Wisconsin Highway 23

State Trunk Highway 23
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT
Length: 211.05 mi[1] (339.65 km)
Major junctions
South end: WIS 11 / CTH-P near Shullsburg
  US 151 in Mineral Point
US 18 in Dodgeville
US 14 in Spring Green
I-90 / I-94 near Lake Delton
WIS 13 / WIS 16 in Wisconsin Dells
I-39 / US 51 near Montello
US 41 in Fond du Lac
US 45 in Fond du Lac
US 151 in Fond du Lac
I-43 in Kohler
East end: WIS 28 / WIS 42 in Sheboygan
Highway system

Wisconsin highways
County • Bannered • Rustic

← WIS 22 WIS 24 →

State Trunk Highway 23 (often called Highway 23, STH 23 or WIS 23) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The route is signed as a north–south route from Shullsburg to Reedsburg and as an east–west route from Reedsburg to Sheboygan. With the exception of freeway segments between Sheboygan Falls and Sheboygan, an expressway segment between Sheboygan Falls and near Greenbush, a freeway concurrency with I-39, and an expressway segment concurrent with U.S. Route 151, the highway is generally either two-lane surface road or urban multilane arterial. WIS 23 provides access to several important Wisconsin destinations, such as the House on the Rock, the Wisconsin Dells area and various state parks.

Contents

Route description

Shullsburg to Wisconsin Dells

WIS 23 begins at WIS 11 in Lafayette County, five miles (8 km) east of Shullsburg, and passes north through Darlington. WIS 23 shares one mile (1.6 km) of road with WIS 81 starting at Avon, just south of the city, and ending in Darlington. WIS 23 passes through rolling hills in the town of Willow Springs and enters Iowa County ten miles (16 km) north of the city.[2] From the county line, WIS 23 turns northwestward to Mineral Point. WIS 39 joins the route one mile (1.6 km) southeast of the city, and turns west off in the downtown area. WIS 23 turns northeast and joins US 151 for a four-mile (6 km) expressway concurrency. WIS 23 turns off US 151 at a trumpet interchange and passes through downtown Dodgeville. The highway junctions with WIS 191 in the city and crosses US 18 on the north side. Access to Governor Dodge State Park is provided off WIS 23.[3] The highway passes the House on the Rock nine miles (14 km) north of Dodgeville.[4] WIS 23 passes Tower Hill State Park at the Sauk County line.[3]

WIS 23 passes through Spring Green upon entering Sauk County and crosses US 14 just north of the village. The highway passes through Plain about six miles (10 km) north of US 14 and Loganville another eleven miles (18 km) further north. WIS 154 joins the route in Loganville. then turns off the route to the east three miles (5 km) further north.[5]

Wisconsin Dells to Sheboygan

After another four miles (6 km), WIS 23 joins WIS 33 and becomes an east–west route in Reedsburg and follows the route east for six miles (10 km), before turning off northeast and stair-stepping in that direction toward Lake Delton. The highway passes through Mirror Lake State Park just prior to entering the village via Monroe Avenue.[6] WIS 23 joins US 12 west and both routes turn north into the heart of the Wisconsin Dells tourism district along Wisconsin Dells Parkway north[6] - passing attractions such as Noah's Ark Waterpark[7] the Wisconsin Ducks boat tours,[8] and Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show[9] WIS 23 turns at the junction with WIS 13 and WIS 16 with both routes following it eastbound along Broadway Street through downtown Wisconsin Dells and into Columbia County[5][10]

WIS 13 turns north and WIS 16 turns south just east of the city and WIS 23 turns north into Adams County two miles (3 km) east of Wisconsin Dells.[11] The highway then turns east, passing near Big Spring on the way into Marquette County after a six mile (10 km) journey through Adams County.[12] WIS 23 stair-steps northeast to Endeavor where it joins I-39/US 51 for six miles (10 km) before turning east off the interstate five miles (8 km) east of Oxford. WIS 23 passes through Montello and crosses WIS 22 before turning northeast and entering Green Lake County six miles (10 km) northeast of Montello.[13]

WIS 23 joins WIS 73 south in Princeton and both routes stair-step southeast for three miles (5 km) before WIS 73 turns south. WIS 23 passes north of Green Lake and is joined by WIS 49 south northeast of the city. There is a Business WIS 23 that uses Lawson Dr in Green Lake. the highway concurrency of 23 and 49 enters Fond du Lac County two miles (3 km) east of Green Lake.[14] WIS 49 splits to the south and WIS 44 north joins WIS 23 briefly in Ripon, turning north after a one mile (1.6 km) concurrency. WIS 23 continues east, and crossing WIS 26 in Rosendale. As the highway enters Fond du Lac it junctions with US 41 and becomes Johnson St., the main east-west thoroughfare through the city. WIS 23 crosses US 45 in the city center and US 151 on the east side. After a twelve mile (19 km) rural stretch from Fond du Lac, WIS 23 enters Sheboygan County[15] The route passes near Greenbush about four miles (6 km) into the county, then becomes a freeway about two miles (3 km) northwest of Plymouth. Around Plymouth, access is provided to CTH C, WIS 67, and WIS 57. In Sheboygan Falls, an interchange is present at WIS 32.[16] WIS 23 junctions with I-43 at a cloverleaf interchange just west of Sheboygan. The freeway segment ends a mile east of Interstate 43 at North 25th Street, with an exit at Taylor Drive. WIS 23 follows Kohler Memorial Drive and the straight-line portion of Erie Ave into the city, continuing as a divided highway until three blocks before its termination at WIS 28 south and WIS 42 north.[17]

History

The original 1918 routing of WIS 23 ended the route on the western terminus at Packwaukee at its junction with WIS 10. The route to the east of that point still exists as it is today.[18] The route was extended in the early 1920s to the southwest,[1] following its present routing from Packwaukee through Kilbourn (present day Wisconsin Dells), Reedsburg and Dodgeville, then along present day US 151 from Dodgeville to Dubuque, Iowa via Mineral Point and Platteville.[19] Later in that decade, the route was truncated back to Dodgeville when US 118 was signed, but then extended again - this time along its current route when US 118 became part of US 151.[1]

WIS 23 was relocated in the Sheboygan area to bypass Plymouth and Sheboygan Falls. Plans for this existed as early as 1972.[20]

Proposals were considered that would have rerouted WIS 23 around Lake Delton by following CTH H from Reedsburg directly to Wisconsin Dells, but the village of Lake Delton did not support the plan due to pressure from local businesses.[1]

WisDOT is currently studying the possible expansion of WIS 23 from Fond du Lac to Plymouth to a four-lane expressway. An Environmental Impact Statement draft was presented in 2004 and the bypass route that follow the existing alignment was chosen in 2005.[21]

Major intersections

Shullsburg to Reedsburg

County Location Mile Destinations Notes
Lafayette
 Dunbarton   WIS 11 / CTH-P
Darlington   WIS 81 west WIS 81 East follow WIS 23 North
  WIS 81 east WIS 81 West follow WIS 23 South
Iowa
 Mineral Point   WIS 39 east WIS 39 West follow WIS 23 North
  WIS 39 west WIS 39 East follow WIS 23 South
  US 151 south WIS 23 North follow US 151 North
Dodgeville   WIS 151 north WIS 23 South follow US 151 South
  WIS 191
  US 18
    WIS 130
    CTH-C
Sauk
 Spring Green   US 14 / WIS 60
Plain   CTH-B
Loganville   WIS 154 west WIS 154 East follow WIS 23 North
  WIS 154 east WIS 154 West follow WIS 23 South
Reedsburg   WIS 33 west WIS 23 East follow WIS 33 East - WIS 23 Directional Signage change
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Reedsburg to Sheboygan

County Location Mile Destinations Notes
Sauk
 Reedsburg   WIS 136
  WIS 33 east WIS 23 West Follow WIS 33 West
Lake Delton   I-90 / I-94
  US 12 east WIS 23 East follow US 12 West
Wisconsin Dells   US 12 west / WIS 13 south / WIS 16 west WIS 23 West Follow US 12 East
WIS 16 East / WIS 23 East follow WIS 13 North
Columbia
   WIS 13 south / WIS 16 west WIS 16 West / WIS 23 West follow WIS 13 South
Adams
 Big Spring   CTH-G
Marquette
 Briggsville   CTH-A
Endeavor   I-39 south / US 51 south / CTH-P US 51 - Exit 100[22]
WIS 23 North follow I-39 North / US 51 North
Packwaukee   CTH-D US 51 Exit 104[22]
  I-39 north / US 51 north / WIS 82 west US 51 Exit 106[22]
Montello   WIS 22
Green Lake
 Princeton   WIS 73 north WIS 73 South follow WIS 23 East
  WIS 73 south WIS 73 North follow WIS 23 West
Green Lake   CTH-A
  WIS 49 north WIS 49 South follow WIS 23 East
Fond du Lac
 Ripon   WIS 44 south / WIS 49 south WIS 44 North follow WIS 23 East
WIS 49 North follow WIS 23 West
  WIS 44 north WIS 44 South follow WIS 23 West
Rosendale   WIS 26
Woodhall   CTH-Y
Fond du Lac   US 41
  US 45
  US 151
Mount Calvary   CTH-W
St. Cloud   CTH-G
Sheboygan
 Greenbush   CTH-A
Plymouth   CTH-C - Plymouth Westernmost interchange of expressway segment
  WIS 67 – Elkhart Lake, Plymouth interchange
  WIS 57 – Kiel, Random Lake interchange
Lakeland College   CTH-M at-grade intersection
Sheboygan County Memorial Airport   CTH-TT at-grade intersection
Sheboygan Falls   WIS 32 – Howards Grove, Sheboygan Falls interchange
Kohler   CTH-Y – Kohler interchange
  I-43 – Green Bay, Milwaukee interchange
Sheboygan   CTH-TA - Taylor Dr Easternmost interchange on expressway segment
  WIS 28 / WIS 42
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bessert, Chris. "Wisconsin Highways: Highways 20-29 (Highway 23)". Wisconsin Highways. http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys20-29.html#STH-023. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 
  2. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Lafayette Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/lafayette.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  3. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Iowa Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/iowa.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  4. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – House on the Rock Tours to Dodgeville, WI, United States of America (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=5754+State+Road+23,+Spring+Green,+WI+53588+(House+On+the+Rock+Tours)&daddr=Dodgeville,+WI&sll=43.086818,-90.134926&sspn=0.084247,0.160675&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  5. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Sauk Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/sauk.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  6. ^ a b Google, Inc. Google Maps – Lake Delton, WI, United States of America (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lake+Delton,+WI,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=43.592825,-89.794006&spn=0.041774,0.080338&z=14&om=1. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  7. ^ "Noah's Ark Waterpark Wisconsin Dells". http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  8. ^ "Original Wisconsin Ducks, Wisconsin Dells". http://www.wisconsinducktours.com/contact.html. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  9. ^ "Tommy Bartlett Show". http://www.tommybartlett.com/contact.html. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  10. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – Wisconsin Dells, WI, United States of America (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Wisconsin+Dells,+WI,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=43.625141,-89.775467&spn=0.041751,0.080338&z=14&om=1. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  11. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Columbia Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/columbia.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  12. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Adams Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/adams.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  13. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Marquette Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/marquette.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  14. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Green Lake Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/greenlake.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 
  15. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Fond du Lac Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/fonddulac.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 
  16. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (pdf). Sheboygan Co (Map). http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/sheboygan.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  17. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – Sheboygan, WI, United States of America (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sheboygan,+WI,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=43.753489,-87.731323&spn=0.080473,0.160675&z=13&om=1. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  18. ^ "Original State Trunk Highway System in Wisconsin". Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. 1918. http://www.midwestroads.com/wisconsin/past/reports/map05_originalstatetrunkhighwaysystem.jpg. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  19. ^ "Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas". Rand McNally. 1926. http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/Midwest/Wisconsin/unitedstates1926ra_037.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31. 
  20. ^ "More Pros Than Noes For 23". The Sheboygan Press. 1972-08-23. 
  21. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "WIS 23 expansion study". http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d3/wis23/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  22. ^ a b c Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Exit numbers on US 51 and I-39". http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/exits-us51-i39.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-30.