Highways 170 through 179

STH-170 | STH-171 | STH-172 | STH-173 | STH-175 | Former STH-176 | STH-178 | STH-179 | Jump to Bottom

Western Terminus:

STH-128 in Glenwood City at cnr First St & Oak St

Eastern Terminus:

STH-40 in Colfax at cnr University Ave & Main St

Length:

23.98 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-170

Notes:

None.

History:

STH-170 was commissioned in c.1941-42 along what had formerly been CTH-G in Dunn Co, from STH-40 at Colfax to STH-25 at Wheeler, along its present-day alignment. Then in 1947, STH-170 was extended farther west by six miles along CTH-G to Boyceville, then continued westerly, supplanting the STH-79 designation to STH-128 at Glenwood City. (STH-79 had been realigned to run due northerly from Boyceville.)

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Western Terminus:

STH-35 three miles southeast of Ferryville

Eastern Terminus:

US-14 just north of Boaz

Length:

33.39 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-171

Notes:

None.

History:

In 1943, county-maintained CTH-M from STH-131 at Gays Mills in Crawford Co southerly to STH-60 near Wauzeka was turned over to the state and designated STH-171. In 1947, the routings of STH-131 and STH-171 from Gays Mills westerly and southerly were swapped to their current configurations; STH-131 was moved to run southerly from Gays Mills to STH-60, while STH-171 was moved to run westerly from Gays Mills to STH-35 near Ferryville. At that same time, STH-171 (now an east-west route) was extended easterly from Gays Mills supplanting CTH-K via Rolling Ground to Boaz.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

NHS:

Extremely short concurrent segment with US-61 at Rolling Ground.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Western Terminus:

STH-54 in Oneida at cnr Airport Dr & W Mason St, west of Ashwaubenon and Green Bay

Eastern Terminus:

I-43 at Exit 180 southeast of Green Bay

Length:

11.63 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-172

Notes:

The freeway portion of STH-172 is the southern leg in a loop of freeways which circle Green Bay (the others are US-41 and I-43), and was the last to be completed in the fall of 1984.

Some have questioned why the freeway portion of STH-172 hasn't been signed as an Interstate spur route (e.g. I-343, I-543, etc.) as it is up to Interstate standards and is a very acceptable southern bypass of Green Bay. Some reasons could be lack of approval from the applicable federal governing body, lack of interest by WisDOT, funding, etc. In the USENET newsgroup misc.transport.road, Michael Koerner of nearby Appleton has stated WisDOT could choose to route I-43 along STH-172 westerly to US-41, then northerly via US-41, should the I-43 designation ever be extended north from the Green Bay area (although this is purely speculation and not related to any actual plans). The primary reason cited is the current I-43 & US-41/US-141 interchange in Howard features some rather tight and sub-standard curves, which would either need to be bypassed or reconstructed. —Thanks to Michael for his input!

History:

STH-172 dates back to 1945 when the US-12 bypass of Eau Claire was completed along Clairemont Ave. Instead of simply following the former route of US-12 through downtown Eau Claire in its entirety, STH-172 is commissioned as somewhat of a US-12 "business route" cutting through downtown from west to east, only following a portion of the old US-12 route through the city. STH-172 began at US-12/Clairemont Ave and proceeded easterly via Cameron St to the former route of US-12 at 3rd St, then southerly along Bellinger St for one block, easterly via Madison St to Barstow St and southerly via Barstow. At Main St, the new STH-172 departed from the former US-12 route and continued easterly via Main St to a terminus at US-53/Hastings Way, which had been completed just before World War II.

In 1946, however, STH-172 was moved onto the former route of US-12 through the city northwest of downtown. It now began at the western end of the US-12/Clairemont Ave bypass and proceeded southeasterly toward downtown via Truax Blvd and 3rd St to Cameron St, where it resumed its 1945 routing. Cameron St from 3rd St westerly to US-12 was turned back to local control. In c.1947-48, STH-172 was again rerouted in downtown Eau Claire, this time to turn easterly from 3rd Ave along Platt St and southerly via Bellinger to its former route at Cameron St, with 3rd from Platt to Cameron and Cameron from 3rd to Bellinger turned back to local control.

The schizophrenic route of STH-172 was again changed, this time in 1949 and southeast of downtown. Instead of turning easterly from Barstow St via Main St toward US-53, it was changed to turn easterly via Eau Claire St to Farwell St, then southeasterly via Farwell, northeasterly along Washington St and southeasterly again via Harding St and Brackett Ave to US-53/Harding Way. The former route along Barstow St (Eau Claire-Main Sts) and Main St is turned back to local control.

In 1952, the routing of STH-172 was once again changed, east from the Chippewa River bridge on Madison St, turning southerly on Farwell St and across the Eau Claire River. The former route along Barstow St from Madison St to Eau Claire St and Eau Claire from Barstow to Farwell is turned back to local control. Sources seem to indicate the BUS US-12 routing was added to the entire length of STH-172 in or near 1963. After a year for transition, the STH-172 designation was yanked from Eau Claire in 1964, leaving the BUS US-12 routing along that route.

After just over a decade, STH-172 reappeared in the Green Bay area, assigned to the freeway completed in 1975 from US-41 in Ashwaubenon easterly to CTH-X/Webster Ave in Allouez. In the fall of 1984, the rest of the STH-172 freeway was completed from Webster Ave easterly to an interchange with I-43 in Bellevue. Then in c.1988, STH-172 was extended westerly from US-41 along CTH-GG/Airport Dr, past the Austin Straubel International Airport to a new western terminus at STH-54 in Oneida. The presumed reason for this extension was to provide state highway access to the airport.

Freeway:

From immediately west of the US-41 interchange in Ashwaubenon easterly to eastern terminus at I-43.

Expressway:

From west of the Austin Straubel International Airport entrance easterly to the beginning of freeway immediately west of the US-41 interchange in Ashwaubenon.

NHS:

The following two segments of STH-172 are on the National Highway System (NHS):

1. From the US-41 interchange in Ashwaubenon easterly to eastern terminus at I-43.
2. Intermodal Connector: From the main entrance of Austin Straubel International Airport easterly to the US-41 interchange in Ashwaubenon. [Note: Intermodal Connectors provide access between major intermodal facilities and the other four subsystems making up the National Highway System. A listing of all official NHS Intermodal Connectors.]

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• WIS 54/172 corridor study - from WisDOT: "The WisDOT Northeast Regional Office in Green Bay has completed and released a study on the WIS 54/172 corridor from Green Bay to Seymour in Brown and Outagamie counties."

• WIS 54/172 corridor study September 2004 newsletter - from WisDOT: "The project study area includes WIS 54 from Seymour to US 41 and WIS 172 from WIS 54 to US 41."

Southwest Terminus:

STH-21 one mile west of Wyeville, northeast of Tomah

Northeast Terminus:

STH-73 in Nekoosa at cnr of Market St, Prospect Ave & Vilas Ave, southwest of Wisconsin Rapids

Length:

36.85 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-173

Notes:

Since 23 of its total 37 miles run at roughly a 45 degree angle and most of the rest are east-west in nature, I have chosen not to follow WisDOT's classification that STH-173 is a north-south route.

Logically, it may seem STH-173 was designated as such because it begins at STH-73, the latter being the former's "parent" route. Unfortunately this doesn't hold true, since when STH-173 debuted in 1947, the highway ended at STH-80 southwest of Babcock—it didn't reach STH-73! It was nearly a quarter-century later when STH-173 was extended to a new terminus at STH-73 in Nekoosa. Only then did this highway meet up with its presumed "parent route." In the end, it is obvious the meeting of STH-173 and STH-73 was more conincidental than contrived.

History:

The ten miles of CTH-G in Monroe Co from STH-21 west of Wyeville northeasterly to Mather and the 14 miles of CTH-X from Mather northeasterly to STH-80 southwest of Babcock were transferred from county to state control in 1947 and designated as STH-173. Then in 1970, the 12 miles of CTH-J from Babcock easterly to Nekoosa was transferred to state control. The STH-173 designation was extended northeasterly with STH-80 into Babcock, then easterly via the new trunkline route to STH-73 at Nekoosa.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• 1969 Assembly Bill 647 Chapter 489 - the bill that seemingly forced the State Highway Commission to extend STH-173 to Nekoosa.

Southern Terminus:

Jct US-41 & US-45/STH-100 at Exit 47 in northwestern Milwaukee

Northern Terminus:

US-151 (the "Fond du Lac Bypass"), approximately 1/4 mile west of the US-41 & US-151/FdL Bypass interchange south of the City of Fond du Lac

Length:

50.4 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-175

Notes:

STH-175 follows the former route of US-41 before the present route was constructed in 1953-55.

Several segments of STH-175 have been earmarked for jurisdictional transfer to local control in the future, although it is unclear what the timetables for those transfers may be. In Washington Co, for example, nearly all of the highway in that county is proposed to be transferred to county control except the portion from STH-83 to STH-33 at Addison. Indeed, on January 1, 2007 the northernmost 17.1 miles of STH-175 from the US-151/Fond du Lac Bypass northerly to US-45 south of Oshkosh was transferred to local control, becoming CTH-RP in Fond du Lac Co (north of North Fond du Lac) and CTH-R in Winnebago Co. Noting that this highway exists no more than three miles from other parallel routes, one could assume all or most of this highway will be decommissioned in the coming years.

History:

While US-41 was realigned onto its present alignment between STH-23 at Fond du Lac and STH-21 at Oshkosh in 1952, the former route of US-41 between those cities was initially given back to local control (those segments which were not concurrently designated with other state highways). Then in 1953, when an additional segment of US-41 was relocated onto its present alignment from the southern jct of US-45/STH-100 in Milwaukee Co to STH-60 at Slinger, the former route of US-41 (also known as Appleton Ave in Milwaukee & Waukesha Cos) was redesignated STH-175. At Slinger, where US-41 transitioned back to its original routing, the STH-175 designation was co-signed with US-41 for 35 miles between Slinger and Fond du Lac. At FdL, STH-175 again followed along US-41's former (pre-1952) alignment from Fond du Lac to south of Oshkosh, where STH-175 was concurrently designated with US-45—just as US-41 was—into Oshkosh. Within Oshkosh, when US-45 jogged west on 24th St to Oregon St, then north through downtown, STH-175 again followed US-41's former routing along Main St north to Murdock Ave, then turned west to follow Murdock westerly to its terminus at the junction of US-41, US-45 & STH-110 (cnr of Murdock & Jackson St).

In 1954 when the remainder of US-41 was moved onto its present alignment from Slinger to Fond du Lac, STH-175 remained behind on the former alignment of US-41, as it does today. In c.1978-79, STH-175 was scaled back from its northern terminus to end at US-45 south of Oshkosh—its present northern terminus. At the time, the former route of STH-175 along Main St & Murdock Ave in Oshkosh was turned back to local control. However, in c.1995-96, the portion of the former STH-145 along Main St from 24th Ave to Washington Ave downtown was redesignated as part of US-45 through Oshkosh.

In 1954 when the remainder of US-41 was moved onto its present alignment from Slinger to Fond du Lac, STH-175 remained behind on the former alignment of US-41, as it does today. In c.1978-79, STH-175 was scaled back from its northern terminus to end at US-45 south of Oshkosh—its present northern terminus. At the time, the former route of STH-175 along Main St & Murdock Ave in Oshkosh was turned back to local control. However, in c.1995-96, the portion of the former STH-145 along Main St from 24th Ave to Washington Ave downtown was redesignated as part of US-45 through Oshkosh.

The route of STH-175 in northwest Fond du Lac was modified in 2003 to run along a northerly extension of Peters Ave from CTH-OOO/Scott St northerly back to Van Dyne Rd at the southern North Fond du Lac limits. The former route along Van Dyne Rd from Scott St to Lake Shore Dr was turned back to local control. Then in 2005, the 1933-era bypass and grade separation at STH-33 in Addison was completely removed with traffic restored to STH-175 in late October. STH-175 and STH-33 now meet at a four-way stop intersection.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• WIS 175 scheduled to re-open in Washington County - from WisDOT.

• WIS 175 in Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties being renamed - press release from WisDOT.

• Wisconsin—Mile-by-Mile - a list of towns along the Yellowstone Trail in Wisconsin, which ran along modern-day STH-175 in the early part of the 1900s.

Fmr. So. Terminus:

Illinois state line 6 miles southeast of South Wayne

Fmr. No. Terminus:

STH-78 at Wiota

Length:

12.76 miles

Map:

Route Map of Former STH-176

Notes:

The entire length of STH-176 was turned back to Lafayette Co in 1999. The removal of this highway from the state highway system also removed the only occurrence of a Wisconsin state highway ending at the Illinois state line with no state-maintained counterpart in that state. (North Christian Hollow Rd led away from the southern end of the old STH-176.) The opposite situation does still does exist, however, where Illinois SR-73 ends at the Wisconsin state line southwest of Monroe with no Wisconsin counterpart!

History:

STH-176 dated to 1947 when it was commissioned along what had been CTH-D from Wiota southeasterly via South Wayne to the Illinois state line. It is of no coincidence Lafayette Co chose to reapply the CTH-D designation to the former STH-176 in 1999, as that was the original designation of this particular route prior to 1947. Few, if any, changes occurred to SR-176 during its half-century of existence.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Southern Terminus:

Jct STH-29 & BUS STH-29 at Exit 79 (Seymour Cray Sr Blvd interchange) on the southeast side of Chippewa Falls

Northern Terminus:

STH-64 on the west limits of Cornell

Length:

23.3 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-178

Notes:

In late 2006, the route of STH-178 in Chippewa Falls was relocated to the pre-existing route of Seymour Cray Sr Blvd between STH-29 and CTH-I (the "East Bridge Crossing"), then northwesterly along a roadway built on new alignment, back to STH-178 northeast of the city. From the Mar 9, 2005 Chippewa Co Highway Dept meeting minutes: "It will cost approximately 2.7 million dollars to connect Seymour Cray Senior Blvd to CTH S by relocating and constructing the new CTH I. Federal aid, County match money, and the City of Chippewa Falls will be funding this project. When the connection is continued to STH 178, Seymour Cray Senior Blvd, and the new relocated CTH I may become STH 178 and the existing part of STH 178 south from CTH S, will be city, town road." WisDOT notes: "The extension of Seymour Cray Sr. Boulevard between County I and County S [opened] to traffic on Monday, November 13. Upon opening, the roadway will become WIS 178. “Old” WIS 178, south of County S will become Commerce Parkway."

History:

Chippewa Co's CTH-I was transferred to the state trunk highway system in 1947 and designated STH-178. Since that time, the highway has existed pretty much as originally designated, with the exception of a realignment in c.1985-86, where it was rerouted near Jim Falls to curve northerly onto Old Abe Rd (175th St) then easterly along Lowland Rd (140th Ave). The former twisting route with about a half-dozen curves along 128th Ave, 180th St, 130th Ave, 185th St and 188th St was turned back to town control.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• Construction set to begin on Seymour Cray Sr. Boulevard extension - 2006 press release from WisDOT.

• Economic and Land Use Impacts Study of State Trunk Highway 29: Chippewa Falls Profile - from FHWA, includes text and a photo of the Seymour Cray Sr Blvd and "East Bridge."

Western Terminus:

STH-27 in Eastman at cnr Sioux Coulee Rd & Main St, 13 miles northeast of Pairie du Chien

Eastern Terminus:

STH-131 in Steuben at cnr Farris St & A St

Length:

8.80 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-179

Notes:

None.

History:

STH-179 dates to 1947 when Crawford County's CTH-D was transferred to state control. Since that time, the route of STH-179 has remained unchanged.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

STH-170 | STH-171 | STH-172 | STH-173 | STH-175 | Former STH-176 | STH-178 | STH-179 | Up to Top