Wisconsin Highway 54

State Trunk Highway 54 marker
State Trunk Highway 54
Wisconsin Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians Highway
Map
WIS-54 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT
Length243.12 mi[1][2] (391.26 km)
Major junctions
West end MN 43 west of Marshland
Major intersections
East end WIS 42 in Algoma
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
CountiesBuffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, Wood, Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee
Highway system
WIS 53 WIS 55

State Trunk Highway 54 (often called Highway 54, STH-54 or WIS 54) is a Wisconsin state highway running east–west across central Wisconsin. It is 243.12 miles (391.26 km) in length.

Route description

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Minnesota state line to Plover

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West terminus

WIS 54 begins at the western terminus. It crosses through the Minnesota state line at Winona, Minnesota via the North Channel Bridge. At this bridge, MN 43 ends there. After crossing the bridge, it soon turns east via WIS 35/Great River Road. In Centerville, WIS 35, as well as the Great River Road, turn southward; leaves the concurrency. At the same junction, WIS 93 joins the concurrency eastward. Further east, they then start to run concurrently with US 53 in Galesville. However, as they travel eastward, WIS 54 turns northeast, leaving the concurrency.

At Butman Corners, WIS 54 then turns east again. After leaving Butman Corners, it closely parallels the Black River just south of the route. Then, it meanders eastward towards Melrose. In Melrose, it meets WIS 71/WIS 108 where they end. Continuing north, it continues to parallel the river. In Black River Falls, it briefly runs concurrently with US 12 and WIS 27 on the bridge. After crossing the bridge, WIS 54 becomes a four-lane divided highway. At that point, it no longer follows the river.

Going east, it then meets I-94 at a diamond interchange. After leaving Vaudreuil out northeast, WIS 54 then downgrades into a two-lane undivided highway. Then, it continues going eastward. At Dexterville, WIS 54 briefly traveled southward via WIS 80. Continuing eastward, WIS 54 then runs concurrently with WIS 73 from Port Edward to Wisconsin Rapids. At the start of the concurrency, it, as well as WIS 73, starts to follows the Wisconsin River. In Wisconsin Rapids, WIS 54 turns east, following WIS 13. This concurrency with WIS 13 runs from the west end of the Wisconsin River bridge to 8th Street. WIS 54 then turns north near the city limit. At Robinson Park, WIS 54 curves east, and - passing 64th Street - becomes a four-lane, divided highway with a 65-mph (104 km/h) speed limit to just outside Plover. Although it still closely parallels the river, it is now on the east/south side of the river. At Plover, WIS 54 then turns southeast via Bus. US 51. At that point, it no longer follows the river again.[2]

Plover to Algoma

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Continuing southeast, both routes continue to run concurrently until they meet I-39/US 51 interchange. At that point, Bus. US 51 ends there. WIS 54 continues to travel southeast. However, at one point, it then turns east towards Waupaca. At Waupaca, WIS 54 runs concurrently with US 10 as well as WIS 49. At the next interchange out east, WIS 22 joins the concurrency. Just west of the Waupaca Municipal Airport, WIS 54 and WIS 22 leaves the concurrency. Continuing northeast, they then run concurrently with WIS 110 for 2.3 miles (3.7 km). After WIS 110, as well as WIS 22, leaves the concurrency, WIS 54 then travels east. Near the Newton Blackmour State Trail in New London, US 45 meets WIS 54 at a parclo. At that point, the route parallels the state trail.

In Shiocton, WIS 76 briefly runs concurrently with WIS 54. East of the concurrency, it intersects WIS 187. In Black Creek, it intersects WIS 47. South of Seymour, WIS 55 travels eastward via WIS 54 for 2 miles (3.2 km). After WIS 55 turns south, WIS 54 enters the Oneida Reservation. It then turns northeast after intersecting with WIS 172.

After entering Green Bay, WIS 54 becomes a four-lane divided highway. After that, it turns eastward. At the dumbbell interchange, WIS 54 meets I-41/US 41 while WIS 32 runs concurrently with WIS 54. As they get close to downtown, WIS 32 leaves southward while WIS 54 becomes a limited-access road. After crossing a bascule bridge above the Fox River, WIS 54 leaves Mason Street for Monroe Street. At that point, WIS 54 runs concurrently with WIS 57.

East terminus in Algoma

In downtown, WIS 29 then briefly joins the concurrency between Walnut Street and Main Street. At Main Street, US 141 intersects with three routes. This is where WIS 29 turns southeast. After crossing that intersection, they then turn southeast and then east. They then meet I-43 at a parclo. After meeting with I-43, the road becomes a freeway. In the middle of it, WIS 54 leaves the freeway. It continues to travel eastward through the Door Peninsula until reaching WIS 42 in downtown Algoma. At that point, WIS 54 ends there.[2]

History

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Initially, WIS 54 ran from Green Bay to WIS 17 (now part of WIS 42) in Algona.[3] In 1920, WIS 54 extended westward to WIS 22 in Royalton.[4] In 1924, WIS 54 extended westward to the Mississippi River. This route largely followed its present-day routing. As a result of the extension, it replaced parts of WIS 66 from Wisconsin Rapids to Plover and WIS 52 from Decora Prairie to Black River Falls.[5] By 1931, a portion of WIS 54 between Shiocton and Black Creek was straightened.[6] By 1932, WIS 54 took a different approach to connect to Green Bay from the west. This time, it took Mason Street instead of WIS 29/WIS 32.[7]

Future

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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) plans to add roundabouts at two intersections along WIS 54 in Seymour. The roundabouts will be constructed at Main Street and Ivory Street. The highway through the city will also be reconfigured from a four-lane road to a three-lane road with a two-way left-turn lane. Construction will begin in early 2024 and is expected to end later in the year.[8]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[2]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Mississippi River0.00.0
MN 43 south
Continuation into Minnesota
North Channel Bridge
BuffaloTown of Buffalo
WIS 35 north – Fountain City
Western end of WIS 35 concurrency
TrempealeauTown of Trempealeau

WIS 35 south / WIS 93 north – Trempealeau, Arcadia
Eastern end of WIS 35 concurrency; western end of WIS 93 concurrency
Galesville
US 53 north (Main Street) – Galesville
Western end of US 53 concurrency
Town of Gale

US 53 south / WIS 93 south – La Crosse
Eastern end of US 53/WIS 93 concurrency
JacksonMelrose

WIS 71 east / WIS 108 south – Sparta, West Salem
Western terminus of WIS 71; northern terminus of WIS 108
Black River Falls

US 12 west (Water Street) / WIS 27 north – Merrillan
Western end of US 12/WIS 27 concurrency


US 12 east (Roosevelt Road) / WIS 27 south – Tomah, Sparta
Eastern end of US 12/WIS 27 concurrency
I-94 – Eau Claire, MadisonExit 116 along I-94
WoodDexter
WIS 80 north – Pittsville
Western end of WIS 80 concurrency

WIS 80 south – Necedah
Eastern end of WIS 80 concurrency
Port Edwards
WIS 73 south (Prospect Avenue)
Western end of WIS 73 concurrency
Wisconsin Rapids
WIS 13 (Riverview Expressway) / WIS 73 north
Eastern end of WIS 73 concurrency; western end of WIS 13 concurrency

WIS 13 south (8th Street)
Eastern end of WIS 13 concurrency
PortagePlover
Bus. US 51 (Post Road)
Western end of Bus. US 51 concurrency
Town of Plover I-39 / US 51 – Wausau, Portage

Bus. US 51
Southern terminus of Bus. US 51
WaupacaWaupaca

US 10 west / WIS 22 / WIS 49 north – Waupaca, Stevens Point
Western end of US 10/WIS 49 concurrency
252

WIS 22 south / CTH-K south – Waupaca, Wild Rose
Western end of WIS 22 concurrency
Town of Waupaca253Churchill Street
Waupaca

US 10 east / WIS 49 south
Eastern end of US 10/WIS 49 concurrency
Royalton
WIS 110 south – Weyauwega
Western end of WIS 110 concurrency


WIS 22 north / WIS 110 north – Manawa, Clintonville
Eastern end of WIS 22/WIS 110 concurrency
OutagamieNew London US 45 – Hortonville, Oshkosh, Clintonville, MarionInterchange
Shiocton
WIS 76 north – Bear Creek
Western end of WIS 76 concurrency

WIS 76 south
Eastern end of WIS 76 concurrency

WIS 187 north – Leeman
Southern terminus of WIS 187
Black Creek WIS 47 – Bonduel, Appleton
Seymour
WIS 55 north – Shawano
Western end of WIS 55 concurrency
Town of Oneida
WIS 55 south – Freedom, Kaukauna
Eastern end of WIS 55 concurrency
BrownHobart

WIS 172 east / CTH-E south – Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport, Freedom
Roundabout; western terminus of WIS 172
Green Bay
I-41 / US 41 / WIS 32 north – Marinette, Appleton
Western end of WIS 32 concurrency

WIS 32 south (Ashland Avenue)
Eastern end of WIS 32 concurrency; western end of freeway
BroadwayWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Madison Street – DowntownEastbound exit and westbound entrance
WIS 57 (Monroe Avenue)Western end of WIS 57 concurrency

WIS 29 west (Walnut Street)
Western end of WIS 29 concurrency

US 141 (Main Street) / WIS 29 east
Eastern end of WIS 29 concurrency
I-43 / LMCT – MilwaukeeWestern end of freeway
University Avenue; Nicolet Drive
CTH-EA (Huron Road/Bay Settlement Road)

WIS 57 north / LMCT
Western end of WIS 57 concurrency; WIS 57 freeway continues north
KewauneeAlgoma WIS 42 / LMCT – Sturgeon Bay, KewauneeEastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
Wisconsin State Highway 54 & 93. US-53 splits off north through Galesville

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bessert's, Christopher J. "Highways 50 through 59". Wisconsin Highways.[self-published source]
  2. ^ a b c d "Overview map of WIS 54" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1918). Official Map of the State Trunk Highway System of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,010,000]. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. OCLC 38871736, 69119995. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1920). Official Map of the State Trunk Highway System of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. OCLC 5673515. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  5. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1924). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin: 'The Playground of the Middle West' (PDF) (Map). c. 1:950,400. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. OCLC 560719947. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1931). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  7. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1932). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  8. ^ Voight, Sophia (December 18, 2023). "Construction on I-41 Expansion and New Roundabouts Are Coming to Outagamie County in 2024". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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