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U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 12.
U.S. Highway 12 marker
U.S. Highway 12
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT
Length339.40 mi[1] (546.21 km)
Existed1926–present
HistoryDesignated in 1917 as WIS 12
Major junctions
West end I-94 / US 12 in Hudson
Major intersections
East end US 12 in Genoa City
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
CountiesSt. Croix, Dunn, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, Juneau, Sauk, Dane, Jefferson, Rock, Walworth
Highway system
← WIS 11→ WIS 13

U.S. Highway 12 (US 12 or Highway 12) in the U.S. state of Wisconsin runs east–west across the western to southeast portions of the state. It enters from Minnesota running concurrently with Interstate 94 (I-94) at Hudson, parallels the Interstate to Wisconsin Dells, and provides local access to cities such as Menomonie, Eau Claire, Black River Falls, Tomah and Mauston. It then provides an alternative route for traffic between northwestern Wisconsin and Madison and is the anchor route for the West Beltline Highway around Madison. Finally, it serves southeastern Wisconsin, connecting Madison with Fort Atkinson, Whitewater, Elkhorn and Lake Geneva. The West Beltline Highway and the segment between Elkhorn and Genoa City are freeways, and the segment between Sauk City and Middleton is an expressway. The remainder of the road is a two-lane surface road or an urban multi-lane arterial. Between Hudson and west of Warrens, the road closely parallels the former main line of the Omaha Road, now operated by Union Pacific Railroad.

Route description

Hudson to Lake Delton

US 12 crosses the St. Croix River from Minnesota concurrent with I-94 into St. Croix County. Wisconsin Highway 35 (WIS 35) joins both routes upon their entry into Wisconsin and exits south three miles (5 km) east. US 12 leaves I-94 one mile (1.6 km) further east from the eastern WIS 35 exit, treks two miles (3 km) north and parallels the interstate. The highway crosses WIS 65 in Roberts and passes through Hammond over a fifteen-mile (24 km) segment to Baldwin, where it crosses US 63. US 12 passes through Woodville four miles (6 km) east of Baldwin and crosses WIS 128 in Wilson, two miles (3 km) west of the Dunn County line.[2] Roughly three miles into Dunn County, US 12 passes through Knapp, Wisconsin, then turns southeastward, connecting with WIS 79 six miles (10 km) further; it then joins WIS 25 (North Broadway Street) to the south in Menomonie. US 12 turns east onto WIS 29 (Main Street East) in downtown Menomonie, and the two routes follow Stout Road east out of the city.[3] The highways meet an interchange with I-94, then split one half of a mile east in Elk Mound at the junction with WIS 40. US 12 passes through Elk Mound and enters Eau Claire County[4]

US 12 merges with WIS 312 east (North Crossing) for two miles (3 km) before turning south onto Clairemont Avenue, bypassing downtown Eau Claire to the south and west. WIS 37 joins with US 12 on the southwest side of the city. Access to WIS 93 is provided via US 53. The interchange between US 12 and US 53 in Altoona is Wisconsin's only single-point urban interchange.[5] US 12 continues east out of the Eau Claire metropolitan area and passes through Fall Creek, where it turns southeastward to join WIS 27 south in Augusta. The two highways briefly join US 10 on the Jackson County line in Fairchild[6] US 12 and WIS 27 turn southward and pass through Humbird in Clark County and into Jackson County.[7]

US 12 and WIS 27 cross WIS 95 in Merrillan and WIS 54 in Black River Falls. US 12 and WIS 27 also split in Black River Falls. US 12 follows I-94 to the southeast past Millston and into Monroe County.[8] The highway crosses I-94 (with no access) south of Kirby and junctions with WIS 21 on the north side of Tomah at an interchange with the interstate. US 12 passes through Tomah and joins with WIS 16 on the south side at the junction with WIS 131 near Mill Bluff State Park. The highways continue paralleling I-90 and I-94 southeast and pass through Oakdale and into Juneau County.[8]

US 12 near Rocky Arbor State Park

US 12 and WIS 16 pass through Camp Douglas and cross WIS 80 in New Lisbon. The highways then junction with WIS 58 and WIS 82 in Mauston as they continue southeast. The routes trek eastward and pass through Lyndon Station, where Rocky Arbor State Park is located. The highways turn southeast again and cross the Interstates into Sauk County and Wisconsin Dells.[9] WIS 16 turns east onto WIS 13 north as WIS 23 west turns south onto US 12. These highways follow the Wisconsin Dells Parkway south into the heart of the Wisconsin Dells tourism district,[10] — passing such attractions as Noah's Ark Waterpark,[11] the Wisconsin Ducks boat tours,[12] Kalahari Resort, Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Wilderness Territory, and Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show.[13] WIS 23 turns west onto Monroe Ave as US 12 turns southeast and crosses the Interstates.[14]

Lake Delton to Cambridge

US 12/US 18 eastbound at southern terminus of WIS 134 in Cambridge

At the I-90/94 interchange, US 12 becomes a freeway that bypasses Baraboo. The section from I-90/94 to just south of Old Highway 33 is complete, and then U.S 12 joins its old alignment at a roundabout. WIS 33 joins the old US 12 alignment three miles (5 km) north of Baraboo; the routes split in West Baraboo at WIS 136. US 12 joins with WIS 159, a short highway that provides access to Devil's Lake State Park. Eventually, WisDOT will continue the Baraboo bypass freeway south of its current terminus at Old Highway 33, to just south of the Grasser Road overpass. Near the US 12/WI 159 intersection, the highway will become an expressway to just south of Ski Hi Road. The highway briefly becomes an expressway two miles south of WIS 159 for seven miles (11 km) as it approaches Sauk City. WIS 60 briefly joins US 12 in Sauk City and WIS 78 crosses the Wisconsin River concurrently with US 12 into Dane County.[14] US 12 becomes an expressway again at the county line and continues southeast, crossing WIS 19 at Springfield Corners. Just northwest of Middleton, the route becomes a freeway as it enters the Madison area along the West Beltline Highway.[15]

US 12 merges with US 14 at University Avenue. The freeway continues south and turns eastward at the interchange with CTH M and CTH S (Mineral Point Road). US 18 and US 151 join the beltline off Verona Road in southwestern Madison. The four routes travel concurrently for two miles (3 km), passing through interchanges with Todd Drive and Fish Hatchery Road before US 14 leaves south towards Janesville and US 151 north into downtown Madison via Park Street. The four-way concurrency was crossed by a railroad track at the surface until 2007. The crossing was isolated using Jersey barriers until that time.[16] The freeway also had several ramps, which contained driveways that accessed businesses.[17] US 12 and US 18 continue east into Monona and cross the Upper Mud Lake channel. The highways meet US 51 at Stoughton Road, then interchange with I-39 and I-90 on the southeast side of Madison.[18] US 12 and US 18 continue as an expressway east of the interstates, junctioning with WIS 73 in Deerfield and splitting, with US 12 turning southeast into Jefferson County in Cambridge.[15]

Cambridge to Genoa City

After leaving Cambridge, US 12 passes through Oakland and crosses WIS 26, WIS 89, and WIS 106 in Fort Atkinson. WIS 89 joins US 12 as the route turns southward to approach Whitewater, bypassing the city to the south into Walworth County. The route briefly enters Rock County before crossing into Walworth County[19] WIS 89 turns off US 12 at its junction with WIS 59. WIS 59 East follows US 12 briefly before turning north into the city. US 12 passes through La Grange and turns south at the junction with WIS 20 to follow WIS 67 south. US 12 turns southeast off WIS 67 onto a freeway northeast of Elkhorn. The highway crosses over WIS 11 with no access (although access is provided via nearby Interstate 43), then interchanges with I-43. Access for Lake Geneva is provided at WIS 120 and WIS 50 as US 12 passes the city to the east. The highway turns south into Genoa City, where the freeway ends and US 12 follows the crossroad into Illinois.

History

The entire route was originally signed as WIS 12 in 1917 prior to the creation of the U.S. highway system in 1926. Aside from changes resulting from the construction of freeways and US 12 being aligned on them, some differences exist between the original route and today's alignment. WIS 12 followed CTH E, a more southerly alignment, between Menomonie and Eau Claire. From Black River Falls, WIS 12 continued south to Shamrock and turned east to follow CTH O to Millston. WIS 12 ran southerly from Tomah along WIS 131 to CTH A and turned east onto the county road to pass through Hustler and Clifton to reach New Lisbon.[1][20]

The state originally planned to upgrade all of US 12 from Genoa City to Madison to freeway in anticipation of Illinois facilitating a toll road south of the state line. However, after Wisconsin started upgrading between Elkhorn and Genoa City, it was realized that the upgrades on the Illinois side had been shelved, due to community and environmental opposition (see FAP 420).

The route between Cambridge and Whitewater was upgraded to a straighter and flatter path for safety. A bypass of Whitewater was added in 2005, although the bypass is currently only two lanes. Upgrades to US 12 between Middleton and Sauk City were completed in 2005, but local opposition prevented most of the remaining route north of that point to Lake Delton from being constructed.[1]

In Wisconsin, the highway was designated as the Iron Brigade Memorial Highway in 1993 to honor the Civil War Union Army unit; it also has this designation in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.[21][22][23][24]

Future

The portion of US 12 between Parmenter Street (the end of the Madison Beltline) to WIS 78/188 is being studied for future freeway conversion in two separate studies.[25][26] Additionally, WisDOT has long range plans for freeway conversion between the Baraboo bypass and WIS 78/188, including a bypass of Sauk City, however, there is no timetable.[27]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmExit[28]DestinationsNotes
WashingtonLakeland

 I-94 west / US 12 west – St. Paul		Continuation into Minnesota
St. Croix River0.000.00Minnesota–Wisconsin state line
St. CroixHudson1
 WIS 35 north – Hudson		Western end of WIS 35 overlap
2 CTH-F (Carmichael Road)
3
 WIS 35 south – River Falls		Eastern end of WIS 35 overlap
4
 I-94 east – Madison		Eastern end of I-94 overlap
Roberts
 WIS 65 south – Roberts		Western end of WIS 65 overlap

 WIS 65 north – New Richmond		Eastern end of WIS 65 overlap
Baldwin
 US 63 north – Turtle Lake		Northern end of US 63 overlap

 US 63 south – Ellsworth		Southern end of US 63 overlap
Town of Springfield WIS 128 – Glenwood City, Spring Valley
DunnTown of Menomonie
 WIS 79 north – Boyceville
Menomonie
 WIS 25 north – Barron		Northern end of WIS 25 overlap

 WIS 25 south (Broadway Street) – Durand		Southern end of WIS 25 overlap

 WIS 29 west (Main Street) – Spring Valley		Western end of WIS 29 overlap
Town of Elk Mound60 I-94 – St. Paul, MadisonI-94 exit 52
61

 WIS 29 east / WIS 40 north – Colfax, Chippewa Falls		Eastern end of WIS 29 overlap
Eau ClaireEau Claire
 WIS 312 west (North Crossing)		Western end of WIS 312 overlap

 WIS 312 east (North Crossing) / CTH-T		Eastern end of WIS 312 overlap

 WIS 37 south – Mondovi

 Bus. US 53 (Hastings Way)
Altoona US 53 – Superior, La Crosse, MadisonUS 53 exit 86
Augusta
 WIS 27 north – Cadott		Northern end of WIS 27 overlap
JacksonTown of Cleveland
 US 10 west – Osseo		Western end of US 10 overlap
ClarkTown of Mentor
 US 10 east – Neillsville		Eastern end of US 10 overlap
JacksonMerrillan WIS 95 – Neillsville, Alma Center
Black River Falls I-94 – Madison, St. PaulI-94 exit 115

 WIS 54 west – Melrose		Western end of WIS 54 overlap

 WIS 54 east – Wisconsin Rapids		Eastern end of WIS 54 overlap
Town of Brockway
 WIS 27 south – Sparta		Southern end of WIS 27 overlap
MonroeTomah I-94 – Madison, St. PaulI-94 exit 143; no entrance from westbound I-94
WIS 21 – Necedah, SpartaProvides access from westbound I-94


 WIS 16 west / WIS 131 south – Wilton, Sparta		Western end of WIS 16 overlap
I-90 – Madison, La CrosseI-90 exit 43
JuneauNew Lisbon
 WIS 80 north – Necedah		Northern end of WIS 80 overlap

 WIS 80 south – Elroy		Southern end of WIS 80 overlap
Mauston WIS 58 / WIS 82 (Union Street)
Town of Lyndon I-90 / I-94 – Tomah, La Crosse, MadisonI-90 / I-94 exit 85
SaukWisconsin Dells

 WIS 13 / WIS 16 east / WIS 23 east – Wisconsin Dells		Eastern end of WIS 16 overlap; northern end of WIS 23 overlap
Lake Delton WIS 23 (Munroe Avenue) – ReedsburgSouthern end of WIS 23 overlap
I-90 / I-94 – Madison, Milwaukee, La Crosse, Eau ClaireI-90 / I-94 exit 92
Town of Delton212Lua error in Module:Jct at line 204: attempt to concatenate local 'link' (a nil value).
214N. Reedsburg RoadExit for Ho-Chunk Casino Wisconsin Dells
215
 WIS 33 west – Reedsburg		Northern end of WIS 33 overlap
West Baraboo218
 WIS 33 east / WIS 136 – Rock Springs		Southern end of WIS 33 overlap
Town of Baraboo
 WIS 159 east – Devil's Lake State Park
Town of Prairie du Sac
 WIS 60 west – Spring Green		Western end of WIS 60 overlap
Sauk City

 WIS 60 east / WIS 78 north – Merrimac		Eastern end of WIS 60 overlap; northern end of WIS 78 overlap
DaneTown of Roxbury
 WIS 78 south – Black Earth, Mount Horeb		Southern end of WIS 78 overlap

 WIS 188 north – Lodi
Town of Springfield
 WIS 19 west – Mazomanie		Western end of WIS 19 overlap

 WIS 19 east – Waunakee		Eastern end of WIS 19 overlap
Middleton249Parmenter Street
250 CTH-M (Century Avenue)Module:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
251A
 US 14 west / CTH-MS – Spring Green, La Crosse, Cross PlainsModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated		Western end of US 14 overlap
251BParmenter StreetWestbound exit only
Madison252Greenway Boulevard
253Old Sauk Road
254 CTH-M / CTH-S (Mineral Point Road) – Verona, Mount Horeb
255Gammon Road
257Whitney Way
258

 US 18 west / US 151 south (Verona Road) – Dodgeville, FitchburgModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated		Western end of US 18 and US 151 overlaps.
258ASeminole HighwayWestbound exit and eastbound entrance only; exit for UW Arboretum
259Todd Drive
260 CTH-D (Fish Hatchery Road) – BellevilleEastbound exits signed 260A (south) and 260B (north)
261

 US 14 east / US 151 north (Park St) – Oregon		Eastern end of US 14 and US 151 overlaps
262 CTH-MM (Rimrock Road)
263John Nolen Drive
Monona264 CTH-BW (West Broadway)
265Monona Drive
Madison266 US 51 (Stoughton Road) – McFarland
267
 I-39 / I-90 to I-94 – Janesville, Chicago, Wis Dells, Milwaukee		Signed as exits 267A (east/south) and 267B (west/north); I-39 / I-90 exit 142
Town of Cottage Grove272 CTH-N – Cottage Grove, Stoughton
Town of Deerfield
 WIS 73 north		Western end of WIS 73 overlap
Town of Christiana
 WIS 73 south – Edgerton		Eastern end of WIS 73 overlap
Cambridge
 WIS 134 north – Waterloo

 US 18 east – Jefferson		Eastern end of US 18 overlap
JeffersonFort Atkinson WIS 26 – Watertown, Milton


 Bus. WIS 26 north (Madison Avenue)		Northern end of WIS 26 Business overlap
WIS 106 (Riverside Drive)


 Bus. WIS 26 south (Robert Street)		Southern end of WIS 26 Business overlap

 WIS 89 north – Lake Mills		Northern end of WIS 89 overlap
WalworthWhitewater

 WIS 59 west / WIS 89 south – Milton, Delavan		Southern end of WIS 89 overlap; western end of WIS 59 overlap

 WIS 59 east – Palmyra		Eastern end of WIS 59 overlap
Town of La Grange

 WIS 20 east / WIS 67 north – East Troy, Eagle		Northern end of WIS 67 overlap
Elkhorn
 WIS 67 south – Williams Bay		Southern end of WIS 67 overlap
321 I-43 (Bray Road) / CTH-NN – Beloit, Milwaukee, ElkhornUnnumbered exits via collector-distributor lane
Lake Geneva328
 WIS 120 north – Burlington, Lake Geneva		Northern end of WIS 120 overlap
330 WIS 50 / WIS 120 – Lake Geneva, Paddock Lake, KenoshaSouthern end of WIS 120 overlap; eastbound exits signed 330A (west) and 330B (east)
Town of Bloomfield335Pell Lake Road
Genoa City
 US 12 east – Chicago		Continuation into Illinois
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c Bessert, Chris. "Highways 10-19". Wisconsin Highways. Retrieved June 11, 2007.[self-published source]
  2. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). St. Croix Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Menomonie, WI, United States of America" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Dunn Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Eau Claire, WI, United States of America" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Eau Claire Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Clark Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Monroe Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Juneau Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Lake Delton, WI, United States of America" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  11. ^ Noah's Ark Waterpark. "Noah's Ark Waterpark Wisconsin Dells". Noah's Ark Waterpark. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  12. ^ Wisconsin Duck Tours. "Original Wisconsin Ducks, Wisconsin Dells". Wisconsin Duck Tours. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  13. ^ Tommy Bartlett. "Tommy Bartlett Show". Tommy Bartlett. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  14. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Sauk Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Dane Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 14, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Neuhauser, Curt; Bie, Michael. "One Month and Counting: Beltline Project Begins April 30" (Press release). Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Jensen, David. "Unusual Sights in and around Madison". I Love Roads. Retrieved December 25, 2006.[self-published source]
  18. ^ "Madison, WI, United States of America" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  19. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2014). Jefferson Co (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Bauer, Kurt W. (March 1969). "Map 5: Original State Trunk Highway System in Wisconsin 1918" (Map). A Jurisdictional Highway System Plan For Milwaukee County. Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Retrieved January 10, 2008 – via Midwest Roads.
  21. ^ Michigan Legislature (October 26, 2001). "Section 250.1048". Michigan Compiled Laws. Michigan Legislative Council. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  22. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (June 4, 2010). "Commemorative Highways and Bridges". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  23. ^ Indiana Department of Transportation (June 16, 2009). "State Farm Sponsorship of Hoosier Helpers". Indiana Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  24. ^ RoadDog (September 4, 2008). "US 12 In Illinois Gets New Name". American Road Forum. American Road Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2012.[self-published source]
  25. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Southwest Region. "US 12 Freeway Conversion Study". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  26. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Southwest Region. "US 12 Corridor Study". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  27. ^ Village of Prairie du Sac; Town of Prairie du Sac; Village of Sauk City (June 26, 2012). "Highway 12/PF and Airport Area Plan" (PDF). Village of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  28. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Exit Numbers on US 12". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 10, 2007.

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