U.S. Route 151

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U.S. Route 151
Length: 337[1] mi (542 km)
Formed: 1926[1]
South end: I-80 near Williamsburg, IA
Major
junctions:
US 30 in Cedar Rapids, IA
US 20 in Dubuque, IA
I-90 in Madison, WI
North end: US 10 in Manitowoc, WI
United States Numbered Highways
U.S. Routes - Bannered - Divided - Replaced

U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The northern terminus for U.S. 151 is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and its southern terminus is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through Iowa and Wisconsin.

Approximately seven miles (11 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. 151 joins with U.S. Highway 61. The two highways share a route from there to Dickeyville, Wisconsin. Three miles (5 km) south of Dubuque, U.S. 61/151 join with U.S. Highway 52, and share a route with U.S. 52 until the White Street exit in Dubuque.

In Wisconsin, U.S. 61/151 joins with Highway 35 about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Iowa/Wisconsin border. At Dickeyville, U.S. 151 splits off and heads northeast to Platteville. U.S. 61 and Highway 35 continue north. U.S. 151 later joins with U.S. Highway 18 near Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The two highways share a route all the way to Madison, Wisconsin.

Contents

[edit] States traversed

Major cities

[edit] Iowa

Main article: U.S. Route 151 in Iowa

U.S. 151 begins at Interstate 80 exit 225, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Iowa City. The rout traverses northeast towards Cedar Rapids where it joins U.S. 30 eastbound and bypasses the city. The route passes Anamosa, Monticello and Cascade on the way to Dubuque, where it joins U.S. 61 and crosses the Mississippi River into Wisconsin.

[edit] Route upgrades

In 2000, construction began along the Iowa sections of U.S. 151 between Cedar Rapids and Dubuque. By the end of 2001, the four lane sections from Marion to Anamosa were completed. By 2002, the bypass around Cascade was completed. By the summer of 2004, the Monticello bypass was opened, as was most of the remaining segments of highway. The last major portion of the highway - a 16 mile (26 km) section between Cascade and about two miles (3 km) south of the intersection with U.S. 61 still under construction—was completed in the summer of 2004. The two new southbound lanes were opened on September 13, 2004.

[edit] Wisconsin

U.S. 151 enters at the corner of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin and heads northeastward towards Dodgeville. U.S. 61 leaves the route about 8 miles into Wisconsin at Dickeyville. U.S. 18 joins the route at Dodgeville and they continue eastward together into Madison. The route follows the Madison Beltline for 3 miles before turning of and through downtown Madison. Upon departure from Madison, U.S. 151 heads northeastward to Fond du Lac and Manitowoc where it ends in downtown Manitowoc.

[edit] History

U.S. 151 was one of the original highways from 1926. At the time, it only ran from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Madison. Originally, the highway ended at Western Avenue and Main Street in Madison. In 1934, the highway was southwest extended to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, incorporating the full length of former U.S. Route 118 (Dodgeville to Dickeyville) and part of U.S. Route 161 (Dubuque to Cedar Rapids; US 161 from Cedar Rapids south to Keokuk became U.S. Route 218). The highway was comprised mainly of what had been U.S. 161, which was a decommissioned route. At the time, the southern end of the route was at Williams Blvd SW and 16th Ave SW, what was then U.S. Highways 30 and 218. In the 1940s, the highway was extended north to Manitowoc.

U.S. Highway 151, approximately eight miles south of Dubuque, Iowa.  A scene from the movie Field of Dreams was filmed on this particular segment of the highway.
U.S. Highway 151, approximately eight miles south of Dubuque, Iowa. A scene from the movie Field of Dreams was filmed on this particular segment of the highway.
Construction on US 151
Construction on US 151
The Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, Dubuque, Iowa. The bridge crosses the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Grant County, Wisconsin. The bridge is part of the U.S. Route 61 / 151 route.
The Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, Dubuque, Iowa. The bridge crosses the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Grant County, Wisconsin. The bridge is part of the U.S. Route 61 / 151 route.

In 1981, the southern terminus of the highway was extended once again when the U.S. 30 bypass was built. The southern terminus was at the US 151 and 30 interchange. By 1986, the main U.S. 151 was rerouted onto state highway 13 and U.S. Highway 30 to bypass Cedar Rapids. The previous route through Cedar Rapids was renamed as Business U.S. 151 (though the official state designation for it is State Route 922). Finally in 1989, U.S. 151 was extended to its current southern terminus at Interstate 80, exit 225. This extension followed the route of the former state highway 149. As a result, U.S. 151 became the main route through the Amana Colonies.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Droz, Robert V. U.S. Highways : From US 1 to (US 830). URL accessed 02:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC).


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