State Trunk Highway 65 (often called Highway 65, STH-65 or WIS65) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs north–south in west central Wisconsin from St. Croix Falls to Ellsworth.

Route description

WIS65 begins at the corner of West Main Street (US Highway 10, US10) and North Maple Street in downtown Ellsworth in Pierce County. WIS65 heads north on Maple Street out of town, splitting off with County Trunk Highway J (CTH-J) north of the Ellsworth Country Club golf course.

WIS65 then heads in a generally west-northwesterly direction towards River Falls. At its intersection with WIS 29 at East Cascade Avenue, it is concurrently marked with WIS 35 north to its interchange with North Main Street on the northeast side of town. WIS35 continues to the north while WIS65 turns northeast on North Main and out of town.

WIS65 runs parallel to the Kinnickinnic River along its northern banks until reaching North River Road outside of River Falls. WIS65 then turns due north to its interchange with Interstate 94 (I-94) near Twin Lakes (Exit 10).

North of I-94, WIS65 heads north as 120th Street into the village of Roberts where it intersects with US 12. WIS65 then heads east with US12 for about four blocks before heading north on 130th Street.

WIS65 continues due north into the city of New Richmond, where it becomes South Knowles Avenue. The street is named for the former Wisconsin state governor, Warren P. Knowles, who lived in the city. WIS65 continues through the city, becoming North Knowles Avenue after crossing the Willow River. WIS65 intersects with WIS 64 to the northeast of the city, near Hatfield Lake and New Richmond Municipal Airport.

WIS65 heads due north again to the village of Star Prairie, where it enters the village as Jewell Street. At its intersection with Hill Avenue (CTH-H), WIS65 curves to the west for a block before turning north onto Main Street. WIS65 runs north for three blocks on Main Street before turning east again on Jerdee Avenue for a block, then continuing north on Jewell Street to the Polk–St. Croix County line.

WIS65 turns to the northeast for several miles before turning again towards the north at its intersection with CTH-C in Polk County. WIS65 continues north through a mostly rural part of the state, finally reaching its northern terminus with US 8 near Deer Lake, east of St. Croix Falls.

History

Initially, WIS65 traveled from WIS12 (now US12) in Baraboo to WIS10/WIS29 (now US51 and WIS16 respectively) in Portage via present-day WIS33. In 1919, WIS33 extended eastward to Waupun, superseding the whole of WIS65 in the process. As a result, WIS65 was moved onto a Patch Grove–Monroe route (some parts were not previously signed as a state highway). This route ran from WIS19 (now US18) in Patch Grove to WIS20/WIS42 (now WIS11 and WIS69 respectively) in Monroe via parts of present-day WIS35 and WIS81. In 1923, WIS65 was relocated again in favor of the extensions of WIS61 and WIS35. This time, it was relocated onto a portion of its modern-day routing, traveling from WIS35 north of River Falls to WIS24/WIS64 (now just WIS64) in New Richmond.

In 1947, WIS65 was extended northward to US8 near Deer Lake, replacing CTH-K in the process. The northern extension was not completely paved in asphalt until 1950. By 1989, a part of WIS35 from Hager City to River Falls moved west closer to the Mississippi and the St. Croix rivers. As a result, WIS65 extended southward to US10/US63 in Ellsworth. In 1993, a two-lane downtown bypass was completed in River Falls.

Major intersections

See also

References

External links