Wisconsin notes

[The Ghostbuster]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

[mrose]

Rock County has a bridge to sell ya. Hell, they'll even give you up to $175,000 to cover your expenses in moving it! But you've got to agree to park it somewhere for people to gawk at for at least 10 years. Oh, and you have to figure out how to move it.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/environment/historic-bridges/lathers-road.aspx

I know that bridge.... I canoed under it and I think I may have walked across it once or twice.

[dvferyance]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

[SEWIGuy]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

[dvferyance]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

[Rothman]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

And far more expensive and perhaps overpowered compared to traffic.

[SEWIGuy]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

And far more expensive and perhaps overpowered compared to traffic.

Yep. The traffic there is not bad.

[dvferyance]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

And far more expensive and perhaps overpowered compared to traffic.

Those RCUT are not much safer. Typically U turns are illegal on those kind of roads and there is a reason why.

[SEWIGuy]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

And far more expensive and perhaps overpowered compared to traffic.

Those RCUT are not much safer. Typically U turns are illegal on those kind of roads and there is a reason why.

WIDOT thinks they are safer, and my understanding is their opinion is based on pretty solid evidence.

[Rothman]

Although this story is a day old, three intersections along STH 57 are being converted into RCUT intersections: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2025/04/22/four-month-project-rebuilds-three-intersections-on-57-in-door-county/83166386007/.

I wish they would have built an interchange at Hwy C. Would have made perfect sense.

The RCUT works fine.

Interchanges are far safer.

And far more expensive and perhaps overpowered compared to traffic.

Those RCUT are not much safer. Typically U turns are illegal on those kind of roads and there is a reason why.

WIDOT thinks they are safer, and my understanding is their opinion is based on pretty solid evidence.

NYSDOT as well.  There's an RCUT in my area that was installed for safety reasons.

[mgk920]

Full interchanges are the next step up (see: WI 29 in western Brown County).

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

Full interchanges are the next step up (see: WI 29 in western Brown County).

Right. If they are needed, they will replace the RCUT with an interchange.  And it just looking at a traffic count map, the traffic volume on this section of WI-57 is about 40% of what it is on WI-29 west of Green Bay.

[peterj920]

The next two expressway segments that are slated to be upgraded to freeway are US 151 between Dodgeville and Verona and US 151 from Columbus to Waupun. They were approved by the TPC for study bringing the projects closer to reality.

There have been studies on upgrading Wis 29 to freeway but that is multiple decades away. Even with Wis 29 as an expressway there's not a single stop between I-94 and I-41 making travel easy even if it isn't a full freeway.

[mgk920]

The next two expressway segments that are slated to be upgraded to freeway are US 151 between Dodgeville and Verona and US 151 from Columbus to Waupun. They were approved by the TPC for study bringing the projects closer to reality.

There have been studies on upgrading Wis 29 to freeway but that is multiple decades away. Even with Wis 29 as an expressway there's not a single stop between I-94 and I-41 making travel easy even if it isn't a full freeway.

I remember checking out a WisDOT information gathering meeting regarding the Columbus-Waupun part of US 151 a decade or so ago.

Also, perhaps the safety numbers on WI 29 are not bad enough (yet) to warrant any farther upgrades.  I can envision upgrades on the non-freeway parts east of WI 47 at Bonduel, though, but those do not individually meet the 'major' project threshold.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

[hobsini2]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

[thspfc]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

[dvferyance]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

I would support converting it to a freeway up to Beaver Dam beyond that it's fine as is.

[SEWIGuy]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

I would support converting it to a freeway up to Beaver Dam beyond that it's fine as is.

The distance between the end of the freeway portion in Beaver Dam, and the beginning of the freeway portion around Waupun, is 5 miles. I think they would have to block off four cross streets and build an interchange at Dodge CTH C. As long as they are doing the study, it makes perfect sense to continue the project that far.

Traffic counts go from around 20,000 between Beaver Dam and Waupun, to about 14,000 north of the northern WI-26 interchage where a great deal of traffic heads off to Rosendale. It would make sense to go to Waupun, but not beyond.

[The Ghostbuster]

Whatever happens to the corridor in the future, these two at-grade rail crossing have got to be grade-separated: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4675228,-88.815052,3a,75y,359.35h,88.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1smyjHnYbMNSLQBep0lCYGxA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D1.602236788816569%26panoid%3DmyjHnYbMNSLQBep0lCYGxA%26yaw%3D359.34812483181906!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D (along the Beaver Dam Bypass); and https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5951913,-88.735053,3a,75y,63.85h,87.83t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1speoUuWWVf_81do6ES-dR7w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D2.170074460102896%26panoid%3DpeoUuWWVf_81do6ES-dR7w%26yaw%3D63.84593797219095!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D (along the Waupun Bypass).

[hobsini2]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

I would support converting it to a freeway up to Beaver Dam beyond that it's fine as is.

The distance between the end of the freeway portion in Beaver Dam, and the beginning of the freeway portion around Waupun, is 5 miles. I think they would have to block off four cross streets and build an interchange at Dodge CTH C. As long as they are doing the study, it makes perfect sense to continue the project that far.

Traffic counts go from around 20,000 between Beaver Dam and Waupun, to about 14,000 north of the northern WI-26 interchage where a great deal of traffic heads off to Rosendale. It would make sense to go to Waupun, but not beyond.

I get that a good chunk of traffic splits off 151 at 26 heading for Rosendale and Oshkosh. However, if people knew that 151 was a freeway entirely, I could see some of the Oshkosh traffic prefer to stay on 151 at the split. An upgraded 151 with a 70 mph zone from Hwy D to Wis 26 with no cross traffic would be very appealing.

[tchafe1978]

https://www.wmtv15news.com/video/2025/05/07/wisconsin-dot-block-access-cth-k-ush-18151-near-barneveld/

The US 18-151 intersection with CTH K near Barneveled is being closed off after two fatal crashes within the last two weeks. Maybe this will be the impetus to get the freeway conversion study moving along to actual construction sooner than later.

[The Ghostbuster]

Given how close the CTH K intersection is to the CTH ID interchange (Exit 58), I would imagine a grade-separation will ultimately be constructed at this location.

[thspfc]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

I would support converting it to a freeway up to Beaver Dam beyond that it's fine as is.

The distance between the end of the freeway portion in Beaver Dam, and the beginning of the freeway portion around Waupun, is 5 miles. I think they would have to block off four cross streets and build an interchange at Dodge CTH C. As long as they are doing the study, it makes perfect sense to continue the project that far.

Traffic counts go from around 20,000 between Beaver Dam and Waupun, to about 14,000 north of the northern WI-26 interchage where a great deal of traffic heads off to Rosendale. It would make sense to go to Waupun, but not beyond.

I get that a good chunk of traffic splits off 151 at 26 heading for Rosendale and Oshkosh. However, if people knew that 151 was a freeway entirely, I could see some of the Oshkosh traffic prefer to stay on 151 at the split. An upgraded 151 with a 70 mph zone from Hwy D to Wis 26 with no cross traffic would be very appealing.

This would only be significant if they built a free-flowing interchange at I-41.

[SEWIGuy]

The DOT just restarted the two studies this year: US 18/151 Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx); US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx). I don't expect any freeway conversion projects to be implemented until at least 2035 or 2040.

US 151 should have been an interstate standard freeway from Madison to Fond du Lac years ago.

Traffic counts still don't support it northeast of WI-26. In fact that segment isn't even included in this study - a project that is in itself unlikely to finish in the next decade. I'm young, and I would be surpised if US-151 becomes a freeway from Waupun to FDL in my lifetime.

I would support converting it to a freeway up to Beaver Dam beyond that it's fine as is.

The distance between the end of the freeway portion in Beaver Dam, and the beginning of the freeway portion around Waupun, is 5 miles. I think they would have to block off four cross streets and build an interchange at Dodge CTH C. As long as they are doing the study, it makes perfect sense to continue the project that far.

Traffic counts go from around 20,000 between Beaver Dam and Waupun, to about 14,000 north of the northern WI-26 interchage where a great deal of traffic heads off to Rosendale. It would make sense to go to Waupun, but not beyond.

I get that a good chunk of traffic splits off 151 at 26 heading for Rosendale and Oshkosh. However, if people knew that 151 was a freeway entirely, I could see some of the Oshkosh traffic prefer to stay on 151 at the split. An upgraded 151 with a 70 mph zone from Hwy D to Wis 26 with no cross traffic would be very appealing.

This would only be significant if they built a free-flowing interchange at I-41.

Yeah, although the movements there rarely add much to the travel time.

I think the biggest problem is that it heads so far south, obviously to connect to the bypass around FdL, that it adds more time to the trip. If the primary concern for this route was an alternative to WI-26, a more direct shot from Lamartine to I-41 would have been much better.