Wisconsin notes

[mgk920]

An aside, but I do find it to be very curious that I-535 runs between I-35 in Minnesota and WI 35 in Wisconsin.

Mike

[Beltway]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

[SEWIGuy]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

I believe the last portions of US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay were finally converted to freeway around 2001 or so.

[hobsini2]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

The 4 lane part of US 41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee dates back into the 50s in some parts. Fond du Lac to Milwaukee was on the 1959 map as a divided highway.
By the 1963 map, it was a divided highway from the Illinois line to just passed Kaukauna. And already freeway south of Milwaukee (and signed as I-94) and from Oshkosh to Appleton.
I-90 was already completed from Beloit to Wisconsin Dells.
I-94 was completed from Hudson to Elk Mound.

I love historical maps.

[mgk920]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

The 4 lane part of US 41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee dates back into the 50s in some parts. Fond du Lac to Milwaukee was on the 1959 map as a divided highway.
By the 1963 map, it was a divided highway from the Illinois line to just passed Kaukauna. And already freeway south of Milwaukee (and signed as I-94) and from Oshkosh to Appleton.
I-90 was already completed from Beloit to Wisconsin Dells.
I-94 was completed from Hudson to Elk Mound.

I love historical maps.

There were still crossroad intersections and at at-grade railroad crossing between Appleton and Oshkosh into the early-mid 1970s.  The railroad crossingwas eliminated and the interchange at Breezwood was added in the late 1970s.  Also a RIRO on the southbound side just north of Neenah was cut off in the six-laning project in the late 1980s(!).

Mike

[mgk920]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

I believe the last portions of US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay were finally converted to freeway around 2001 or so.

Correct.  The west frontage road on the part closest to De Pere is the former SB roadway.   FUN before and after Packer games!

Mike

[NWI_Irish96]

Correct.  The west frontage road on the part closest to De Pere is the former SB roadway.   FUN before and after Packer games!

Mike

Visiting Lambeau for the first time September 6.

[SSOWorld]

An aside, but I do find it to be very curious that I-535 runs between I-35 in Minnesota and WI 35 in Wisconsin.

Mike

Position the route shields correctly and you have:

53 535 35

of course that means you have to put the US Route shield on the left.

[Molandfreak]

An aside, but I do find it to be very curious that I-535 runs between I-35 in Minnesota and WI 35 in Wisconsin.

Mike

Position the route shields correctly and you have:

53 535 35

of course that means you have to put the US Route shield on the left.

Recommission 53 Business and you can have 53 53 535 35

[dvferyance]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

I believe the last portions of US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay were finally converted to freeway around 2001 or so.

The conversion started around 1994. I recall that in early 1996 they had made it almost as far as Fond Du Lac.

[peterj920]

I know there's needs statewide but I think WISDOT is really neglecting urban highways across the state. In Green Bay, Wis 29/ Shawano Ave is so bad that the city is resurfacing the road since the state won't reconstruct until 2031 and the road is awful. Wis 32 in Downtown De Pere is rough and there's been plans for over a decade without a shovel in the ground.

One thing I notice about both projects is that the state is spending a bunch of time and money on "studies" and "alternatives." Wouldn't the public be best served by reconstructing the roads more timely by just fixing them in their correct configurations?

Just seems sad that the state needs to take 6 years to determine if Shawano Ave should have 3 lanes or 4 while the city takes action needed and fixes the road itself. There needs to be less pointless studies use the money to fix the roads.

 https://fox11online.com/news/local/resurfacing-aims-to-ease-potholes-on-shawano-avenue-years-ahead-of-2031-rebuild-green-bay-oakland-avenue-hudson-street-wisdot-wisconsin-utility-sewer-water-mill-pave

[SEWIGuy]

I know there's needs statewide but I think WISDOT is really neglecting urban highways across the state. In Green Bay, Wis 29/ Shawano Ave is so bad that the city is resurfacing the road since the state won't reconstruct until 2031 and the road is awful. Wis 32 in Downtown De Pere is rough and there's been plans for over a decade without a shovel in the ground.

One thing I notice about both projects is that the state is spending a bunch of time and money on "studies" and "alternatives." Wouldn't the public be best served by reconstructing the roads more timely by just fixing them in their correct configurations?

Just seems sad that the state needs to take 6 years to determine if Shawano Ave should have 3 lanes or 4 while the city takes action needed and fixes the road itself. There needs to be less pointless studies use the money to fix the roads.

 https://fox11online.com/news/local/resurfacing-aims-to-ease-potholes-on-shawano-avenue-years-ahead-of-2031-rebuild-green-bay-oakland-avenue-hudson-street-wisdot-wisconsin-utility-sewer-water-mill-pave

As I said when you complained about WISDOT not upgrading rural highways to four lanes a couple weeks ago...

Only so much money to go around and there are some very large projects on the docket the next few years.

[JREwing78]

Also note the legislature removed the index of the fuel tax to inflation way back in 2005. More roadway to fix/repair, and less funding to do it. 

[peterj920]

Also note the legislature removed the index of the fuel tax to inflation way back in 2005. More roadway to fix/repair, and less funding to do it.

In this case they need to spend money more wisely. This is the 2nd time in the last decade WISDOT spent a bunch of money on "studies" while the public demanded a fix.

Wis 57/Riverside Dr was another project that was being dragged out and was resurfaced because the road was crumbling. It's a bad look when one agency (WISDOT) spends a bunch of time on red tape while Green Bay decides to just fix it without any of that.

[SEWIGuy]

Also note the legislature removed the index of the fuel tax to inflation way back in 2005. More roadway to fix/repair, and less funding to do it.

In this case they need to spend money more wisely. This is the 2nd time in the last decade WISDOT spent a bunch of money on "studies" while the public demanded a fix.

I'm not sure fixing a road without studies is a good idea. And yes, this is sarcasm.

Some random message board guy claiming that they are wasting money on "studies," without an understanding of the legal and fiscal framework involved, is pretty interesting.

[US 12 fan]

Apparently starting this fall, I-94 is going to have the bridge fixtures replaced over the Rock River and Crawfish River. And it will be widened to three lanes apiece for a future potential widening of I-94.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/se/94bridges-jefferson/default.aspx

[I-39]

Apparently starting this fall, I-94 is going to have the bridge fixtures replaced over the Rock River and Crawfish River. And it will be widened to three lanes apiece for a future potential widening of I-94.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/se/94bridges-jefferson/default.aspx

What are the odds we see a widening of I-94 along there within the next 20 years?

[The Ghostbuster]

Probably not very high. If I had my way, Interstate 94 would already be six lanes between Exit 244 and Exit 290. When the STH 73 is reconstructed around 2030 (https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i94-73bridges/default.aspx), the underpasses will probably be built to accommodate a third lane in each direction.

[SEWIGuy]

Apparently starting this fall, I-94 is going to have the bridge fixtures replaced over the Rock River and Crawfish River. And it will be widened to three lanes apiece for a future potential widening of I-94.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/se/94bridges-jefferson/default.aspx

Those westbound lanes I believe date back to the construction of I-94 in the 1950s. The eastbound lanes were replaced about 40 years ago because those bridges dated back to the orginal relocation of WI-30 from what is now Jefferson County B in the 1930s.

The westbound lanes are so low that in 2008 the interstate had to be closed due to flooding.

[peterj920]

Apparently starting this fall, I-94 is going to have the bridge fixtures replaced over the Rock River and Crawfish River. And it will be widened to three lanes apiece for a future potential widening of I-94.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/se/94bridges-jefferson/default.aspx

The TPC approved the planning phase of widening I-94 in Waukesha County. That's very likely to be done. As far as between Cottage Grove and Willow Glen Rd, it's not likely to be widened but needs to. That stretch is being resurfaced frequently since the roadbed is shot.,

[The Ghostbuster]

The recent resurfacing project on Interstate 94 between CTH N and Airport Rd.'s website on the DOT website said it was to be the final resurfacing project before a capacity expansion project can be implemented. So 94 between Exits 244 and 290 will probably be expanded at some point, although it will likely be gradually.

[dvferyance]

The recent resurfacing project on Interstate 94 between CTH N and Airport Rd.'s website on the DOT website said it was to be the final resurfacing project before a capacity expansion project can be implemented. So 94 between Exits 244 and 290 will probably be expanded at some point, although it will likely be gradually.

The part between Exits 282 and 290 is in the works to be widened. Likely sometime in the 2030's. The Jefferson County portion not likely for awhile.

[The Ghostbuster]

That makes sense.

[mgk920]

Obviously the I-41 upgrades are most central to me, but all three are critically needed. I also very much like how WisDOT is handling the south end of the Blatnik Bridge.

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

It was far easier and cheaper for WisDOT to build I-43 on a different routing and get it completed first and then work on US 41 later.  This is the exact same reason why Caltrans built I-5 on its 'middle-of-nowhere' routing through the central valley and work on upgrading existing paralleling CA (ex US) 99 later.  This has been discussed in here many times over the years.

Mike

[Beltway]

I noticed on a 1971 map that US-41 between Milwaukee and Green Bay was a 4-lane mostly non-freeway highway the entire distance. I-43 didn't exist then. So US-41 was the connecting highway and served the cities west of Lake Winnebago.

It was far easier and cheaper for WisDOT to build I-43 on a different routing and get it completed first and then work on US 41 later.  This is the exact same reason why Caltrans built I-5 on its 'middle-of-nowhere' routing through the central valley and work on upgrading existing paralleling CA (ex US) 99 later.  This has been discussed in here many times over the years.
Mike

I see on the 1965 official highway map that US-41 was four lanes all the way and with interchanges in a number of places. I-43 was one of the 1968 additions to the system. It was logical to build on another corridor as US-41 already served with a high speed 4 lane highway.