In Depth: News & Articles

The original intent of the Wisconsin Highways website back in 1997 was to list every state highway within Wisconsin and various information about each. As time as marched on additional in-depth information has been added in order to round out the site, much of which is now linked from this page.

Articles

• First in the World: Route Numbering – Wisconsin holds an interesting place in transportation history as the first location where route numbers were both assigned to and posted along highways.
  • System of Numbering State Trunk Highways for Guidance of Travelers, Historical Background – a wonderful memorandum detailing the genesis of the first marked-and-signed numbered highway system in the world from one of the direct participants.
• Auto Trails in Wisconsin – Prior to the coming of the state trunk highways—and part of the reason for the state highways—a system of named Auto Trails cris-crossed the country. Dozens of these trails existed around the state and are detailed here.
• Business Route Specifications – Complete details about Business Connections in Wisconsin from WisDOT's "Traffic Guidelines Manual."
• Hoan Bridge: 2000 – A page devoted to information regarding the December 13, 2000 buckling of a portion of I-794's Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee.
• Milwaukee Freeways – It was during the late-1950s and 1960s when an extensive system of freeways was proposed for the Metropolitan Milwaukee area. Only part of the system was completed and this page details that history.
• Memorial Highways – Since the earliest days of the state trunk highway system in Wisconsin, certain highways have been dedicated in memory of an individual or group. This page details these dedications.
• STH-32: Red Arrow Highway – STH-32 throughout Wisconsin is also designated the "32nd Division Memorial Highway," commemorating the 32nd Division for obvious 'numerical' reasons. Find out about the two little red arrows which grace every STH-32 route marker here.
• STH-131 in the Kickapoo Valley – a detailed article chronicling the turbulent history of STH-133 between LaFarge and Ontario in Vernon Co from the 1960s until 2003, including the failed attempt at damming the Kickapoo River in the 1970s.
• US-41: The Complete History – a detailed history of one of Wisconsin's most important and storied highways along with a year-by-year breakdown of the changes and realignments to the route over the decades.