Wisconsin notes

[thspfc]

I would make it I-96.

[triplemultiplex]

Noticed on Friday that Madison has done away with the 45 MPH section of John Nolen Drive on the isthmus and lowered it to 35 in line with the remainder of the route and the section of US 151 it ties into at the north end.

I haven't noticed a difference in how folks drive that stretch.  Between driving it occasionally and riding the parallel bike path, everything seems to be moving the same.  Similar non-effect when they dropped Park Street from 30 to 25.
Madison's a big enough city to where the cops have better things to do than tax people for going 10 over.

[mgk920]

Hypothetically, they could just make it an extension of I-43. It would be weird, but entirely doable.

If WI-29 was an interstate between Green Bay and Wausau I'd guess(won't happen) my guess the potential route changed are:
#1- Be a 3di from either I-41 or I-39(like I-139)
#2- If was able to upgrade 29 to interstate standards to I-94 being labeled I-96

I'd be more for extending I-39 east towards Green Bay(this is assuming I-39 doesn't extend northward) to connect with I-41 in Green Bay.  Still would be odd, but not as odd as if I-43 was extended that distance.

I-43 was *ALWAYS* planned to end at US (now 'I-') 41.  It was NEVER planned to go any farther, even with the layout of the old, original Howard Interchange (possibly) alluding to that potential.  That is what WI 29 was (and most definitely still is) for, also why the new I-41/WI 29 'Shawano' Interchange is so high powered.

Over the years, I have been seeing off and on fanciful, idle roadgeek chatter of WI 29 (along with that tiny bit of WI 32) across the state becoming something like an 'I-92'.  I find it much more plausible that it could someday become an eastward extension of 'US 212'.

Mike

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I find it much more plausible that it could someday become an eastward extension of 'US 212'.

Mike

MnDOT almost certainly will never get on board with this idea, especially as they had a chance to extend 212 eastward in 2018 when they decided to consolidate the current Crosstown route and TH 110 under one number, and chose to extend TH 62 eastward.

[gr8daynegb]

I find it much more plausible that it could someday become an eastward extension of 'US 212'.

Mike

MnDOT almost certainly will never get on board with this idea, especially as they had a chance to extend 212 eastward in 2018 when they decided to consolidate the current Crosstown route and TH 110 under one number, and chose to extend TH 62 eastward.

I think most of us are realistic WI-29 will be WI-29 when all said and done.  Think what is more debatable is the time frame to when, or if, the portions of 29 between I-41 and 94 ever get to full interstate standards.  While intersections at FF, VV, and U near Green Bay needed to worked not all other intersections are/were as dangerous. I can see East of 39/51 getting said upgrades, West of 51 not as much   

[mgk920]

Well, 50, 60 years from now and today's gentry has completely turned over....



)BTW, think of the cost in signing that any of these renumbering proposals would also entail here in WisDOT territory)

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

I would love for STH 29 to ultimately be completely freeway from Interstate 94 to Interstate 41. However, even if that eventually happened, I would like the roadway to remain numbered STH 29.

[peterj920]

I just saw the crosscountryroads.com update on I-43 and the signs on I-43 were changed to reflect the reroute in Manitowoc. US 151 says "south"  and the Wis 42 sign is removed from the Waldo Blvd exit. The Wis 42 Ahead sign still needs to be removed.

Next time I'm in the area I'll have to check out the new signs.

Here's a link if you want to see for yourself.

https://www.crosscountryroads.com/photos/wisconsin/wi-i43nb

[Alps]

I just saw the crosscountryroads.com update on I-43 and the signs on I-43 were changed to reflect the reroute in Manitowoc. US 151 says "south"  and the Wis 42 sign is removed from the Waldo Blvd exit. The Wis 42 Ahead sign still needs to be removed.

Next time I'm in the area I'll have to check out the new signs.

Here's a link if you want to see for yourself.

https://www.crosscountryroads.com/photos/wisconsin/wi-i43nb

I just took 42 through there last Sunday and it's perfectly well signed for itself. Actually forgot it was even rerouted, that's how thorough the surface job was done.

[SEWIGuy]

Wisconsin of all places has a new freeway?

Yeah this has been a long time in the making.  Upgrading the expressway further west. I am sure it will continue over time, but I doubt it will ever be a full freeway to Wausau much less Chippewa Falls.

The Wis 29/County VV Interchange opened in Hobart/Howard today. Next up is removing County U at Wis 29 forcing motorists to use the Wis 32/Wis 156 Interchange to get to Wis 156. Most Wis 156 traffic was using County U/Old 29 as a short cut.

Wis 29 will now be freeway from Birch Rd in Shawano County to I-41. Will the speed limit be raised to 70 mph between the Shawano Co line and County FF where it's currently 70 mph?

I am assuming so.  That is usually the SOP. 

Is there a new exit number for this interchange?

I will be up there next weekend and can check it out.

Drove WI-29 from Green Bay to Wausau yesterday and today.  It is still 65 mph at the new interchange, but new signage is up but covered that leads me to believe it will be increased. It is still a construction zone due to the removal of the previous intersection so it will likely still be that way for couple of months.

I think the biggest barrier to WI-29 becoming a full freeway is the amount of local roads, and some driveways, that still have direct access. There is just not a compelling reason to change that given current volumes.

[US 12 fan]

There is going to be a meeting soon about the I-39-I-90-I-94 corridor from Madison to the Dells.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/399094/studyintroduction.pdf

[mgk920]

There is going to be a meeting soon about the I-39-I-90-I-94 corridor from Madison to the Dells.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/399094/studyintroduction.pdf

Some quick thoughts of mine here:

- Upgrade the current four lane part of I-90/94 to six lanes (ultimately all the way to their split at the Tomah interchange);
- Re-engineer the I-39 split (Cascade interchange) to better separate the local roads, including WI 78 to the southwest, from the freeways, also to eliminate the 'left' exit and entrance situations from the I-39 mainline lanes.
- Re-engineer the I-90/94/US 12 interchange at Lake Delton to better separate the local roads and their tourist access from the freeways and their overhead traffic, and;
- Upgrade the current six lane highway north of the Badger interchange to eight lanes(?).

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

I would agree that Interstate 39/90/94 should be expanded from six to eight lanes, and 90/94 should be expanded from four to six lanes. The one thing I would absolutely demand happen would be for the Badger Interchange (39/90's Exit 138AB, 94's 240 and 240A, and 30's 3A and 3B) to be reconstructed with right-handed-only exit and entrance ramps, even if the ramps remain one lane wide.

[SEWIGuy]

Do you think they could try to separate the US-12/18 (Beltline) traffic from the mainline earlier? Could you have a split at the Badger interchange exit for I-94 WB to I-39 SB traffic specifically for Beltline bound traffic?  I think you are going to end up dumping a bunch of traffic onto the right lane that isn't destined for the Beltline, and they will have to navigate their way onto a speedy mainline.  Better than a left entrance ramp however.

[thspfc]

I don't understand the desperation for a Badger Interchange rebuild. The left hand ramps are not ideal, but they're functional, they keep traffic flowing, and I haven't heard of many accidents at that interchange. If WISDOT was just building it now, of course they would use exclusively right hand ramps, but it's not necessary to rebuild it.

For me, new interchanges at Hanson Rd and Lien Rd would be preferable to a Badger rework. (But those interchanges won't happen.)

I agree with wanting expansion to 8 lanes between the Beltline and the I-39 split at Portage. Worth noting that it's already 8 lanes between 151 and the Badger, which is the busiest segment of that stretch.

And finally, 6 lanes from the I-39 split to at least US-12/Dells Pkwy. Eventually it should get to 6 all the way up to Tomah, but that first 15 miles will do for now.

[SSOWorld]

I don't understand the desperation for a Badger Interchange rebuild. The left hand ramps are not ideal, but they're functional, they keep traffic flowing, and I haven't heard of many accidents at that interchange. If WISDOT was just building it now, of course they would use exclusively right hand ramps, but it's not necessary to rebuild it.

try crossing from the 151 interchange to the left for 94.

[jwags]

I don't understand the desperation for a Badger Interchange rebuild. The left hand ramps are not ideal, but they're functional, they keep traffic flowing, and I haven't heard of many accidents at that interchange. If WISDOT was just building it now, of course they would use exclusively right hand ramps, but it's not necessary to rebuild it.

try crossing from the 151 interchange to the left for 94.

IMO it's not too bad. You only need to move over two lanes because the second lane is an option lane for the 94 exit.

[SEWIGuy]

The WB I-94 to SB-39 left entrance ramp is a problem. Mostly because the traffic in the left hand lane is going significantly faster than the entrance traffic because the ramp is short, and a lot of the entering traffic needs to get to the right to get off at the Beltline.

Since the interchange was built in the 1960s, it is due for a full replacement.  May as well do it right.

[gr8daynegb]

There is going to be a meeting soon about the I-39-I-90-I-94 corridor from Madison to the Dells.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/399094/studyintroduction.pdf

Some quick thoughts of mine here:

- Upgrade the current four lane part of I-90/94 to six lanes (ultimately all the way to their split at the Tomah interchange);
- Re-engineer the I-39 split (Cascade interchange) to better separate the local roads, including WI 78 to the southwest, from the freeways, also to eliminate the 'left' exit and entrance situations from the I-39 mainline lanes.
- Re-engineer the I-90/94/US 12 interchange at Lake Delton to better separate the local roads and their tourist access from the freeways and their overhead traffic, and;
- Upgrade the current six lane highway north of the Badger interchange to eight lanes(?).

Mike

"- Re-engineer the I-90/94/US 12 interchange at Lake Delton to better separate the local roads and their tourist access from the freeways and their overhead traffic, and;"

Would agree.  As it that interchange is right now surprised not more accidents than there already is.  Those driving into Lake Delton slow to getting speed in check and those going onto 12W from I90/94 Eastbound still need to make a turn onto 12 from a stopped position. Guessing a cloverleaf in the future but not truly sure that would fully solve the issue

[triplemultiplex]

They have some fairly hard r/w constraints at the Dells Pkwy to do something "fancier" with those giant resorts right there.  Guaranteed they're not going to expand the r/w north at all.
I've been tinkering with that interchange, but as I do, I'm struck by the realization that most of the traffic coming in on 12 from the south isn't getting on the interstate, it's continuing into the The Dells.  So I don't think it's unreasonable to make the freeway-freeway traffic "exit" in some manner.
I do think WisDOT dropped the ball when they did that "casino bypass" part of US 12 with the interchange at the north end at Fern Dell.  The diamond puts the gore for the north-pointing ramps too close to the 90/94 interchange and complicates what one can do to improve that situation.  Should've folded that diamond, you know?  Like how they 'future-proofed' the interchange at WI 29 & WI 40 by giving future generations plenty of room to work with for I-94/WI 29.

I might have to dust off my old Cascade Interchange concepts.  I use that quite often and the geometry of the turbine ramp that handles I-39 SB leaves much to be desired.  A decent effort for 1991, but I have visions of something that's much less sketchy in the winter.

Another challenge is the East Town Interchange.  It's time for something a little more advanced at this location to move traffic more smoothly between Sun Prairie and the Badger Interchange.  A loop ramp SB and a single lane, 40 mph ramp NB can't cut the mustard any more.

Related to this study, work has begun to convert the triplex interchange with WI 60 into a diamond from the existing, old school, unnecessary parclo.  Something they did to all of those parclo interchanges on 39/90 during that expansion project.

[SSOWorld]

Ok, who names these interchanges?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OB_DbgnRCz2h2iONS1tN4mokFXAgGEw&usp=sharing

Are there any other made-up named interchanges in this state?

And yes, that one in Chicago is still the Circle to me.

[Hobart]

Ok, who names these interchanges?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OB_DbgnRCz2h2iONS1tN4mokFXAgGEw&usp=sharing

Are there any other made-up named interchanges in this state?

And yes, that one in Chicago is still the Circle to me.

I know that in the Milwaukee Freeways thread, all of the ramps off of I-794 were referred to as the "Lake Interchange", but I'm not sure if anyone actually refers to it as that.

[SEWIGuy]

Ok, who names these interchanges?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OB_DbgnRCz2h2iONS1tN4mokFXAgGEw&usp=sharing

Are there any other made-up named interchanges in this state?

And yes, that one in Chicago is still the Circle to me.

The only one of those that I have not heard of regularly is East Towne.  The four in Milwaukee are commonly referred that way in traffic reports.

[JoePCool14]

Ok, who names these interchanges?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OB_DbgnRCz2h2iONS1tN4mokFXAgGEw&usp=sharing

Are there any other made-up named interchanges in this state?

And yes, that one in Chicago is still the Circle to me.

I've been wondering the same thing since following these Wisconsin threads. It's my second home state and I still have no idea what's going on here for the most part.

[triplemultiplex]

SSO missed the Stadium Interchange on his map, too.
The informal name for the I-41/US 45/WI 145 split on the northwest side of Milwaukee is the "Granville Interchange".
I think we've come to call the I-41/US10/WI 441 junction the "Bridgeview Interchange."  But I'm not sure I've seen that outside of this community.
Those are the ones I can think of I've seen in common use on this board.