Wisconsin notes

[Big John]

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?

Ribbon-cutting ceremony today: https://fox11online.com/news/local/officials-cut-ribbon-on-new-highway-29vv-interchange-brown-county-construction-traffic-howard-hobart-economy-safety-troy-streckenbach-federal-grant#

[peterj920]

The speed limit was raised to 70 on Wis 29 with the opening of the County VV Interchange up to Wis 32.

[SEWIGuy]

1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, a land use advocacy group, released their thoughts on replacing I-794 in Milwaukee with a surface boulevard.  "Rethink 794."

https://www.rethink794.com/

[The Ghostbuster]

I strongly disagree with 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. Tearing down Interstate 794 would be much worse than tearing down the Park East Freeway spur was (the Park East was an underutilized roadway). There is too much traffic on 794 for a surface boulevard to adequately handle. 1000 Friends might as well advocate demolishing the Hoan Bridge and the Lake Parkway while they're at it.

[SEWIGuy]

I think it's a good idea.  The point that there is too much traffic on 794 is not really relevant.  A good portion of that traffic wouldn't use the boulevard.  They would use something else.

[hobsini2]

1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, a land use advocacy group, released their thoughts on replacing I-794 in Milwaukee with a surface boulevard.  "Rethink 794."

https://www.rethink794.com/

Personally, I would be good with 794 becoming a street boulevard if they figure out where all the traffic from the Hoan Bridge and I-94 will go. This is different from when they demolished the Park Frwy because you didn't have a major interstate on one side of the interchange. With 794, you do.

[triplemultiplex]

This belongs in the Milwaukee Freeways discussion, not the statewide garbage bin.

[Alps]

This belongs in the Milwaukee Freeways discussion, not the statewide garbage bin.

This is not a garbage bin. People can decide whether their topic is going to be quick, or long enough to put in a separate thread. Respect this please.

[Roadguy]

I think it's a good idea.  The point that there is too much traffic on 794 is not really relevant.  A good portion of that traffic wouldn't use the boulevard.  They would use something else.

Key question, if traffic would use something else, what roads would those be?

[SEWIGuy]

I think it's a good idea.  The point that there is too much traffic on 794 is not really relevant.  A good portion of that traffic wouldn't use the boulevard.  They would use something else.

Key question, if traffic would use something else, what roads would those be?

All sorts of them depending on where they are coming from and where they are going.

[peterj920]

1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, a land use advocacy group, released their thoughts on replacing I-794 in Milwaukee with a surface boulevard.  "Rethink 794."

https://www.rethink794.com/

The same group that delayed Wis 23 between Fond Du Lac and Plymouth.

[peterj920]

I did notice that WISDOT took back Wis 145 between I-41 and US 45 by Cabellas and extended it to Wis 175. I wonder what made WISDOT take back the road after giving it to Washington County about 10 years ago?

[mgk920]

I did notice that WISDOT took back Wis 145 between I-41 and US 45 by Cabellas and extended it to Wis 175. I wonder what made WISDOT take back the road after giving it to Washington County about 10 years ago?

Also, about 12/15 years ago, WisDOT was thinking about  turning what was then US 45 from Murdock St in Oshkosh to what became WI 15 in the northwest Appleton/Greenville area over to Outagamie and Winnebago Counties for 'lettering', but decided against it when their traffic volume projection studies showed that it would still carry a traffic load that would warrant it staying a state highway after the then under construction US 10/45 freeway complex in that area was complete and open.  Subsequently, it became a rerouted WI 76.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

[hobsini2]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

Re-extending 21 on Murdock would make the most sense. Algoma Blvd/High St, Jackson St, South Park Ave would be a good Bus 45 if they want to keep Algoma as a state highway.

[GeekJedi]

I did notice that WISDOT took back Wis 145 between I-41 and US 45 by Cabellas and extended it to Wis 175. I wonder what made WISDOT take back the road after giving it to Washington County about 10 years ago?

My guess is that it had something to do with the incorporation of Richfield.

[mgk920]

I did notice that WISDOT took back Wis 145 between I-41 and US 45 by Cabellas and extended it to Wis 175. I wonder what made WISDOT take back the road after giving it to Washington County about 10 years ago?

My guess is that it had something to do with the incorporation of Richfield.

Richfield Township incorporated about 20 years or so ago.

Mike

[GeekJedi]

I did notice that WISDOT took back Wis 145 between I-41 and US 45 by Cabellas and extended it to Wis 175. I wonder what made WISDOT take back the road after giving it to Washington County about 10 years ago?

My guess is that it had something to do with the incorporation of Richfield.

Richfield Township incorporated about 20 years or so ago.

Mike

14 years ago. However, there's a new-ish industrial park growing on the west side of I-41, and the village is looking to do more development in that area to the north and south of 145.

[peterj920]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

[mgk920]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

WI 175 was the previous routing of US 41, so when the current I-41 was first opened back in the late 1940s, it made sense to keep the old road as a state highway and reflag it as WI 175.

Mike

[thspfc]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

WI 175 was the previous routing of US 41, so when the current I-41 was first opened back in the late 1940s, it made sense to keep the old road as a state highway and reflag it as WI 175.

Mike

So US-41 and US-45 were within a few miles, both two lane roads?

[mgk920]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

WI 175 was the previous routing of US 41, so when the current I-41 was first opened back in the late 1940s, it made sense to keep the old road as a state highway and reflag it as WI 175.

Mike

So US-41 and US-45 were within a few miles, both two lane roads?

They, and their pre-US highway predecessors, both went through Milwaukee County, downtown Fond do Lac and downtown Oshkosh.  They were on the same street in both Fond du Lac and Oshkosh.

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

WI 175 was the previous routing of US 41, so when the current I-41 was first opened back in the late 1940s, it made sense to keep the old road as a state highway and reflag it as WI 175.

Mike

So US-41 and US-45 were within a few miles, both two lane roads?

I have no idea why US-45 was extended northward from Chicago, but it was in the mid 1930s when it happened. Between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, US-45 replaced the routing of WI-55.  Between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, it ran (as it does now) right along the shore of Lake Winnebago, replacing a highway.

And the routing doesn't even take the most direct route between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac.  County V through Campbellsport is a better routing north of Kewaskum. North of Oshkosh it is fine, well travelled highway.

[mgk920]

I may have mentioned this before, but I still think US 45 should be removed from its existing route between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and should continue northward on Interstate/US 41 from Exit 95 to Exit 120. I would then number existing 45 between STH 23 and the current southern terminus of STH 76 could either become an extension of 76 or a county highway or local road. STH 21 would be extended northwestward along present US 45 from its current terminus to Interstate/US 41 at Exit 120, or be re-extended to the W. Murdock Ave./Jackson St. intersection.

I guess you can say WISDOT met in the middle by removing Wis 175 from Fond Du Lac to Oshkosh. Oddly enough there were 3 highways within about 5 miles of each other going to the same place. Another question is how necessary is Wis 175 between Fond Du Lac and Milwaukee?

WI 175 was the previous routing of US 41, so when the current I-41 was first opened back in the late 1940s, it made sense to keep the old road as a state highway and reflag it as WI 175.

Mike

So US-41 and US-45 were within a few miles, both two lane roads?

I have no idea why US-45 was extended northward from Chicago, but it was in the mid 1930s when it happened. Between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, US-45 replaced the routing of WI-55.  Between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, it ran (as it does now) right along the shore of Lake Winnebago, replacing a highway.

And the routing doesn't even take the most direct route between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac.  County V through Campbellsport is a better routing north of Kewaskum. North of Oshkosh it is fine, well travelled highway.

Not that long ago I mused in another thread about 'What if' the major four lane road (now I-41) was instead built along the now abandoned CNW  railroad ROW (US 45/County 'V'  corridor) between Richfield/West Bend and Fond du Lac in the immediate post-WWII years.

Mike

[GeekJedi]

From the "surprised the heck outta me" department - Wisconn Vally Parkway is now WI-311. Drove by there yesterday and it was signed.