Highways 160 through 169

STH-160 | STH-161 | STH-162 | Former STH-163 | STH-164 | STH-165 | STH-167 | Former STH-168 | STH-169 | Jump to Bottom

Western Terminus:

Jct STH-29 & STH-55 at Angelica

Eastern Terminus:

STH-32 in Pulaski at cnr of Pulaski St & Saint Augustine St

Length:

3.44 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-160

Notes:

According to a article in the September 30, 1997 edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, STH-160 was designated as the "Polish Veterans Memorial Highway" in the 1998 budget bill.

History:

The original routing of STH-16 (the predecessor of today's STH-29) northwest of Green Bay travelled via Shawano Ave to Mill Center, CTH-C northerly to CTH-U near Anston, westerly via CTH-U and Kunesh Rd, then northerly via modern-day STH-32 to Pulaski, then west to Angelica where it joined the pre-1996 routing of STH-29 northwesterly to Bonduel and Shawano. In 1923, STH-160 was designated along a new routing "bypassing" Kunesh and Pulaski, ending at STH-16 in Angelica. In 1930, the STH-29 designation was transferred to the routing of STH-160, completely replacing that route from Mill Center to Angelica. The short portion of the former STH-29 from STH-32 at Pulaski westerly to Angelica then received the STH-160 designation. In 1996, STH-160 was shortened by less than 1/2 mile when the new STH-29 expressway bypass of Angelica was completed.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Western Terminus:

Former US-10 at Amherst Junction, two miles northwest of Amherst

Eastern Terminus:

Northern jct of STH-22 & STH-110, 3/4 mile west of Symco

Length:

22.42 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-161

Notes:

The western end of STH-161 is scheduled to undergone major change beginning in 2007. With the completion of the US-10 Amherst/Amherst Junction bypass in September 2004, the western terminus of this highway has been at the former route of US-10. While the portion of CTH-Q from the former US-10 southerly to CTH-B and CTH-B from CTH-Q westerly to the interchange on the new US-10 bypass could have been transferred to the state as an extension of STH-161, it was decided to realign the highway heading westerly from Nelsonville instead. In 2007, Loberg Rd from jct STH-161 & CTH-ZZ westerly to Five Corner Rd and CTH-SS from there westerly to US-10 will be upgraded to state trunkline standards and become the new route for STH-161 with the existing route through downtown Nelsonville and southerly to Amherst Junction being turned back to local control.

In an ironic twist, the realignment of STH-161 noted above will mark the third time the highway has run westerly from the Nelsonville area toward US-10! It did so from 1923-1924 and from 1929-1933 and will do so after 2007.

History:

STH-161 debuted in 1923 generally along its present alignment, with the exception of using today's CTH-SS west from Nelsonville to STH-18 (now US-10), instead of turning southerly toward Amherst Junction. Within a year, however, the highway was rerouted to turn southerly at Nelsonville to terminate at STH-18 (later US-10) in Amherst Junction with the portion heading westerly from Nelsonville turned back to town control. Then in 1926, the route of the brand-new US-10, which replaced STH-18, supplanted STH-161 between Amherst Junction and Nelsonville before turning westerly via the pre-1925 route of STH-161 (today's STH-SS) heading toward Stevens Point.

By 1929, however, US-10 was again realigned to run northwesterly from Amherst Junction toward Custer with STH-161 extended westerly from Nelsonville to meet up with US-10 halfway to Custer. The Amherst Junction-Nelsonville road was turned back to local control. Then in 1933, the 1926-1929 changes were reinstated for some reason, with US-10 again turning northerly at Amherst Junction to Nelsonville, then westerly from there through Custer toward Stevens Point; STH-161 once again terminated at US-10 in Nelsonville.

In 1951, US-10 was realigned to the more direct routing northwesterly from Amherst Junction it followed until 2004, while STH-161 was extended southerly from Nelsonville along the former route of US-10 to Amherst Junction and the former US-10 from Nelsonville westerly was turned back to the county and became CTH-SS.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Southern Terminus:

STH-35 in Stoddard at cnr Division St & Main St

Northern Terminus:

STH-71 at Four Corners in northwestern Monroe County

Length:

46.03 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-162

Notes:

STH-162 is a somewhat minor state trunk highway route running primarily through the valleys of northwest Vernon and eastern La Crosse Counties.

History:

When first commssioned in 1923, STH-162 began at STH-33 in Middle Ridge and ran northerly to STH-29 (later US-16) in downtown Bangor where it turned westerly to follow STH-29 (later US-16, now CTH-B) into West Salem, where the highway turned northwesterly via present-day CTH-M and westerly via present-day CTH-W and CTH-D into Holmen. From there, STH-162 ran northerly concurrently with STH-11/STH-35 (later US-53/STH-35) before turning west to Trempealeau via the original route of STH-93 through the Van Loon Wildlife Area (now partially abandoned), ending in downtown Trempealeau.

In 1926, the northern portion of STH-162 was completely relocated; the route was extended northerly through Bangor along what had been STH-29 (when a new northern route opened from Bangor to West Salem), then northerly to a new terminus at STH-71. The former STH-162 from West Salem to Holmen was turned back to county control, while the portion from US-53/STH-35 westerly to Trempealeau was redesignated STH-167. In 1961, STH-162 was extended westerly via STH-33 from Middle Ridge to Newburg Corners, then southerly supplanting STH-I to Coon Valley. There, the route was extended westerly along US-14/US-61 for a short distance, then southwesterly via CTH-P through Chaseburg to its present terminus at Stoddard.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

NHS:

Concurrently with US-14/US-61 at Coon Valley.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Fmr South Terminus:

STH-147 in Mishicot at cnr State St & Main St

Fmr North Terminus:

STH-54 in Luxemburg at cnr Main St & Center Dr

Former Length:

23.88 miles

Map:

Route Map of Former STH-163

Notes:

STH-163 is no longer a state trunk highway.

This highway was the last of the 1923 highway additions, part of a program to add 2,500 miles of additional highway to the existing 7,500-mile system.

History:

In 1923, STH-163 was designated along a route beginning at STH-17 (now STH-42) in Two Rivers, heading northerly via Mishicot, Tisch Mills and Ellisville, ending at STH-54 in Luxemburg. In 1935, the STH-163 designation was scaled back to end in Mishicot and STH-147 was routed southeasterly into Two Rivers. The route of STH-163 would remain largely unchanged for more than six decades, with the exception of a project completed in 1970 which "bypassed" Tisch Mills to the west along the modern-day route of CTH-A.

In early 1999 the entire 24-mile highway was turned back to county control, designated CTH-AB in Kewaunee Co and as CTH-A in Manitowoc Co. With the transfer, there are no longer any north-south state trunk highways in the Greater Kewaunee Co area between STH-42 along the Lake Michigan shore and I-43 heading toward Green Bay, indicating the highway must have been rather underutilized to be decommissioned.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

Southern Terminus:

STH-36 on the eastern limits of Waterford, at cnr Big Bend Rd & Milwaukee Ave

Northern Terminus:

STH-60 on the east edge of Slinger, 1/2 mile west of US-41 at cnr of Lovers Ln & Commerce Blvd

Length:

43.54 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-164

Notes:

STH-164 is a highway with a complex, varied and even controversial history, although for the first half century of its existence, it was merely a minor connecting route in eastern Waukesha Co. The controversy only erupted after the highway was extended on both ends in the 1990s and it turned into a much more major state trunkline corridor. While the highway and the proposed improvements along its length sparked much of the debate, the larger question centered on urban sprawl, transportation planning and traffic management.

As noted in the History section below, STH-164 was extended northerly from the Pewaukee area along what had been CTH-J to Slinger in 1999, bringing the route to its current 43-1/2 mile length. A primary impetus behind the transfer of CTH-J from STH-190/Capitol Dr northerly to STH-60 may have been that route's NHS (National Highway System) status. Since it was a link in the nationwide system of federally-designated routes, WisDOT may have seen its transfer into the state highway system as desirable.

Soon after CTH-J was transferred to state control and re-signed STH-164, WisDOT announced plans to eventually upgrade the route as traffic volumes warranted. According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WisDOT "intends to expand sections of Highway 164 to four lanes whenever traffic exceeds 13,000 vehicles per day, officials have said." Tenative plans based on current traffic volumes and projections had the portion of STH-164 south of STH-190/Capitol Dr scheduled for widening/reconstruction in 2003, with the segment from STH-190 northerly to CTH-VV a likely candidate for widening in 2004. The article stated traffic counts could top 13,000 between CTH-VV and CTH-Q (the Waukesha/Washington Co line) by 2010. It also stated, "no section of Highway 164 in Washington County will exceed the threshold before 2025, officials said." Of course, with any widening or reconstruction plans comes the inevitable opposition and NIMBY-ism from nearby residents.

A local opposition group formed what was termed an "asphalt rebellion" to any plans to widen STH-164 in Waukesha and Washington Counties. In early 2000, the opposition group called for the cancellation of any widening projects so as to "stave off the next Love Canal disaster or a wholesale desecration of Indian burial sites." The group states any widening project would desecrate countless Indian burial sites along the highway, although WisDOT representatives have stated any such site would be protected and the highway realigned to avoid any such sites. In addition, the opposition group claims widening would disturb potentially contaminated soil and groundwater at an abandoned landfill near Slinger. This is also unlikely to occur, as WisDOT has stated no portion of the landfill will be touched in any highway-related projects. The landfill operators have also stated they are constantly monitoring the site for any contamination.
      While some area residents are opposed to any future widening projects, many other local citizens are behind the project, stating is will be necessary, especially given the rampant development in the area. Each year, more and more subdivisions are built in the STH-164 corridor which adds more traffic to the highway. Several local officials have also come out in support of future widening projects, one of whom stated in a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article that he'd rather leave any highway engineering decisions up to the highway engineers.

The reconstruction and widening of the northern portion of STH-164 was delayed a year from the tentative schedule announced in 1999, with WisDOT separating the project into three phases, each one taking a single construction season to complete. Phase 1 was completed in late 2004, beginning at Rockwood Dr north of I-94 and running northerly along what was then CTH-J to STH-190/Capitol Dr, then north along STH-164 to Swan Rd in Pewaukee. This phase included widening the existing road to four lanes. In 2003, Phase 2 was completed from Swan Rd northerly to Prospect Ct west of Sussex and included widening the two-lane highway to four lanes with a median. Phase 3 is being constructed in 2006 from Prospect Ct just south of CTH-VV northerly to Howard Lane northwest of Sussex and will feature the same four-lane divided cross section as Phase 2 to the south.

According to a December 8, 1999 article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel stated the City of Waukesha "named the state Highway 59/164 bypass the Les Paul Parkway, after the electric-guitar pioneer" in 1998.

History:

STH-164 debuted in 1924 along the route previously designated as STH-92 from downtown Waukesha northerly to STH-74 in Sussex and remained in this configuration for 54 years without major change. In 1967, however, a new alignment for STH-164 (the present-day route of CTH-F and STH-74) was completed from Duplainville Rd in the northeast corner of the City of Pewaukee northerly to CTH-K/Lisbon Rd south of Sussex, with the former route along Duplainville Rd turned back to local control.

In c.1988, all of CTH-F from the STH-59/Waukesha bypass southerly to Waterford was transferred to state control and designated STH-164. From the jct of STH-59 & STH-164 on the south side of Waukesha, STH-164 was routed easterly and northerly concurrently with STH-59 along the bypass to Arcadian, where STH-164 was continued north along what had been CTH-A to US-18/Moreland Blvd, then westerly via US-18 to existing STH-164 north of downtown.

On January 1, 1999, STH-164 was relocated and extended as a part of a multi-highway swap between Waukesha & Washingington Counties and WisDOT. In exchange for Waukesha Co assuming control of the former STH-99 (now CTH-LO), what had been CTH-J from STH-190/Capitol Dr northerly to STH-60 at Slinger was transferred to state control and given the STH-164 designation. This new portion of STH-164 was connected to the existing route approximately one mile east via a concurrency with STH-190 along Capitol Dr. The portion of STH-164 from STH-190/Capitol Dr northerly to Sussex was redesignated as an extension of STH-74, which now terminated at STH-190/Captiol Dr. The net result was an addition of 15.15 miles to the length of STH-164 (18.65 miles of CTH-J and STH-190 were redesignated STH-164, but 3.5 miles of the former STH-164 became STH-74.)

In November 2004, yet another jurisdictional transfer takes place in the Waukesha area involving STH-164. Beginning at the junction of US-18/Moreland Blvd & STH-164/Les Paul Pkwy on the east side of Waukesha, STH-164 was redirected easterly via US-18 to I-94 at Goerkes Corners, then westerly along I-94 to Exit 294 north of Waukesha. There, STH-164 turns northerly following the former CTH-J, which was transferred to state control, to STH-190/Capitol Dr where it rejoins is former route. Transferred to county control was existing STH-164 from US-18/Moreland Blvd from north of downtown Waukesha northerly to the jct of STH-190 & STH-74 in the northeastern part of the City of Pewaukee, and designated CTH-F.

Freeway:

Concurrently with I-94 between Exits 294 and 297 in the Waukesha/Pewaukee area.

Expressway:

None.

NHS:

Nearly entire route, except portion along former CTH-J from I-94 Exit 294 northerly to STH-190/Capitol Ave in Pewaukee.

Photographs:

• STH-164 Relocation Photos, October 16, 2004

Weblinks:

• WIS 164 study - from WisDOT: "A full range of improvements to WIS 164 are being studied. Citizens and public officials are asked to review, comment on and help determine the best approaches to these improvements."

• Highway 164/County J reconstruction - from WisDOT: "The existing two-lane WIS 164 through the city of Pewaukee, town of Lisbon and villages of Pewaukee and Sussex is being reconstructed to four lanes with a new median."

• WIS 164 Name Changes - map from WisDOT.

• Waukesha County Highway Trunk J: State Road (Highway) 164 - from the Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc. website.

• Why The State Highway 164 Project is Important to Sussex - a February 6, 2006 letter from the Village of Sussex.

• Working to Stop Highway Expansion and Wetland Destruction - an article by Raymond Cox of Highway J Citizens Group, U.A.

Western Terminus:

I-94/US-41 at Exit 347 on the western edge of Pleasant Prairie

Eastern Terminus:

STH-32 in eastern Pleasant Prairie at cnr 104th St & Sheridan Rd

Length:

7.14 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-165

Notes:

WisDOT is studying potential upgrades to the STH-165 corridor. From their website: "As planned development continues along WIS 165, traffic volumes will grow to levels that can no longer be safely handled on a two-lane rural highway. Problems on the existing highway include: crash rates nearly double the statewide average; narrow shoulders; poor intersection alignment at County ML; and numerous access points that cause conflicts between local turning traffic and through traffic. The 2020 Regional Transportation System Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin, prepared by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), recommends a future four-lane highway on WIS 165 from WIS 31 to WIS 32."

History:

The first iteration of STH-165 in Wisconsin debuted in 1926 as a short connector between US-41 and STH-55 in what is today the Village of Germantown. This route is now mostly designated CTH-Y, named Hilltop Dr and Goldendale Rd. The year 1953 signaled the end of the first iteration of this highway when US-41/US-45 was routed onto its present alignment (albeit as a two-lane highway, not the current freeway) from Milwaukee Co to what is now the "Richfield Interchange." Since STH-165 ran roughly parallel to part of this relocation, it was completely removed from the state highway system.

The second, and current, iteration of STH-165 was commissioned in c.1989-90 in what is now Pleasant Prairie. This new routing of STH-165, running along both pre-existing 104th St and some new highway alignment, was added to replace two other state highways in the Kenosha area which were turned back to local control. STH-174 was an angling highway running along today's CTH-ML between STH-31 and STH-50/75th St in Kenosha, while STH-192 ran along today's CTH-H/88th Ave between STH-50 and STH-142 (now CTH-S). When these two highways were transferred from state to local control, WisDOT added STH-165 to the system.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• WIS 165 study - from WisDOT: "The 3.5-mile corridor study will evaluate the impacts of constructing a four-lane facility to improve traffic flow and safety. The engineering and environmental study will evaluate existing and future traffic demand, safety concerns, environmental impacts and measures to avoid or minimize adverse impacts."

Western Terminus:

STH-83 at jct CTH-O five miles south of Hartford in southwest Washington Co

Eastern Terminus:

Jct I-43/STH-32/North-South Frwy & STH-57 at Exit 85 in Mequon

Length:

24.96 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-167

Notes:

STH-167 is an east-west highway running through southern Washington and Ozaukee Counties.

History:

Wisconsin's original STH-167 existed in Trempealeau and La Crosse Cos along a highway originally designated as part of STH-162 in 1923. When that highway was realigned northerly from Bangor in 1926, the portion of the former STH-162 from US-53/STH-35 north of Holmen westerly to Trempealeau on the Mississippi River was designated STH-167. This incarnation of STH-167 came to an end in 1934 when STH-93 was extended southerly from Centerville to Trempealeau, then easterly over what had been STH-167.

The second incarnation of STH-167 debuted in 1940 when the 10 miles of CTH-P (Holy Hill Rd) from STH-83 south of Hartford to US-41 at Richfield in southern Washington Co was transferred to state control and designated STH-167. In 1947, the length of STH-167 was more than doubled when it was extended east of US-41 to US-45/STH-55 (now STH-145), then southeasterly with US-45/STH-55 to Germantown, then easterly via what had been CTH-M (Freistadt Rd) from Germantown to Thiensville, southerly with STH-57 for one mile to Mequon, continuing easterly along what had been CTH-S (Mequon Rd), ending at STH-42 (later STH-32, now CTH-W/Port Washington Rd). Within a year, though, STH-167 was routed further southerly along US-45/STH-55 (now STH-145), then easterly along Mequon Rd to Mequon. The former route along Freistadt Rd was turned back to local control.

The length of STH-167 was extended by several hundred feet in 1967 when the US-141/STH-32 (now I-43/STH-32) freeway was completed immediately east of Port Washington Rd. In c.1983-84, STH-167 was removed from its concurrent routing with STH-145 and continued westerly via Mequon & Lannon Rds to US-41/US-45 where it turned northwesterly with US-41/US-45 for approximately three miles back to its existing rotuing on Holy Hill Rd. The two miles of Holy Hill Rd from US-41/US-45 to STH-145 was turned back to local control.

Freeway:

Concurrently with US-41/US-45 between Exits 54 and 57 in Germantown.

Expressway:

None.

NHS:

From US-41/US-45 Exit 57 in Germantown easterly to eastern terminus at I-43/STH-32.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• US 41/WIS 167 (Lannon Road) Interchange reconstruction project - from WisDOT: "The US 41/WIS 167 Lannon Road diamond interchange in Germantown [was] reconstructed to meet traffic demands and increase safety."

Fmr West Terminus:

STH-47 at Nichols

Fmr East Terminus:

Jct STH-55 & CTH-VV, three miles north of downtown Seymour

Former Length:

5.93 miles

Map:

Route Map of Former STH-168

Notes:

STH-168 is no longer a state trunk highway.

History:

The first iteration of STH-168 dates 1934 when a short spur highway from US-16 into Camp McCoy (now the area known as "Old Camp McCoy" in the Fort McCoy Military Reservation) was added to the state trunk highway system. This highway ran along today's CTH-A from STH-16 under I-90 to 13th Ave, then northerly via 13th Ave, terminating at the cnr of 13th Ave, Quarry Hill Rd & Cinder Ave (a portion of this route has now been obliterated by the Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport). It provided access from US-16 to not only Camp McCoy, but also the McCoy Army Airfield. (Also see the STH-169 listing below for a similar history.) In 1959, STH-168 was removed from the state highway system, with two potential reasons why. Firstly, I-90 was to be built adjacent to US-16 (now STH-16) in this area, with no interchange planned for STH-168. Secondly, the main hub of the camp was officially relocated north of STH-21 on August 30, 1942 at the area now designated on maps as "Fort McCoy." The importance of the original site of Camp McCoy, to which STH-168 provided access, was much-diminished, therefore not requiring such access.

The STH-168 designation remained unused in the state highway system for about 25 years until, in c.1985-86, the second iteration of the route came about when STH-156 was rerouted to follow the former CTH-W in Shawano Co. The former route of STH-156 in Outagamie Co from STH-187 at Leeman easterly to STH-47/STH-55 at Nichols was redesignated STH-168.

In 1996 the length of STH-168 more than doubled when it was extended over the former route of STH-55 from STH-47 to STH-55 north of Seymour. This change took place when STH-55 was rerouted north to Angelica instead of turning west toward Nichols. STH-168, which then only ran from Leeman at STH-187 to Nichols was extended over the former STH-55 for an additional six miles. Then, in 1998—only two short years later—the original portion of STH-168 from Leeman to Nichols was turned back to local control as CTH-F, bringing STH-168 back to its pre-1996 length, albeit along a different alignment! It can be assumed WisDOT turned control of the western section of the highway over to the county since it ran parallel to STH-156 three miles to the north.

If the reason for the decommissioning of STH-168 west of Nichols was due, in part, to its proximity to the parallel STH-156 to the north, the same situation was true for the portion of former STH-55-turned-STH-168 east of Nichols. Indeed, on July 1, 2003, the remainder of STH-168 was transferred to county control and designated as a westerly extension of CTH-VV. As it was from 1958 to c.1985-86, STH-168 is no longer an active state trunk highway designation.

Freeway/Expwy:

None.

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• Section of WIS 168 to be renamed in Outagamie County - press release from WisDOT.

Southern Terminus:

STH-13 just north of Mellen

Northern Terminus:

US-2 three miles north of Gurney in northwestern Iron County

Length:

17.36 miles

Map:

Route Map of STH-169

Notes:

STH-169 helps to provide state highway access to the very scenic Copper Falls State Park just northeast of Mellen.

History:

Similar to STH-168 above, the original purpose of STH-169 was to provide access to Camp McCoy (now Fort McCoy) in Monroe Co. Commissioned in 1940, STH-169 began in downtown Sparta and continued northeasterly along present-day STH-21 through Angelo to the entrance of Camp McCoy (now the area known as "Old Camp McCoy" in the Fort McCoy Military Reservation), about 3 miles southwest of the present main hub of Fort McCoy. At this time, STH-168 provided access to the southern portion of the Camp. This original routing of STH-169 only lasted seven years for in 1947, STH-21 was extended westerly from Tomah along what had been CTH-B to STH-169, then supplanted the STH-169 designation into Sparta.

In 1956, the second incarnation of STH-169 came into existence when CTH-K from Mellen to US-2 north of Gurney was transferred to the state and designated STH-169.

Freeway/Expwy:

FreewayExpwy

Photographs:

Weblinks:

• None.

STH-160 | STH-161 | STH-162 | Former STH-163 | STH-164 | STH-165 | STH-167 | Former STH-168 | STH-169 | Up to Top