Wisconsin Highway 21

State Trunk Highway 21 (often called Highway 21, STH-21 or WIS 21) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs eastwest across the center of the state between Sparta and Oshkosh. The route often serves as a direct route for travelers between Appleton and Oshkosh to Tomah and La Crosse. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly all of its length, with the exception of a few urban arterials of four or more lanes. The section of WIS 21 between Fort McCoy and I-94 in Tomah is classified as a "Major STRAHNET Connector." while the route past I-94 is classified as a "Non-Interstate STRAHNET Route"[1]

State Trunk Highway 21 marker

State Trunk Highway 21

WIS 21 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT
Length123.37 mi[1] (198.54 km)
Major junctions
West end WIS 16 / WIS 27 / WIS 71 in Sparta
Major intersections US 12 in Tomah
I-94 in Tomah
WIS 13 near Friendship
I-39 / US 51 in Coloma
I-41 / US 41 in Oshkosh
East end US 45 in Oshkosh
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
CountiesMonroe, Juneau, Adams, Waushara, Winnebago
Highway system
WIS 20 WIS 22

Route description

WIS 21 begins at the intersection of WIS 16, WIS 71 and WIS 27[2] The route then follows WIS 16 and WIS 71 east for about one half of a mile before turning north off the concurrency. WIS 21 proceeds northeast, following the La Crosse River and passes through Fort McCoy. The route then turns eastward and follows alongside the Tarr and Sparta Creeks, passing through Tunnel City. WIS 21 crosses US 12 and I-94 on the north side of Tomah. The route continues east from there to junction with WIS 173 west of Wyeville and then crosses into Juneau County.[3] WIS 21 passes through the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge during its twelve-mile (19 km) stretch of straight route to Necedah. The highway crosses WIS 80 within Necedah and crosses the Wisconsin River at about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the village. WIS 21 enters Adams County at the river, just south of Petenwell Lake.[4] WIS 21 junctions with WIS 13 three miles (5 km) north of Friendship. The route also provides indirect access to Roche-a-Cri State Park via WIS 13.[5]

Wisconsin Highway 21 turns through downtown Sparta
Eastern terminus at U.S. Route 45

WIS 21 crosses I-39 and US 51 at Coloma in Waushara County. The route passes through the village just east of the Interstate. After passing through Richford at CTH B, WIS 21 gradually curves northward to junction with CTH Y - where it turns sharply eastward and junctions with WIS 22 and WIS 73 north in Wautoma. WIS 21 follows WIS 73 south for two miles (3 km) before turning east again of the concurrency near Silver Lake. WIS 152 junctions with the routes about two miles (3 km) northwest of the eastern concurrency terminus. The highway passes through Lohrville and Redgranite and junctions with WIS 49 south of Auroraville.[6]

WIS 21 enters Winnebago County five miles (8 km) east of WIS 49. WIS 21 crosses WIS 116 in Omro. The route then enters the greater Oshkosh area and junctions with US 41 along Omro Road.[7] WIS 21 continues along Omro Road, Oshkosh Avenue and Congress Avenue, ending at US 45 (Algoma Boulevard) on the northwest side of Oshkosh after crossing the upper Fox River east of Lake Butte des Morts.[8]

History

The route was first written into law in from La Crosse to Oshkosh.[9] The highway passed through Sparta, but through the south side of Tomah and New Lisbon before turning north to Necedah. After crossing the Wisconsin River, WIS 21 followed WIS 13 into Adams and Friendship. Both routes followed a different right-of-way at the time. WIS 21 then returned to the present corridor route to pass through Coloma, Wautoma, Omro and into Oshkosh.[10] The route from La Crosse to New Lisbon was removed in the early 1920s and extended along its current alignment through Wyeville to North Tomah.[11] The highway was rerouted in Adams County to become more direct between Arkdale and CTH-G in 1939. The western extension past Fort McCoy into Sparta was added in 1947.[1]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
MonroeSparta
WIS 16 west West Salem

WIS 27 / WIS 71 west Black River Falls, Cashton
End WIS 21
WIS 21 East / WIS 71 East follow WIS 16 East
WIS 71 West follow WIS 27 North


WIS 16 east / WIS 71 east Tomah, Norwalk
WIS 21 West / WIS 71 West follow WIS 16 West
Angelo CTH-I / CTH-Q
Tunnel City CTH-M
Tomah I-94 / US 12 Black River Falls, Eau Claire, Madison
Wyeville
WIS 173 north / CTH-N Mather, Babcock
CTH-PP
JuneauCutler CTH-M
Necedah WIS 80 Marshfield, New Lisbon
CTH-G
AdamsArkdale CTH-Z
Cottonville WIS 13 Wis Rapids, Wis Dells
CTH-G
WausharaColoma I-39 / US 51 Stevens Point, Portage
Richford CTH-B
CTH-Y
Wautoma
WIS 22 south Montello
WIS 22 North follow WIS 21 East


WIS 22 north / WIS 73 north Wis Rapids, Wild Rose, Waupaca
WIS 22 South Follow WIS 21 West
WIS 73 South Follow WIS 21 East

WIS 152 east Mount Morris

WIS 73 south Princeton
WIS 73 North follow WIS 21 West
Lohrville CTH-S
Redgranite CTH-E
Auroraville WIS 49 Waupaca, Berlin
WinnebagoRushford CTH-K
Omro WIS 116 Winneconne, Waukau, Berlin
Oshkosh I-41 / US 41 Green Bay, Milwaukee
US 45 (Algoma Blvd, Murdock Ave)End WIS 21
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. Bessert, Chris. "Wisconsin Highways: Highways 20-29 (Highway 21)". Wisconsin Highways. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  2. "State Trunk Network Routes in Wisconsin" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  3. Monroe Co (pdf) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  4. Juneau Co (pdf) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  5. Adams Co (pdf) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  6. Waushara Co (pdf) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  7. Winnebago Co (pdf) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  8. Google (2008-01-08). "Oshkosh, WI, United States of America" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  9. Bulletin 9. Wisconsin Highway Commission. 1920. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  10. "Original State Trunk Highway System in Wisconsin". Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. 1918. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  11. "Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas". Rand McNally. 1926. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
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