State Trunk Highway 64 (WIS64) is a highway in Wisconsin, which runs from the St. Croix Crossing bridge as a continuation of Minnesota State Highway 36 (MN36) near Stillwater, Minnesota, and continues east to its eastern terminus in downtown Marinette, where it terminates at US Highway 41 (US41) at an intersection on the corner of Marinette and Hall Avenue. Along the way, Highway 64 runs east–west through eight counties across northern Wisconsin.

Route description

State line to Bloomer

WIS64 begins at the St. Croix Crossing bridge at the Wisconsin–Minnesota state line. The highway continues as a four–lane freeway bypassing Houlton for approximately a mile, before meeting and running concurrently with WIS 35 for until Somerset. WI 64 is a limited-access freeway from 150th Avenue in Houlton until 85th Street and Raleigh Road in Somerset. Continuing east, the highway is an expressway with at-grade intersections until 145th Street in New Richmond. From 145th Street on, the route is a two-lane surface road. In Cylon, Wisconsin WIS64 runs concurrently with US 63 from the US 63/WIS 46 (known locally as 'Four Corners') junction until 260th Street.

WSI 64 winds through Dunn County, running through mostly rural areas and unincorporated towns. Approximately half-way through its routing in the County, WIS64 runs concurrently with Wisconsin Highway 25. After passing the Hay Creek Public Hunting Grounds, WIS64 crosses the Red Cedar River before crossing into Chippewa County. Highway 64 continues east through Chippewa County, crossing US 53 at exit 112, just north of Bloomer.

Bloomer to Antigo

WIS64 runs concurrently with WIS 40 for about before WIS40 turns north towards US 8. Just south of Cornell, WIS64 meets the northern terminus of WIS 178 before crossing the Chippewa River and into Cornell as Bridge Street.

In downtown Cornell, WIS64 intersects with WIS 27 at South 3rd Street. The two state highways run concurrently out of the city to the Cornell Municipal Airport. WIS27 turns north towards Ladysmith, while WIS64 continues east into Taylor County.

WIS64 becomes Main Street in Gilman, intersecting with IWS 73 east of the village. WIS64 and WIS73 continue south across the Yellow River before WIS73 continues south towards Thorp. WIS64 runs along the southern border of Chequamegon National Forest en route to Medford, where it becomes Broadway Avenue. WIS64 then crosses WIS 13 at 8th Street on the east side of the city. Outside of the unincorporated town of Goodrich, WIS64 meets the northern terminus of WIS 97 (Mink Drive). WIS64 continues slightly northwest into Goodrich before entering Lincoln County. WIS64 continues on for about before intersecting WIS 107. WIS64 and WIS107 continue north for before turning east and into the city of Merrill, where they become Main Street.

WIS64 and WIS107 run alongside the Wisconsin River, crossing it on the west side of Merrill before WIS107 continues northwest on Grand Avenue. WIS64 continues east across the Prairie River as 1st Street into downtown. At North Polk Street, WIS64 splits into two one-way streets; eastbound traffic continues for about seven blocks on East 1st Street, while westbound traffic takes East 2nd Street past the post office, Prairie River Middle School, and on to North Polk Street. Two blocks east of the Lincoln County Courthouse at Center Avenue (also known as County Highway K), WIS64 turns south for one block and back to East Main Street. It then continues east out of the city to US 51 at exit 208.

East of the US 51 freeway, WIS64 crosses the southern terminus of WIS 17, then heads east towards Langlade County. WIS64 takes a brief turn south with County Highway X before crossing the county line.

WIS64 continues east towards the city of Antigo. A new detour opened in the fall of 2011 that now has WIS64 bypassing downtown Antigo. It crosses US 45 and WIS 47, and merges with WIS 53 on the north side of Antigo. WIS52 and 64 continue east while US 45 and WIS47 continue north.

Antigo to Marinette

About a mile (1.6km) outside of Antigo, WIS52 turns northeast at Langlade Road, just north of Langlade County Airport. WIS64 continues due east, going through the towns of Polar, Elton, White Lake, and Langlade. WIS64 then enters the western boundary of the Nicolet National Forest before entering Oconto County.

WIS64 continues through the wooded hills of the national forest before intersecting with WIS 32. The two highways turn to the southeast along the Oconto River into the town of Mountain. After passing Chute Pond Park, WIS32 turns toward the south towards Breed while WIS64 heads east along the southern edge of the National Forest into Marinette County.

WIS64 is the county line between Oconto and Marinette for before entering Marinette County. On the northern edge of the city of Pound, WIS64 intersects with US 141 before continuing east toward the city of Marinette. Upon entering Marinette, WIS64 becomes Hall Avenue, continuing downtown until it reaches its eastern terminus at US 41 (Marinette Avenue) at State Street. US 41 continues east on Hall Avenue to Bridge Street and into the state of Michigan.

History

Initially, WIS64 ran from WIS38 (now US141) in Pound to WIS15 (now US41) in Marinette. During the early 1920s, WIS64 gradually extended westward all the way to Minnesota. Most parts of the route followed its present-day alignment. In 1926, a part of WIS64 from Mountain to Pound was rerouted northward.

A project expanding 15 miles of WIS64 between Houlton and New Richmond was completed in 2006 at a cost of $109 million. Based on faulty traffic projections, this project was included in WisPIRGss list of highway boondoggles.

In August 2017, the westernmost part of WIS64 moved southward in favor of moving from the old Stillwater Lift Bridge to the new St. Croix Crossing.

Major intersections

Special routes

Somerset business loop

Business State Trunk Highway 64 (Bus. WIS64) is a business loop of WIS64, running through downtown Somerset.

New Richmond business spur

Business State Trunk Highway 64 (Bus. WIS64) is a business spur of WIS64, running through downtown New Richmond.

See also

References

External links

• WIS 35/64 project

• St Croix River Crossing Project-Mn DOT