State Trunk Highway 22 (often called Highway 22, STH-22 or WIS22) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The route's trajectory is mostly south to north, with the exception of the segment between Shawano and the northern terminus which is east–west. It is generally a two-lane surface road providing a connecting route between Waupaca, Shawano, Gillett and Oconto. Various urban sections have multilane segments.

Route description

WIS22's southern terminus is located in Columbia County at the junction of US 51 and WIS 60 in North Leeds, east of Arlington. From there the route heads north for and crosses WIS 16 at Wyocena. At another further north, the highway junctions with WIS 44 in Pardeeville and WIS 33 north of Pardeeville. The highway crosses into Marquette County at CTH CM.

WIS22 passes north through the eastern portion of Marquette County where it meets WIS 23 in Montello. There is a short cosigning with 23 in town heading east before 22 turns north again. The highway then joins WIS 21 briefly in Wautoma. Both routes cross WIS 73 in the downtown area and WIS21 splits southeast following WIS73 while WIS22 continues north, passing through Wild Rose north of Wautoma. WIS22 passes through the southeast corner of Portage County for about as it turns eastward. The highway stairsteps northeast for about , passing around Rural and King as it proceeds toward Waupaca. WIS22 merges onto US 10 east (also carrying WIS 49 south and WIS 54 east) for one and a half miles, forming a brief wrong-way concurrency with WIS49. Along with WIS54, WIS22 turns off US10 to the north and into the city via Churchill Street. The two highways then turn east onto Royalton Street southeast of the city center and follow the Little Wolf River's south branch northeast.

WIS 110 joins the two highway five miles east of Waupaca, and WIS54 turns east off the route northeast of that point to continue following the river. WIS22 and WIS110 pass through Manawa and junction with WIS 161 west north of the city. WIS110 continues north at that point while WIS22 turns east and passes through the small community of Symco. WIS22 turns north onto US 45 where WIS 76 begins east of Symco. WIS22 continues north along US45 for then splits north while US45 turns west in Clintonville. The western terminus of WIS 156 connects with the route north of the US45 junction. WIS22 passes through Embarrass on the Shawano County line.

WIS22 passes northwest of the small communities of Adams Beach and Belle Plaine as it turns northeast and approaches Shawano. WIS22 junctions with WIS 29 southwest of the city and passes into the city itself along Main Street. The highway turns east onto Green Bay Street, joining WIS 47 and Wisconsin Highway 55 south for within the city. WIS47 and WIS55 then turn south onto Airport Road and WIS22 passes northeast around the southeast side of Shawano Lake and through Cecil, junctioning with WIS 117. The highway enters Oconto County at Pulcifer.

WIS22 joins WIS32 south in Gillett and the two routes run concurrent for east to where WIS32 turns south off while WIS22 continues east, passing through Oconto Falls. In 2014, an 8.1-mile stretch of STH22 between Gillett and Oconto Falls was honored with the Sheldon G. Hayes Award for being the smoothest asphalt pavement in the country. The highway crosses US 141 in Stiles Junction west of its eastern terminus at US 41 in Oconto. The terminus is adjacent to Copper Culture State Park.

History

WIS22's original route follows the current route from Wautoma to Oconto, not including any reroutes that were in place such as the one around Waupaca. The segment south of Wautoma was opened in 1947. The eastern terminus changed in 2015 to the new US41 bypass around Oconto, shortening the highway's length by about . The previous terminus extended to what is now Bus. US41 and County Trunk Highway Y (CTH-Y).

Major intersections

See also

References

External links