Madison Area

[Revive 755]

Yeah, what's the alternative to posting a large multiplex? There really isn't even an easy way to do what Indiana does with the US highways routed along the Indianapolis bypass.

Getting some of the routes onto different alignments?  Going a little fictional:

• Have US 151 run concurrently with US 51 between the Beltline and Washington Avenue - would at least get rid of a four route multiplex on the east side with I-39/I-90/I-94.
• Get US 12 off the beltline. Perhaps have it run up to I-94 east of Madison, then run concurrently or replace parts of WI 30, WI 113, and WI 19.  Would reduce a couple larger multiplexes but require something for the Beltline between US 14 and WI 113.

[TheCatalyst31]

If adding US-151 signs to the existing US-12/18, I-39/90, and I-39/90/94 multiplexes breaks your brain, it clearly sucks to be you.

If you're a Wisconsin motorist and have an issue with excessive multiplexes, this may not be the state for you. The new US 151 route isn't going to be worse than what we already have.

[SEWIGuy]

Yeah, what's the alternative to posting a large multiplex? There really isn't even an easy way to do what Indiana does with the US highways routed along the Indianapolis bypass.

Getting some of the routes onto different alignments?  Going a little fictional:

• Have US 151 run concurrently with US 51 between the Beltline and Washington Avenue - would at least get rid of a four route multiplex on the east side with I-39/I-90/I-94.
• Get US 12 off the beltline. Perhaps have it run up to I-94 east of Madison, then run concurrently or replace parts of WI 30, WI 113, and WI 19.  Would reduce a couple larger multiplexes but require something for the Beltline between US 14 and WI 113.

With all due respect, neither of these make a lot of sense.

In reality, you are going to have four highways between current US-151 and I-94/WI-30. Three between I-94 and the Beltline, and along the Beltline to Park Street. Then the usual four until US-18/151 exit at Verona Road. This isn't really all that excessive.

[SEWIGuy]

Fantasy world (again), but I once floated an idea to create an exemption to WI numbering statutes and create STH 1 to replace US 151 in Madison. It leads almost to the Capitol building, so I think it could be appropriate.

Just resurfacing this idea. If this swap goes through, and East Washington retains a state highway designation, WI-1 would be pretty cool.

[74/171FAN]

I moved the US 151 relocation discussion here because it is specifically a Madison thing.

[triplemultiplex]

The John Nolen Drive project has entered the next phase.  Traffic swapped over to the southbound side recently and demo has begun on the old northbound bridges.  Bike lane will be closed the rest of the year so it, too, can be rebuilt. 

As someone who is known to paddle beneath those bridges, I was pleased to see the new bridges are ever so slightly taller than the old ones.  Makes it feel a little less cave-like under there to get to the main lake.

[on_wisconsin]

The Park St plan was approv-ed by the Madtown city council last night: https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-common-council-votes-to-take-control-of-park-street-from-the-state/article_413c2b4f-9d03-4e68-a02b-9ca044f2eb9a.html

[Great Lakes Roads]

The Park St plan was approv-ed by the Madtown city council last night: https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-common-council-votes-to-take-control-of-park-street-from-the-state/article_413c2b4f-9d03-4e68-a02b-9ca044f2eb9a.html

Good. Next step: rerouting US 151 onto the Beltline and I-39/90/94 with AASHTO approval!

[The Ghostbuster]

Looks like my prediction that the future state highway designation along East Washington Ave. ending at Blair St. was accurate.

[Molandfreak]

Looks like my prediction that the future state highway designation along East Washington Ave. ending at Blair St. was accurate.

Was there even a question that it was inaccurate?

[FightingIrish]

The proposal would also reroute U.S. 151 onto U.S. 12/18 and Interstate 39/90/94, while East Washington Avenue would remain a Connecting Highway under a new WIS X151 designation. WisDOT says the change better reflects how drivers travel through the Madison area today. 

WIS X151? Well, that's different.

[JREwing78]

I'd be surprised if it was ever signed in the field as anything but E. Washington Ave.

[Molandfreak]

I'd be surprised if it was ever signed in the field as anything but E. Washington Ave.

Other reports seem to confirm that whatever designation it receives will be unsigned, but I guess we'll see.

[WisJohn]

I'd be surprised if it was ever signed in the field as anything but E. Washington Ave.

Other reports seem to confirm that whatever designation it receives will be unsigned, but I guess we'll see.

Unless I am forgetting something, I'm not sure Wisconsin has any unsigned state highways. At least onot any as long as X51 would be.

[The Ghostbuster]

What if they decided to end the new state highway along East Washington Ave. (signed or unsigned) at First St., and instead extended STH 113 to Blair St.? Unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

[Molandfreak]

I'd be surprised if it was ever signed in the field as anything but E. Washington Ave.

Other reports seem to confirm that whatever designation it receives will be unsigned, but I guess we'll see.

Unless I am forgetting something, I'm not sure Wisconsin has any unsigned state highways. At least onot any as long as X51 would be.

Spur 51 Beloit, Spur 41 De Pere, formerly STH-341.

[The Ghostbuster]

There's also an unsigned Spur 794 along E. Howard Ave. between STH 794 and STH 32. Originally, it was to have been STH 199, but they settled for Spur 794: https://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys400-894.html#STH-794SPUR.

[SEWIGuy]

Spur 42 in Gills Rock is also unsigned.  East Washinton would be the longest unsigned route by far.

[triplemultiplex]

WI 119 was unsigned until like 2010.  At least there was no mention of it on I-94 until the big rebuild project, if memory serves.

Moving US 151 onto the freeways feels like something that should've been done 40 years ago at the latest.
The other US routes were moved onto the Beltline as it was finished; US 151 should've gotten the same treatment once the interstate was completed. That would've been the right time to do it.  Probably leaving Madison with a Bus 151 for a few decades until they gave up on signing it, like many business routes in this state.

[The Ghostbuster]

They could have moved US 151 to fully bypass Madison at any time since 1964, although the Broadway segment would have been the only freeway gap until 1989. I doubt the reroute will change anything traffic-wise.