 31 in the future but if not, oh well!

[The Ghostbuster]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

[peterj920]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

The Kenosha County State Trunkline map confirms.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/kenosha.pdf

[74/171FAN]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

GSV confirms the WI 158 situation. 

[TheCatalyst31]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

GSV confirms the WI 158 situation. 

It looks like the END sign at 32 is a recent development. If you look at the July 2019 GSV, there's no END sign there, and there is an END sign further down 52nd Street (which GSV didn't update in 2024). I wonder if the bit east of 32 got truncated recently and the signage isn't all updated yet.

[peterj920]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

GSV confirms the WI 158 situation. 

It looks like the END sign at 32 is a recent development. If you look at the July 2019 GSV, there's no END sign there, and there is an END sign further down 52nd Street (which GSV didn't update in 2024). I wonder if the bit east of 32 got truncated recently and the signage isn't all updated yet.

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

[mgk920]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

[dvferyance]

Personally, I think they should have kept STH 142's eastern terminus at STH 32, and decommissioned the parallel STH 158 in the early 1990's. I also find it odd that STH 158's eastern terminus is not at STH 32, but a few blocks east at 6th Ave. Although there is an End STH 158 sign at the 32/158 intersection, there are also signs in both directions on STH 32 that indicate STH 158 still continues east of 32.

It's not that major of a route east of 31 it can remain a local street. Frankly I get truncating 142 back in the 90's but now with it being 4 lane and having amazon and Uhline out there makes it a major route for trucks. It would make sense to restore it east to 31. Especially since Wisdot has an extra 5 miles to spare with the turnback of 75.

[dvferyance]

Update as of today google maps now shows 75 by it's new county route BD.

[dvferyance]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

[The Ghostbuster]

Ask WISDOT.

[mgk920]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

IMHO, it would be a 'natural' number for it, mirroring the function of a 3DI.  Also, 'WI 150' (another decommissioned state highway route number that was previously used in the local area) is available for recycling'.

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

IMHO, it would be a 'natural' number for it, mirroring the function of a 3DI.  Also, 'WI 150' (another decommissioned state highway route number that was previously used in the local area) is available for recycling'.

Yeah, I think the "3di" effect is the reason.

[dvferyance]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

IMHO, it would be a 'natural' number for it, mirroring the function of a 3DI.  Also, 'WI 150' (another decommissioned state highway route number that was previously used in the local area) is available for recycling'.

Yeah, I think the "3di" effect is the reason.

Why not 210 then? It's not being used.

[SEWIGuy]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

IMHO, it would be a 'natural' number for it, mirroring the function of a 3DI.  Also, 'WI 150' (another decommissioned state highway route number that was previously used in the local area) is available for recycling'.

Yeah, I think the "3di" effect is the reason.

Why not 210 then? It's not being used.

Why does it matter? What's wrong with high numbers?

[mgk920]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

Why not recycle old numbers like 103 or 109 instead of creating all these new high numbers?

IMHO, it would be a 'natural' number for it, mirroring the function of a 3DI.  Also, 'WI 150' (another decommissioned state highway route number that was previously used in the local area) is available for recycling'.

Yeah, I think the "3di" effect is the reason.

Why not 210 then? It's not being used.

Why does it matter? What's wrong with high numbers?

That route in Appleton would be a spur route, not a loop, and the numbers 110 and 310 are already in use in Wisconsin.

Mike

[Big John]

Happy New Year! Lots of big projects to loo forward to in Wisconsin.

I-41 reconstruction between Appleton and De Pere will be in full force by starting to work on the mainline.

Later in the year the I-94/East-West project is set to begin.

The I-43 North/South project should be close to finishing this year.

Wis 15 opened to 4 lanes of traffic which may be the last expansion from 2-4 lanes for quite some time.

Not a state highway (yet?), but the De Pere south crossing project is also under way.  There is grading work visible along I-41 for its interchange.

Mike

I would think the section between I-41, crossing the river, and ending at WI-172 would eventually be a state highway right? (The section west of I-41 would be fine as a county highway.)

Watching the public meeting, they are showing that Southbridge Rd will be an extension of County GV.

[peterj920]

On one of the previous posts I linked the Kenosha County State Trunkline map that shows Wis 158 going beyond Wis 32. On that same map Wis 50 ends at Wis 31 so it's the most recent map.

Kind of like how S Oneida St (plus that one block of S Appleton St between Prospect Ave and Lawrence St) between WI 441 and downtown Appleton has all of the hallmarks of being a WisDOT state highway, but is unmarked/unsigned.  A non-chargeable 'WI 510' anyone?

Mike

S Oneida St was reconstructed by the City of Appleton and that along with Seymour St and Badger Ave have been turned back to the City of Appleton and the state Trunkline maps confirm.

As for WISDOT miles there were quite a few miles removed in the Northeast Region in the 1980s-2000s.

Wis 149 from Fond Du Lac was removed, Wis 96 from Denmark to former Wis 163, Wis 163, Wis 148,Wis 177, Wis 32 from Kiel to De Pere, and Wis 168, Wis 103, Wis 114 from Hilbert to Brillion, and Wis 150. 

Wis 441, Wis 15, Wis 310. reroutes of US 10, US 45 and Wis 55 took place but that mileage is less than what was decommissioned. Wis 32 and Wis 149 are about 90 miles combined alone.

I also find it fascinating that for some reason that area was targeted for so many decommissionings compared to other areas of the state.

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe the traffic counts on those roadways were too low to justify keeping them as state highways.

[thspfc]

Maybe the traffic counts on those roadways were too low to justify keeping them as state highways.

There are plenty of empty state highways all over WI.