U.S. Route 151

U.S. Route 151 marker

U.S. Highway 151
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 51
Length: 337 mi[1] (542 km)
Existed: 1926 – present
Major junctions
South end: I-80 near Williamsburg, Iowa
 
North end: US 10 in Manitowoc, Wis.
Location
States:
Counties:
Highway system
← Iowa 150IAIowa 152 →
← WIS 150WIWIS 152 →

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

Approximately seven miles (11 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa, US 151 joins with US 61. The two highways share a route from there to Dickeyville, Wisconsin. Three miles (4.8 km) south of Dubuque, US 61 / US 151 join with US 52, and share a route with US 52 until the White Street exit in Dubuque.

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

Route description

Iowa

U.S. Highway 151 starts at an intersection with Interstate 80 (I-80), in an isolated part of Iowa near both Williamsburg and Conroy.[2] It then continues through the area around the Amana Colonies,[3] where it has a brief overlap with US 6. Once meeting up with US 30 and US 218, the route cuts around the city of Cedar Rapids, while the business route 151 goes through the city. The route splits from the other roads and continues toward Dubuque as an expressway. This 65-mile (105 km) stretch crosses many major rivers including both the Wapsipinicon and the Maquoketa. The road eventually goes into the Driftless Area where it meets up with US 61 around the Dubuque Regional Airport.[4] The combined road then heads into the state of Wisconsin where it continues with the US 151 name.[5]

Dubuque to Madison

US 151, concurrent with US 61, crosses the Mississippi River into Wisconsin via the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge from Dubuque, Iowa and passes through a cut in the river ridge before turning northward to the western terminus of WIS 11 after one mile (1.6 km) of due east travel. WIS 35 and the Great River Road join the route at that interchange, heading north. The highway at this point is limited access highway with two lanes in each direction. The northward trek of the route passes through mixed residential and farmland as it crosses Badger Road and merges with Eagle Point Road. Eagle Point road merges with US 151 from the left side of the road. The limited access portion ends at this interchange. Another pair of half diamond interchanges connect the highway with CTH HHH and CTH H as it bypasses Kieler to the northwest. At Dickeyville, US 61, WIS 35 and the Great River Road route exit north off of US 151 into town. US 151 passes Dickeyville to the east and descends into a valley cut northeast of the village, paralleling the Little Platte River and Blockhouse Creek within the valley for a one-mile (1.6 km) stretch before climbing back onto the ridgetop on the other side of the valley.[6] US 151 then approaches Platteville and enters a section of limited access at CTH D (US 151 Business). The limited access stretch ends after three interchanges and 6-mile (9.7 km) to the east. The last of the interchanges being WIS 126/CTH G with access to Belmont. The route turns northeastward from this point, crosses the Cottage Inn Branch and begins the first of several descents into valleys, two of which are prior to passing Mineral Point[7] and another two while passing the city.[8][9]

The highway is limited access between the two interchanges that provide access to Mineral Point: CTH O and WIS 23. WIS 23 joins US 151 heading northbound at that point until the first interchange at Dodgeville. This interchange begins another short stretch of freeway to the point where US 18 joins the route. US 18 and US 151 head eastbound past that interchange.[9]

The section of expressway past Dodgeville passes through rolling hills populated with farmland mixed with small woodlands. The highway passes Ridgeway and Barneveld. Access to Ridgeway is by surface intersections with a short "business route" on CTH HHH. However, it was announced in 2011 that the first intersection would be closed, and an exit would be constructed, due to the numerous fatal accidents that happen at the intersection each year. Access to Barneveld is at CTH ID on a lone interchange on the southwest side of the village. CTH ID Parallels US 18/US 151 for the entire stretch between Barneveld and Mount Horeb. A section of freeway begins at WIS 78 and ends at the other end of CTH ID as the highway bypasses Mount Horeb just to the south of the city's passing residential subdivisions. A mix of grade separation and level intersections cross the winding highway as it continues eastward until the interchange with CTH MV (Verona Ave) begins a section of freeway that bypasses Verona to the south. This section provides access to four interchanges including the two endpoints of CTH MV. The freeway ends and the route enters an urban multilane highway known as Verona Road as it passes through Fitchburg and into Madison. Verona Road passes through a commercial sector at CTH PD and past a residential area on the Southwest Side of Madison. US 18 and US 151 merge east on the West Beltline Highway — joining US 12 and US 14.[9]

Madison metropolitan area

The four US Routes run concurrently for about three miles (4.8 km) to Park Street.[10] At this interchange, US 14 turns south off the Beltine and US 151 turns north and into central Madison. US 151 passes Monona Bay to the west along South Park Street. US 151 turns northeast onto West Washington Ave for about 1500 feet, then follows Proudfit Street and North Shore Drive — paralleling the Monona Bay shore — and turns north onto John Nolen Drive. The street passes under the Monona Terrace Convention Center as it passes to the south and east of downtown Madison. US 151 turns northwest onto South Blair Street for three city blocks to East Washington Avenue — where it turns northeast and follows East Washington Avenue, bisecting the Madison Isthmus, and leading out of the city to the east. The left terminus of WIS 30 meets US 151 about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the South Blair Street turn.[11] and US 51 crosses US 151 one mile (1.6 km) further northeast.[9]

Madison to Fond du Lac

US 45 exit ramp in Fond du Lac

At a cloverleaf interchange with I-39, I-90 and I-94, a section of freeway begins and continues along US 151 northeast through commercial zones into residential areas. The route bypasses Sun Prairie on the west and north sides through the city's residential zones. After Sun Prairie, US 151 passes through farmland, heading toward Columbus. The highway bypasses the city via a partial beltline to the north and east, completely clearing the city. WIS 16 crosses under US 151 about midway along the Columbus bypass. US 151 becomes an expressway with level intersections after the interchange with WIS 73 at the end of the bypass portion. The route becomes a freeway at Beaver Dam, bypassing the city to the southeast. The route follows the edge of residential zones of the city before passing an industrial area at the northeast end of the bypass. Within this freeway section exists a level railroad crossing near CTH E (East Burnett Street). US 151 crosses at-grade intersections after the interchange with CTH A northeast of Beaver Dam and encounters one more freeway section at Waupun, bypasses the city to the east. The four-lane expressway of US 151 continues east, bypassing Fond du Lac to the south and east. This expressway provides a mixture of at-grade intersections and grade-separated interchanges at US 41 and WIS 23.[9] WisDOT currently is studying upgrades to two sections of US 151. The first study would preserve the Fond du Lac Bypass from US 41 to WIS 23, with the ultimate goal being freeway conversion.[12] The second study is examining freeway upgrades to the route from WI 73 in Columbus to WIS 49 in Waupun.[13]

Fond du Lac to Manitowoc

The northeast terminus at US 10 in Manitowoc

The multi-lane section of US 151 ends after turning north away from Fond du Lac and the route follows the east shore of Lake Winnebago for about half the length of the shoreline. US 151 then turns east at the intersection with WIS 55 and follows two-lane surface roads and briefly running concurrent with WIS 32 and WIS 57 in Chilton. The roadway passes through farmland throughout this section until it crosses over I-43 and enters Manitowoc. The route follows surface streets into Manitowoc and terminates in the downtown area at US 10 just blocks prior to the SS Badger carferry port.[9]

History

US 151, approximately eight miles (13 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa. A scene from the movie Field of Dreams was filmed on this particular segment of the highway.

US 151 was one of the original U.S. 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 extended southwest to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, incorporating the full length of former U.S. Highway 118 (Dodgeville to Dickeyville) and part of former U.S. Highway 161 (Dubuque to Cedar Rapids; US 161 from Cedar Rapids south to Keokuk became US 218). At the time, the southern end of the route was at Williams Blvd SW and 16th Ave SW, what was then US 30 and US 218. In the 1940s, the highway was extended northeast to Manitowoc.

Illinois

The Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, Dubuque, Iowa. The bridge crosses the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Grant County, Wisconsin. The bridge is part of the US 61 / US 151 route.

In 1969, the Eagle Point Bridge, which connected US 151 and US 61 with Wisconsin, was closed, and those highways were rerouted over the Julien Dubuque Bridge with U.S. Highway 20 from Dubuque to East Dubuque, Illinois. The route then followed Illinois Route 35 and WIS 35 north to what is now the current highway. In 1982, the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge opened, the old Eagle Point Bridge was demolished, and US 151 and US 61 was rerouted onto the new bridge. This is the only instance of US 61 and US 151 entering Illinois.

Routings

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

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[14]kmExitDestinationsNotes
IowaIowa Township0.0000.000  I-80 / CR W21 south – Davenport, Des Moines
5.6459.085 US 6 west – MarengoSouthern end of US 6 overlap
Amana Colonies7.58712.210 US 6 east – CoralvilleNorthern end of US 6 overlap
10.50016.898 Iowa 220 west – High Amana, Middle Amana, East Amana
Benton
 No major junctions
LinnCedar Rapids24.47439.387248
US 30 west / US 218 north / US 151 Business north (Williams Boulevard SW) – Cedar Rapids, Tama		Southern end of US 30 and US 218 overlaps
25.84541.593250Edgewood Road SW
28.02945.108252A6th Street SW
28.36245.644252B-C I-380 / US 218 south / Iowa 27 – Cedar Rapids, Iowa CityNorthern end of US 218 overlap; signed as exits 252B (southbound) and 252C (northbound)
29.03946.734253Bowling Street SW, Kirkwood Boulevard SW
30.03648.338254 CR W6E (C Street SW) – Ely
Bertram Township34.95756.258259 US 30 east / Iowa 13 begins – Mount VernonNorthern end of US 30 overlap; southern end of Iowa 13 overlap
Marion41.57966.915 Iowa 100 west / CR E45 – Marion
42.67168.672
US 151 Business south / Iowa 13 north – Marion, Central City		Northern end of Iowa 13 overlap
JonesFairview54.20687.23649 Iowa 1 south / CR E34 – Martelle, Mount Vernon
Anamosa59.27295.38954 Iowa 64 east / CR E28 – Anamosa
Monticello67.999109.43463
US 151 Business / CR X44 – Monticello		US 151 Business only signed northbound
70.203112.98165 Iowa 38 – Monticello, Hopkinton
Lovell Township72.124116.072
US 151 Business – Monticello		US 151 Business only signed southbound
Richland Township79.278127.586
US 151 Business – Cascade		US 151 Business only signed northbound
DubuqueCascade80.250129.15075 Iowa 136 – Cascade, Dyersville
81.790131.62877
US 151 Business – Cascade, Farley		US 151 Business only signed southbound
Table Mound Township99.545160.202— US 61 south – MaquoketaSouthern end of US 61 overlap
Dubuque102.639165.181 US 52 south – BellevueSouthern end of US 52 overlap
103.794167.040—Grandview Avenue
104.343167.924— To US 20 (Locust Street)Northbound exit and southbound entrance only
105.275169.424— To US 20 (via Locust Street)
105.543169.855—White Street, Port of DubuqueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
105.961170.528— US 52 north / Iowa 3 west (9th Street, 11th Street)Northern end of US 52 overlap
106.713171.738—Kerper BoulevardNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
106.925172.079—Greyhound Park RoadNorthbound entrance and southbound exit only
Mississippi River107.661
0		173.264
0		Dubuque–Wisconsin Bridge; Iowa–Wisconsin state line
GrantTown of Jamestown1 WIS 11 west / WIS 35 south – Janesville, East DubuqueSouthern end of WIS 35 overlap
2Badger Road, Eagle Point RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
3Badger Road, Eagle Point RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance only
Kieler5 County HHH to County H – Kieler, Louisburg
County H to County HHH – Kieler, Louisburg
Dickeyville8 US 61 north / WIS 35 north / Great River Road north / County HH – Dickeyville, LancasterNorthern end of US 61 and WIS 35 overlaps
Town of Platteville18
US 151 Bus. / County D – Platteville		US 151 Business only signed northbound
Platteville19 WIS 80 / WIS 81 – Platteville, Darlington, Lancaster
21
US 151 Bus. / County XX – Platteville		US 151 Business only signed southbound
LafayetteBelmont26 WIS 126 south / County G – Belmont, Rewey
IowaTown of Mineral Point37
US 151 Bus. / County O – Mineral Point		US 151 Business only signed northbound
Mineral Point40
US 151 Bus. south / WIS 23 to WIS 39 – Mineral Point, Darlington, Hollandale		US 151 Business only signed southbound; Southern end of WIS 23 overlap
Town of Dodgeville44 WIS 23 north – Dodgeville, Stevens PointNorthern end of WIS 23 overlap
47 US 18 west – Dodgeville, Prairie du ChienSouthern end of US 18 overlap
Barneveld58 County ID
DaneTown of Blue Mounds65
US 18 Bus. / US 151 Bus. / WIS 78 – Mount Horeb, Blanchardville		US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed northbound
Mount Horeb69
US 18 Bus. / US 151 Bus. / County ID – Mount Horeb		US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed southbound
Town of Springdale70 County PD to County P – Cross Plains
Town of Verona75 County G
77 WIS 69 south
Verona76
US 18 Bus. / US 151 Bus. / County MV (W. Verona Avenue) / Epic Lane		US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed northbound
77 WIS 69 south
79 County PB to County M
Town of Verona81
US 18 Bus. / US 151 Bus. / County MV – Verona		Southbound exit and northbound entrance only
Madison258 US 12 west / US 14 west – Baraboo, La CrosseSouthern end of US 12 / US 14 overlap
258ASeminole HighwaySouthbound exit and northbound entrance only
259Todd Drive
260 County D (Fish Hatchery Road)Signed as exits 260A (southbound) and 260B (northbound)
261 US 12 east / US 14 east / US 18 eastNorthern end of US 12 / US 14 / US 18 overlaps
WIS 113 north (First Street)
WIS 30
US 51 (Stoughton Road)
97 I-39 / I-90 / I-94Signed as exits 97A (southbound) and 97B (northbound)
98ANelson RoadExits combined southbound
98BAmerican Parkway
Sun Prairie100 County C (Reiner Road)
101
US 151 Bus. (Main Street)		US 151 Business only signed northbound
102 WIS 19 (Windsor Street)
103
US 151 Bus. (Bristol Street) / County N		US 151 Business only signed southbound
Town of Bristol108 County VV – East Bristol
Town of York111 County V – East Bristol
ColumbiaTown of Columbus115
US 151 Bus. / WIS 73 – Columbus, Marshall		US 151 Business only signed northbound
Columbus118 WIS 16 / WIS 60 – Columbus, Portage
DodgeTown of Elba120
US 151 Bus. / WIS 73 – Columbus, Randolph		US 151 Business only signed southbound
Beaver Dam129
US 151 Bus. / County D – Beaver Dam		Left exit; US 151 Business Now complete as of 2013.
130 County G – Lovell, Beaver Dam
132 WIS 33 – Beaver Dam, Horicon
134Industrial DriveNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
135
US 151 Bus. / County B – Beaver Dam
136 County A – Fox Lake
Town of Chester142
US 151 Bus. / County M – Waupun		Northbound exit and southbound entrance only
144 WIS 26 – Waupun
Dodge–Fond du Lac
county line		Waupun146 WIS 49 – Waupun, Brownsville
Fond du LacTown of Waupun147
US 151 Bus. / WIS 26 south – Waupun		Southern end of WIS 26 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance only
148 WIS 26 north – Rosendale, OshkoshNorthern end of WIS 26 overlap
Town of Fond du Lac— County D (To Military Road)
Fond du Lac—Hickory Road
— WIS 175 south (Main Street)
— I-41 / US 41
Town of Fond du Lac— US 45 (Fond du Lac Avenue)
Fond du Lac— WIS 23 (Johnson Street)
CalumetTown of Stockbridge WIS 55 north
Chilton WIS 32 north / WIS 57 north (Madison Street)Southern end of WIS 32 / WIS 57 overlap
WIS 32 south / WIS 57 south (E. Chestnut Street)Northern end of WIS 32 / WIS 57 overlap
ManitowocTown of Eaton WIS 67 south
Manitowoc WIS 42 southSouthern end of WIS 42 overlap
I-43 / WIS 42 northNorthern end of WIS 42 overlap
US 10 (10th Street, 8th Street)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Related routes

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Route Number Database". American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. December 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ "US 151 in Iowa". Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  3. ↑ "151 through Amanas'". Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Dubuque Airport". Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  5. ↑ "US 151 in Wisconsin". Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  6. ↑ Google (January 26, 2009). "River Valley northeast of Dickeyville, WI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  7. ↑ Google (January 26, 2009). "Mineral Point, WI Valleys section 1" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  8. ↑ Google (January 26, 2009). "Mineral Point, WI Valleys section 2" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Yahoo!; Navteq (February 9, 2009). "Mineral Point, WI Valleys section 2" (Map). Yahoo! Maps. Yahoo!. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  10. ↑ Google (January 26, 2009). "Madison Beltine" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  11. ↑ Madison: US 30 Terminus from Downtown (Map). Cartography by Tele Atlas. Google Maps. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  12. ↑ US 151 Fond du Lac Bypass Corridor Preservation Study (Map). WisDOT. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  13. ↑ US 151 Freeway Conversion Study (Map). WisDOT. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  14. ↑ "2009 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa" (PDF). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2010.

External links

Route map: Bing