U.S. Route 53 in Wisconsin

Infobox road
state=WI
type=US
route=53
length_mi=
length_ref=
length_round=
established=1926
maint=WisDOT
direction_a=South
direction_b=North
starting_terminus=
junction=
ending_terminus=Minnesota border in Superior
previous_type=WI
previous_route=52
next_type=WI
next_route=53In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 53 (normally called U.S. Highway 53, Highway 53 or US 53) runs north-south across the western part of the state.

Route description

The highway begins at its southern terminus at US 14, US 61 and WIS 16 in downtown La Crosse. From there, it crosses Interstate 90 and becomes a freeway bypass of Onalaska and Holmen before proceeding north to Eau Claire as a two-lane road. The interchange with Interstate 94 begins a freeway/expressway stretch for the route north to and through Superior and into Minnesota. The recently built (ca. 2006) freeway in Eau Claire, bypasses most of the city, alleviating congestion on the original route (signed as both "Business US-53" and "Hastings Way"). Hastings Way/Business US-53, a mix of grade-separated interchanges and at-grade intersections, is routed through Eau Claire, passing within about 1 mile of downtown. Wisconsin's first single-point urban interchange is found along the new bypass, at the interchange with US-12, in Altoona.Chris Bessert. [http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys50-59.html#US-053 Wisconsin Highways - Highway 53] 2006, URL accessed 2006 December 31]

US 53 continues as a freeway north of Eau Claire past Chippewa Falls to Rice Lake where it becomes an expressway with only two grade-separated interchanges (one at WIS 70 near Spooner, WI and one at WIS 13 southeast of Superior). A partial grade-separated interchange also exists at US 2 but traffic turning onto US 2 east must take a U-turn at an at-grade crossover past the interchange.

In Superior, US 53 runs together with Interstate 535 and crosses the St. Louis River via the John A. Blatnik Bridge into Minnesota.

Exit list

References