Wisconsin notes

[dvferyance]

Are there any plans to turn WI-441 into Interstate 441 thru Appleton? I just drove it yesterday and it appears to be at interstate standards.

Doubtful.  Wisconsin just doesn't seem to care for 3dis, with no new ones since the 1960s, despite there being multiple candidates.

Really the only other candidate would be the freeway portion of WI-172. It seems odd it not being an interstate given it has a number that a X41 would be.

[SEWIGuy]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

[mgk920]

I have sensed no local interest in 'promoting' WI 441 to 'I-441', either.  WI 441 was designated as such back in about 1980 to mirror the function of a 3DI for then US 41.  I also sense that the shoulders on the north-south part along the Appleton-Kimberly border (including its Fox River bridge) are substandard narrow.  As part of the forthcoming upgrade of I-41 to six lanes (WI 15 to Scheuring Rd starting in 2025), The I-41/WI 441 'Northeast' interchange in Appleton will be re-engineered to a free-flowing directional 'T' design.  Maybe then (You never know) ....

Mike

[KCRoadFan]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

[KCRoadFan]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

I did know that, actually. My question was: what would you think about it having an interstate designation?

[SSOWorld]

The beltline is not exactly Interstate standard - and will never be because of the lack of right-of-way.

[SEWIGuy]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

I did know that, actually. My question was: what would you think about it having an interstate designation?

Having grown up in Madison I can tell you that I never once heard it proposed or even talked about.  Ditto regarding WI-172 now that I live in Green Bay.

[hobsini2]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

I did know that, actually. My question was: what would you think about it having an interstate designation?

Having grown up in Madison I can tell you that I never once heard it proposed or even talked about.  Ditto regarding WI-172 now that I live in Green Bay.

If anything should be a 3di in Madison, I would think Wis 30 between the Badger Interchange and US 151 Washington Ave because it is the most direct way to Downtown from I-39/90/94. I would have it as I-390 but even that is slim chances.

[JoePCool14]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

I did know that, actually. My question was: what would you think about it having an interstate designation?

Having grown up in Madison I can tell you that I never once heard it proposed or even talked about.  Ditto regarding WI-172 now that I live in Green Bay.

If anything should be a 3di in Madison, I would think Wis 30 between the Badger Interchange and US 151 Washington Ave because it is the most direct way to Downtown from I-39/90/94. I would have it as I-390 but even that is slim chances.

It would be so pointless though. Isn't it barely 3 miles long?

[SEWIGuy]

WI-172, the Madison Beltline, WI-30, US-45 up through West Bend, US-12 from Elkhorn to the IL line.  There are a number of potentials but no real movement to do so.

Heck, why not designate the Beltline as I-190? It's four different US highways hopping on and off of it - might as well tie it all together with one number.

It already does have a consistent number - US 12. The other three are the ones that come and go.

I did know that, actually. My question was: what would you think about it having an interstate designation?

Having grown up in Madison I can tell you that I never once heard it proposed or even talked about.  Ditto regarding WI-172 now that I live in Green Bay.

If anything should be a 3di in Madison, I would think Wis 30 between the Badger Interchange and US 151 Washington Ave because it is the most direct way to Downtown from I-39/90/94. I would have it as I-390 but even that is slim chances.

It would be so pointless though. Isn't it barely 3 miles long?

About the same length as I-794 and longer than I-535.

[US 12 fan]

I would recommend just expanding Highway 30 to end at Highway 113. If not, I could understand making it a three-digit interstate from I-39-I-90-I-94 to US 151. On a totally different subject, I was wondering if they ever thought about re-routing US 151 in Madison. Instead of having it split from US 12 & 18, instead have it join I-39 & 90 and then have it have it split at its exit outside Madison. Then make the route in Madison a three digit highway (251 or 351). It's not super important that it's done but I have wondered if they every thought about rerouting that area in Madison.

[SEWIGuy]

I would recommend just expanding Highway 30 to end at Highway 113. If not, I could understand making it a three-digit interstate from I-39-I-90-I-94 to US 151. On a totally different subject, I was wondering if they ever thought about re-routing US 151 in Madison. Instead of having it split from US 12 & 18, instead have it join I-39 & 90 and then have it have it split at its exit outside Madison. Then make the route in Madison a three digit highway (251 or 351). It's not super important that it's done but I have wondered if they every thought about rerouting that area in Madison.

This is something I think they need to do. It is pretty ridiculous to have US-151 exist as four-lane expressways and freeways on either side of Madison, but in Madison it just becomes surface streets.  Especially when you can just multiplex it on an existing route, which is also the preferred route between those two segments to begin with.

Someone mentioned that the through city highways would be a good route to designate WI-1, which I could get behind. 

[The Ghostbuster]

Wisconsin probably doesn't need any additional Interstate designations. The only thing that will probably happen in the future is some of the existing 4-lane expressways may be converted to freeway standards. There are studies for the following potential expressway-to-freeway conversions: US 12 Corridor Study (Ski Hi Road to WIS 19 West), Baraboo to Springfield; US 12 Freeway Conversion Study (WIS 19 to Parmenter Street); US 12/18 Freeway Conversion Study (I-39/90 to County N); US 18/151 Freeway Conversion Study (US 18/151 to County G); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (WIS 73 to WIS 49); WIS 23 (County P-WIS 32) Corridor Preservation Study, Plymouth/Sheboygan Falls - Sheboygan County; WIS 29 Corridor Planning Study, Brown and Outagamie counties; US 53 Corridor Preservation Study, Rice Lake-Superior; WIS 64 Freeway/Expressway Designation and Conversion Study, 150th Street - WIS 65.

See https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/default.aspx for each regions' studies.

[triplemultiplex]

The beltline is not exactly Interstate standard - and will never be because of the lack of right-of-way.

Even less so since the "flex lane" project.  The right shoulder is now pretty much non-existent over the Yahara River.  Certainly way too narrow to function as a break-down lane as it's now about half a vehicle width from the fog line to the parapet.

[Big John]

Wisconsin probably doesn't need any additional Interstate designations. The only thing that will probably happen in the future is some of the existing 4-lane expressways may be converted to freeway standards. There are studies for the following potential expressway-to-freeway conversions: (snip) WIS 29 Corridor Planning Study, Brown and Outagamie counties; (snip)
See https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/default.aspx for each regions' studies.

After the current construction project on WI 29/32 and CTH U and VV, WI 29 should be a freeway west of Packerland Dr to past the Brown/Shawano County line, including the sliver in Outagamie County.

[thspfc]

WI-172 and WI-441 really should be Interstates. Maybe WI-30 as well.

[SEWIGuy]

WI-172 and WI-441 really should be Interstates. Maybe WI-30 as well.

Why?  How would that help navigation?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't really know if putting an I- on the Beltline would really help navigation, personally.

[thspfc]

WI-172 and WI-441 really should be Interstates. Maybe WI-30 as well.

Why?  How would that help navigation?

WI-441 is a loop of Appleton, WI-172 completes the loop of Green Bay, WI-30 is a spur into Madison. People see the Interstate shields and know that it's an Interstate standard freeway.

[JoePCool14]

WI-172 and WI-441 really should be Interstates. Maybe WI-30 as well.

Why?  How would that help navigation?

WI-441 is a loop of Appleton, WI-172 completes the loop of Green Bay, WI-30 is a spur into Madison. People see the Interstate shields and know that it's an Interstate standard freeway.

I agree that WI-441 and WI-172 could become Interstates, assuming they are actually up to standards, but I still think WI-30 would be unnecessary to convert.

[SEWIGuy]

WI-172 and WI-441 really should be Interstates. Maybe WI-30 as well.

Why?  How would that help navigation?

WI-441 is a loop of Appleton, WI-172 completes the loop of Green Bay, WI-30 is a spur into Madison. People see the Interstate shields and know that it's an Interstate standard freeway.

I guaranty you that most drivers don't need 3dis to figure out that stuff these days.  I would guess that a majority of the drivers out there have no idea what a 3di signifies, the difference if they start with an odd or even number, etc. I'm not against it by any means, but they are far from necessary.

[hobsini2]

I would recommend just expanding Highway 30 to end at Highway 113. If not, I could understand making it a three-digit interstate from I-39-I-90-I-94 to US 151. On a totally different subject, I was wondering if they ever thought about re-routing US 151 in Madison. Instead of having it split from US 12 & 18, instead have it join I-39 & 90 and then have it have it split at its exit outside Madison. Then make the route in Madison a three digit highway (251 or 351). It's not super important that it's done but I have wondered if they every thought about rerouting that area in Madison.

This is something I think they need to do. It is pretty ridiculous to have US-151 exist as four-lane expressways and freeways on either side of Madison, but in Madison it just becomes surface streets.  Especially when you can just multiplex it on an existing route, which is also the preferred route between those two segments to begin with.

Someone mentioned that the through city highways would be a good route to designate WI-1, which I could get behind. 

Ok this may be getting into "Fantasy" territory but here was my long range thoughts on US 151.
Once 151 is freeway from Cedar Rapids to Fond du Lac, make it something like a Northern I-37. Northern i-37 would end in Sheboygan on Wis 23's freeway. For Madison itself, have old 151 on Washington/Blair/John Nolen/Proudfit/Washington/Park becomes Business Loop I-37. US 151 itself can cosign with I-37 from Cedar Rapids to Fond du Lac unless you want to have the orphaned segments in Iowa and Wisconsin become state routes.

[JoePCool14]

I can't imagine US-151 becoming an interstate. The traffic volumes down here are insanely low. And I don't think they are much higher southwest of Dubuque.

Also, I-37 would be out of grid. Let's try I-33, or if you want an E-W number, I-92.

I'm an idiot, I forgot about how N-S route numbering works.

[triplemultiplex]

I've always felt 30, 172 and 441 are logical 3di additions.  I'll throw in 119 as well.
If I somehow got elected to Congress (godforbid! ), I'd pork them into some bill.

(Airport connector freeways, as critical intermodal links, should be interstates if they have at least one exit or are at least one mile in length, in my humble opinion.)