Wisconsin Highway 23

Infobox road
state=WI
type=WI
route=23
length_mi=211.05
length_ref=cite web | last = Bessert | first = Chris | title =Wisconsin Highways: Highways 20-29 (Highway 23) | work =Wisconsin Highways | url =http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys20-29.html#STH-023 | accessdate = 2008-01-10]
length_round=2
direction_a=South
direction_b=East
starting_terminus=jct|state=WI|WI|11 near Shullsburg
junction=jct|state=WI|US|151 in Mineral Point
jct|state=WI|US|18 in Dodgeville
jct|state=WI|US|14 in Spring Green
jct|state=WI|I|90|I|94 near Lake Delton
jct|state=WI|WI|13 in Wisconsin Dells
jct|state=WI|I|39 near Montello
jct|state=WI|US|41 near Fond du Lac
ending_terminus=jct|state=WI|WI|28|WI|42 in Sheboygan
previous_type=WI
previous_route=22
next_type=WI
next_route=24
commons=category

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, 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 destination, such as the House on the Rock, the Wisconsin Dells area and various state parks.

Route description

hullsburg to Reedsburg

WIS 23 begins at WIS 11 in Lafayette County, five miles east of Shullsburg, and passes north through Darlington. WIS 23 shares one mile 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 north of the city.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/lafayette.pdf | format=pdf | title=Lafayette Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09] From the county line, WIS 23 turns northwestward to Mineral Point. WIS 39 joins the route one mile southeast of the city, and turns west off in the downtown area. WIS 23 turns northeast and joins US 151 for a four-mile 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.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/iowa.pdf | format=pdf | title=Iowa Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09] The highway passes the House on the Rock nine miles north of Dodgeville.cite map|url=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 | title=House on the Rock Tours to Dodgeville, WI, United States of America - Google Maps | publisher=Google | cartography=NAVTEQ | accessdate=2008-01-09] WIS 23 passes Tower Hill State Park at the Sauk County line.

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 north of US 14 and Loganville another eleven miles further north. WIS 154 joins the route in Loganville. then turns off the route to the east three miles further north.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/sauk.pdf | format=pdf | title=Sauk Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09]

Reedsburg to Sheboygan

After another four miles, WIS 23 joins WIS 33 and becomes an east-west route in Reedsburg and follows the route east for six miles, 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.cite map|url=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 | title=Lake Delton, WI, United States of America - Google Maps | publisher=Google | cartography=NAVTEQ | accessdate=2008-01-09] 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 - passing attractions such as Noah's Ark Waterparkcite web | title=Noah's Ark Waterpark Wisconsin Dells | url=http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com | accessdate=2008-01-09] the Wisconsin Ducks boat tourscite web | title=Original Wisconsin Ducks, Wisconsin Dells | url=http://www.wisconsinducktours.com/contact.html | accessdate=2008-01-09] , and Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Showcite web | title=Tommy Bartlett Show | url=http://www.tommybartlett.com/contact.html | accessdate=2008-01-09] 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 Countycite map|url=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 | title=Wisconsin Dells, WI, United States of America - Google Maps | publisher=Google | cartography=NAVTEQ | accessdate=2008-01-09]

WIS 13 turns north and WIS 16 turns south just east of the city and WIS 23 turns north into Adams County two miles east of Wisconsin Dells.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/columbia.pdf | format=pdf | title=Columbia Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09] The highway then turns east, passing near Big Spring on the way into Marquette County after a six mile journey through Adams County.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/adams.pdf | format=pdf | title=Adams Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09] WIS 23 stair-steps northeast to Endeavor where it joins I-39/US 51 for six miles before turning east off the interstate five miles east of Oxford. WIS 23 passes through Montello and crosses WIS 22 before turning northeast and entering Green Lake County six miles northeast of Montello.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/marquette.pdf | format=pdf | title=Marquette Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09]

WIS 23 joins WIS 73 south in Princeton and both routes stair-step southeast for three miles before WIS 73 turns south. WIS 23 passes north of Green Lake and is joined by WIS 49 south northeast of the city. the highway concurrency enters Fond du Lac County two miles east of Green Lake.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/greenlake.pdf | format=pdf | title=Green Lake Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-10] WIS 49 splits to the south and WIS 44 north joins WIS 23 briefly in Ripon, turning north after a one mile concurrency. WIS 23 continues east, and crossing WIS 26 in Rosendale. As the highway enters Fond du Lac it junctions with US 41. WIS 23 crosses US 45 in the city center and US 151 on the east side. after a twelve mile rural stretch from Fond du Lac, WIS 23 enters Sheboygan Countycite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/fonddulac.pdf | format=pdf | title=Fond du Lac Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-10] The route passes near Greenbush about four miles into the county, then becomes a freeway about two miles 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.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/sheboygan.pdf | format=pdf | title=Sheboygan Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-09] WIS 23 junctions with I-43 at a cloverleaf interchange just west of Sheboygan. The freeway segment ends just east of the interchange. WIS 23 follows Kohler Memorial Drive and Erie Ave into the city where it terminates at WIS 28 south and WIS 42 north.cite map|url=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 | title=Sheboygan, WI, United States of America - Google Maps | publisher=Google | cartography=NAVTEQ | accessdate=2008-01-09]

History

The original 1918 routing of WIS 23 ended the route on the western terminus at Packwaukee at its junction with was signed, but then extended again - this time along its current route when US 118 became part of US 151.

WIS 23 was relocated in the Sheboygan area to bypass Plymouth and Sheboygan Falls. Plans for this existed as early as 1972.cite news |title=More Pros Than Noes For 23 |publisher=The Sheboygan Press |date=1972-08-23 |accessdate=2008-01-10]

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.

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.cite web | author=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | title =WIS 23 expansion study | url =http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d3/wis23/index.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-31]

Major intersections

hullsburg to Reedsburg

Jctint
state=WI
county=Lafayette
cspan=3
location=Dunbarton
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|11
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Darlington
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|81|dir1=West
notes=WIS 81 East follow WIS 23 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|81|dir1=East
notes=WIS 81 West follow WIS 23 SouthJctint
state=WI
county=Iowa
cspan=8
location=Mineral Point
lspan=3
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|39|dir1=East
notes=WIS 39 West follow WIS 23 North

Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|39|dir1=West
notes=WIS 39 East follow WIS 23 SouthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|US|151|dir1=South
notes=WIS 23 North follow US 151 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Dodgeville
lspan=3
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|151|dir1=North
notes=WIS 23 South follow US 151 SouthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|191
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|18
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|130
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|C
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Sauk
cspan=5
location=Spring Green
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|14|WI|60
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Plain
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|B
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Loganville
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|154|dir1=West
notes=WIS 154 East follow WIS 23 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|154|dir1=East
notes=WIS 154 West follow WIS 23 SouthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Reedsburg
lspan=1
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=West
notes=WIS 23 East follow WIS 33 East - WIS 23 Directional Signage change

Reedsburg to Sheboygan

Jctint
state=WI
county=Sauk
cspan=5
location=Reedsburg
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|136
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=East
notes=WIS 23 West Follow WIS 33 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Lake Delton
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|I|90|I|94
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|US|12|dir1=East
notes=WIS 23 East follow US 12 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Wisconsin Dells
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|US|12|WI|13|WI|16|dir1=West|dir2=South|dir3=West
notes=WIS 23 West Follow US 12 East
WIS 16 East / WIS 23 East follow WIS 13 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=Columbia
cspan=1
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|13|WI|16|dir1=South|dir2=West
notes=WIS 16 West / WIS 23 West follow WIS 13 SouthJctint
state=WI
county=Adams
cspan=1
location=Big Spring
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|G
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Marquette
cspan=5
location=Briggsville
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|A
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Endeavor
lspan=1
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|I|39|US|51|CTH|P|dir1=South|dir2=South
notes=US 51 - Exit 100cite web | author=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | title =Exit numbers on US 51 and I-39 | url =http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/exits-us51-i39.htm | accessdate = 2007-06-30]
WIS 23 North follow I-39 North / US 51 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Packwaukee
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|D
notes=US 51 Exit 104Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|I|39|US|51|WI|82|dir1=North|dir2=North|dir3=West
notes=US 51 Exit 106Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Montello
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|22
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Green Lake
cspan=4
location=Princeton
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|73|dir1=North
notes=WIS 73 South follow WIS 23 EastJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|73|dir1=South
notes=WIS 73 North follow WIS 23 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Green Lake
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|A
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|49|dir1=North
notes=WIS 49 South follow WIS 23 EastJctint
state=WI
county=Fond du Lac
cspan=8
location=Ripon
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|44|WI|49|dir1=South|dir2=South
notes=WIS 44 North follow WIS 23 East
WIS 49 North follow WIS 23 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|44|dir1=North
notes=WIS 44 South follow WIS 23 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Rosendale
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|26
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Woodhall
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|Y
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Fond du Lac
lspan=3
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|41
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|45
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|151
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|W
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Sheboygan
cspan=10
location=Greenbush
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|A
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Plymouth
lspan=3
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|C - Plymouth
notes=Westernmost interchange of expressway segmentJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|67|city1=Elkhart Lake|city2=Plymouth
notes=interchangeJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|57|city1=Kiel|city2=Random Lake
notes=interchangeJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Plymouth-Sheboygan Falls
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|M
notes=at-grade intersectionJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Sheboygan Falls
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|32|city1=Howards Grove|city2=Sheboygan Falls
notes=interchangeJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Kohler
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|Y|city1=Kohler
notes=interchangeJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|I|43|city1=Green Bay|city2=Milwaukee
notes=interchangeJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Sheboygan
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|TA - Taylor Dr
notes=Easternmost interchange on expressway segmentJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|28|WI|42
notes=

References