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U.S. Highway 151 marker
U.S. Route 151
Map
US 151 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 51
Length324 mi[1] (521 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
South end I-80 near Williamsburg, IA
Major intersections
North end I-43 / WIS 42 in Manitowoc, WI
Location
CountryUnited States
States
Counties
Highway system
Iowa 150IA Iowa 152
WIS 150WI WIS 152
WIS 117US 118 WIS 118

U.S. Highway 151 (US 151) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for US 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 (I-80) in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through the two states.

US 151 is an important corridor which connects Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin with an expressway (except for a segment about ten miles where it uses arterial roads instead in Madison, Wisconsin).

Approximately seven miles (11 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa, US 151 joins with US 61. The two highways share a route from there to Dickeyville, Wisconsin. Five miles (8.0 km) south of Dubuque, US 61/US 151 joins with US 52 and shares a route with US 52 until it veers south in Key West.

In Wisconsin, US 61/US 151 joins with Wisconsin Highway 35 (WIS 35) about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Iowa–Wisconsin border. At Dickeyville, US 151 splits off and heads northeast to Platteville. US 61/WIS 35 continues north. US 151 later joins with US 18 near Dodgeville. The two highways share a route all the way to Madison.

Route description

Iowa

The southern terminus of US 151 at I-80

US 151 begins at exit 225 along I-80 in rural Iowa County north of Williamsburg. The highway heads to the north and intersects US 6 outside of Homestead, Iowa. US 151 turns east onto US 6 and the two routes run concurrently for about two miles (3 km) until US 6 splits to the east at Homestead. US 151 continues to the north and crosses the Iowa River on its way to Amana, the main village of the Amana Colonies and the eastern end of Iowa Highway 220 (Iowa 220).[2] The road clips the southeastern corner of Benton County, Iowa at Walford and it turns to the northeast toward Fairfax. When it reaches the US 30 / US 218 freeway in Cedar Rapids, US 151 turns east onto the highway while US 151 Business continues northeast on Williams Boulevard SW. The freeway is dotted with interchanges providing access to southern Cedar Rapids, most importantly Edgewood Road SW, I-380, and C Street SW. Just east of the Cedar River, US 151 exits from US 30, which continues east toward Clinton.

US 151, approximately eight miles (13 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa; a scene from the movie Field of Dreams was filmed on this particular segment of the highway.

The route splits from the other roads and continues toward Dubuque as an expressway. This 65-mile (105 km) stretch crosses many major rivers including both the Wapsipinicon and the Maquoketa. The road eventually goes into the Driftless Area where it meets up with US 61 around the Dubuque Regional Airport.[3] US 52 briefly joins the two routes, concurrently, for two miles south of Dubuque. The combined road then heads into the state of Wisconsin.[4]

Dubuque to Madison

US 61/US 151 crosses the Mississippi River into Wisconsin via the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge from Dubuque, Iowa and passes through a cut in the river ridge before turning northward to the western terminus of WIS 11 after one mile (1.6 km) of due east travel. WIS 35 and the Great River Road join the route at that interchange, heading north. The highway at this point is limited access highway with two lanes in each direction. The northward trek of the route passes through mixed residential and farmland as it crosses Badger Road and merges with Eagle Point Road. Eagle Point road merges with US 151 from the left side of the road. The limited access portion ends at this interchange. Another pair of half diamond interchanges connect the highway with County Trunk Highway HHH (CTH-HHH) and CTH-H as it bypasses Kieler to the northwest. At Dickeyville, US 61, WIS 35 and the Great River Road route exit north off of US 151 into town. US 151 passes Dickeyville to the east and descends into a valley cut northeast of the village, paralleling the Little Platte River and Blockhouse Creek within the valley for a one-mile (1.6 km) stretch before climbing back onto the ridge top on the other side of the valley.[5] US 151 then approaches Platteville and enters a section of limited access at CTH-D (US 151 Business). The limited access stretch ends after three interchanges six miles (9.7 km) to the east. The last of the interchanges is WIS 126/CTH-G with access to Belmont. The route turns northeastward from this point, crosses the Cottage Inn Branch and begins the first of several descents into valleys, two of which are prior to passing Mineral Point[6] and another two while passing the city.[7]

The highway is limited access between the two interchanges that provide access to Mineral Point: CTH-O and WIS 23. WIS 23 joins US 151 heading northbound at that point until the first interchange at Dodgeville. This interchange begins another short stretch of freeway to the point where US 18 joins the route. US 18/US 151 heads eastbound past that interchange.[7]

The section of expressway past Dodgeville follows the former Chicago and North Western Railroad, passing through rolling hills populated with farmland mixed with small woodlands. The highway passes Ridgeway and Barneveld. Access to Ridgeway is by an interchange and a surface intersection with a short business route on CTH-HHH. The interchange was previously an intersection; however, it was announced in 2011 that the first intersection would be closed, and an exit would be constructed, due to the numerous fatal accidents that happen at the intersection each year.[8] The new interchange on the western end of town opened in late 2018. Access to Barneveld is at an interchange with CTH-ID and an at-grade intersection with CTH-K. CTH-ID parallels US 18/US 151 for the entire stretch between Barneveld and Mount Horeb. A section of freeway begins at WIS 78 and ends at the other end of CTH-ID as the highway bypasses Mount Horeb just to the south of the city's passing residential subdivisions. A mix of grade separation and level intersections cross the winding highway as it continues eastward until the interchange with CTH-MV (Verona Avenue) begins a section of freeway that bypasses Verona to the south. This section provides access to four interchanges including the two endpoints of CTH-MV. The freeway continues into Fitchburg and provides access to two interchanges at CTH-PD (McKee Road) and Williamsburg Way. The freeway then ends. The road continues as an urban multilane highway known as Verona Road as it enters Madison. Verona Road passes through a residential and commercial area on the Southwest Side of Madison. US 18 and US 151 merge east on the West Beltline Highway—joining US 12 and US 14.[7]

Madison metropolitan area

The four US Highways run concurrently for about three miles (4.8 km) to Park Street. Until 2007 the concurrency had a at grade railroad crossing with the same line that the highway followed between Dodgeville and Madison. [9] At this interchange, US 14 turns south off the beltline towards Oregon, and US 151 turns north and into central Madison on South Park Street. It crosses the same railroad corridor and passes Monona Bay to the west along South Park Street. US 151 turns northeast onto West Washington Avenue for about 1,500 feet (460 m) then follows Proudfit Street and North Shore Drive—paralleling the Monona Bay shore—and turns north onto John Nolen Drive. The street passes under the Monona Terrace Convention Center as it passes to the south and east of downtown Madison. US 151 turns northwest onto South Blair Street for three city blocks to East Washington Avenue—where it turns northeast and follows East Washington Avenue, bisecting the Madison Isthmus, and leading out of the city to the east. The western terminus of WIS 30 meets US 151 about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the South Blair Street turn,[10] and US 51 crosses US 151 one mile (1.6 km) further northeast.[7]

Madison to Fond du Lac

US 45 exit ramp in Fond du Lac in 2006. The ramp has since been replaced by a roundabout interchange.

At a cloverleaf interchange with I-39/I-90/I-94, a section of freeway begins and continues along US 151 northeast through commercial zones into residential areas. A highway bypass was constructed north and west of Sun Prairie, but so much commercial and residential development subsequently happened to the north and west of the bypass that the route essentially divides Sun Prairie in half. The route now has four interchanges with highways and streets in Sun Prairie. After Sun Prairie, US 151 passes through farmland, heading toward Columbus. The highway bypasses the city via a partial beltline to the north and east, completely clearing the city. WIS 16 and WIS 60 crosses under US 151 about midway along the Columbus bypass. US 151 becomes an expressway with level intersections after the interchange with WIS 73 at the end of the bypass portion. The route becomes a freeway at Beaver Dam, bypassing the city to the southeast. The route follows the edge of residential zones of the city before passing an industrial area at the northeastern end of the bypass. Within this freeway section exists a level WSOR railroad crossing just after the CTH-E (East Burnett Street) underpass. US 151 crosses at-grade intersections after the interchange with CTH-A northeast of Beaver Dam and encounters one more freeway section at Waupun, bypassing the city to the east. The Waupun bypass also includes a level railroad crossing halfway between the CTH-M and WIS 26 interchanges. The four-lane expressway of US 151 continues east, bypassing Fond du Lac to the south and east. This expressway provides a mixture of at-grade intersections and grade-separated interchanges at I-41/US& 41 and WIS 23.[7] WisDOT currently is studying changes to two sections of US 151. The first study would preserve the Fond du Lac Bypass from I-41 to WIS 23, with the ultimate goal being freeway conversion.[11] The second study is examining freeway conversions to the route from WIS 73 in Columbus to WIS 49 in Waupun.[12]

Fond du Lac to Manitowoc

The northeast terminus at US 10 in Manitowoc

The multi-lane section of US 151 ends after turning north away from Fond du Lac and the route follows the east shore of Lake Winnebago for about half the length of the shoreline. US 151 then turns east at the intersection with WIS 55 and follows two-lane surface roads and briefly running concurrently with WIS 32 and WIS 57 in Chilton. The roadway passes through farmland throughout this section until it picks up WIS 42 just outside of Manitowoc and ends at I-43 while WIS 42 continues east into Manitowoc.

History

U.S. Highway 118 marker
U.S. Highway 118
LocationDodgeville to Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Existed1926–1934

US 151 was one of the original U.S. Highways from 1926. At the time, it only ran from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Madison. In 1934, the highway was extended southwest to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, incorporating the full length of former U.S. Highway 118 (Dodgeville to Dickeyville) and part of former U.S. Highway 161 (Dubuque to Cedar Rapids; US 161 from Cedar Rapids south to Keokuk became US 218). At the time, the southern end of the route was at Williams Blvd SW and 16th Ave SW, what was then US 30 and US 218. In the 1940s, the highway was extended northeast to Manitowoc.

Illinois

The Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, Dubuque, Iowa. The bridge crosses the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Grant County, Wisconsin. The bridge is part of the US 61 / US 151 route.

In 1969, the Eagle Point Bridge, which connected US 151 and US 61 with Wisconsin, was closed, and those highways were rerouted over the Julien Dubuque Bridge with US 20 from Dubuque to East Dubuque, Illinois. The route then followed Illinois Route 35 and WIS 35 north to what is now the current highway. In 1982, the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge opened, the old Eagle Point Bridge was demolished, and US 151 and US 61 were rerouted onto the new bridge. This is the only instance of US 61 and US 151 entering Illinois.

Routings

In 1981, the southern terminus of the highway was extended once again when the US 30 bypass was built. The southern terminus was at the US 151 and 30 interchange. By 1986, the main US 151 was rerouted onto state highway 13 and US 30 to bypass Cedar Rapids. The previous route through Cedar Rapids was renamed US 151 Business (though the official state designation for it is Iowa 922). Finally, in 1989, US 151 was extended to its current southern end at exit 225 along I-80. This extension followed the old route of Iowa 149. As a result, US 151 became the main route through the Amana Colonies.

US 151's northern terminus was changed in 2022 to end at I-43 instead of in downtown Manitowoc where WIS 42 traveled through before being rerouted onto I-43 in 1980.

Exit list

StateCountyLocationmi[13]kmExitDestinationsNotes
IowaIowaIowa Township0.0000.000
I-80 / CR W21 south – Davenport, Des Moines
5.6469.086
US 6 west – Marengo
Southern end of US 6 overlap
Amana Colonies7.58812.212
US 6 east – Coralville
Northern end of US 6 overlap
10.50216.901
Iowa 220 west – High Amana, Middle Amana, East Amana
Benton
No major junctions
LinnCedar Rapids24.364–
24.787
39.210–
39.891
248



US 30 west / US 218 north / US 151 Bus. north (Williams Boulevard SW) – Cedar Rapids, Tama
Southern end of US 30 and US 218 overlaps
26.12142.038250Edgewood Road SW
28.00845.075252A6th Street SWFormer US 218
28.34245.612252B-C

I-380 / US 218 south / Iowa 27 – Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Airport
Northern end of US 218 overlap; signed as exits 252B (southbound) and 252C (northbound)
29.01946.702253Bowling Street SW, Kirkwood Boulevard SW
30.01748.308254 CR W6E (C Street SW) – Ely
Bertram Township34.955–
35.416
56.255–
56.997
259

US 30 east / Iowa 13 begins – Mount Vernon
Northern end of US 30 overlap; southern end of Iowa 13 overlap
39.00762.776 Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway / CR E48 (Mount Vernon Road)Former US 30
Marion42.03067.641
Iowa 100 west / CR E45 – Marion
43.12069.395


US 151 Bus. south / Iowa 13 north – Marion, Central City
Northern end of Iowa 13 overlap
JonesFairview54.64087.93549
Iowa 1 south / CR E34 – Martelle, Mount Vernon
Former US 151
Anamosa59.72596.11854
Iowa 64 east / CR E28 – Anamosa
60.67497.645Old Dubuque RoadFormer US 151
Monticello68.432110.13163
US 151 Bus. / CR X44 – Monticello
US 151 Business only signed northbound
70.649113.69965 Iowa 38 – Monticello, Hopkinton
Lovell Township72.566116.784
US 151 Bus. – Monticello
US 151 Business only signed southbound
Richland Township79.454127.869
US 151 Bus. – Cascade
US 151 Business only signed northbound
DubuqueCascade80.687129.85375 Iowa 136 – Cascade, Dyersville
82.210132.30477
US 151 Bus. – Cascade, Farley
US 151 Business only signed southbound
Table Mound Township98.361158.297Military RoadFormer US 151
99.962–
100.580
160.873–
161.868

US 61 south – Maquoketa
Southern end of US 61 overlap
101.097162.700184
US 52 north – Peosta, Waterloo
Southern end of US 52 overlap
Dubuque102.698165.276Maquoketa DriveFormer US 61 / US 151
103.114165.946

US 52 south / Great River Road south – Bellevue
Northern end of US 52 overlap; southern end of Great River Road overlap
104.447168.091187Grandview Avenue
104.743–
104.987
168.568–
168.960
188
To US 20 (Locust Street)
Northbound exit and southbound entrance only
105.756170.198
To US 20 (Locust Street Connector)
106.024170.629189AWhite Street / Port of DubuqueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
106.407–
106.551
171.245–
171.477
189B
9th Street / 11th Street / Great River Road north
Former US 52 / Iowa 3; northern end of Great River Road overlap
107.188–
107.899
172.502–
173.647
190Kerper Boulevard / Eagle Point DistrictFormer US 61 / US 151
Mississippi River108.151
0
174.052
0.0
Dubuque–Wisconsin Bridge; Iowa–Wisconsin state line
WisconsinGrantTown of Jamestown1


WIS 11 west / WIS 35 south / Great River Road south – Janesville, East Dubuque
Southern end of WIS 35 overlap
2Badger Road, Eagle Point RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
3Badger Road, Eagle Point RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance only; Old U.S. 151
Kieler5
CTH-HHH to CTH-H – Kieler, Louisburg

CTH-H to CTH-HHH – Kieler, Louisburg
Dickeyville8


US 61 north / WIS 35 north / Great River Road north / CTH-HH – Dickeyville, Lancaster
Northern end of US 61 and WIS 35 overlaps
Town of Platteville18
Bus. US 151 / CTH-D – Platteville
US 151 Business only signed northbound; exit for UW-Platteville
Platteville19 WIS 80 / WIS 81 – Platteville, Darlington, Lancaster
21
Bus. US 151 / CTH-XX – Platteville
US 151 Business only signed southbound
LafayetteBelmont26
WIS 126 south / CTH-G – Belmont, Rewey
IowaTown of Mineral Point37
Bus. US 151 / CTH-O – Mineral Point
US 151 Business only signed northbound
Mineral Point40



Bus. US 151 south to WIS 23 / WIS 39 – Mineral Point, Darlington, Hollandale
US 151 Business only signed southbound; Southern end of WIS 23 overlap
Town of Dodgeville44
WIS 23 north – Dodgeville, Spring Green, Wisconsin Dells
Northern end of WIS 23 overlap
47
US 18 west – Dodgeville, Prairie du Chien
Southern end of US 18 overlap
Town of Ridgeway52
CTH-BB south (Ridgevue Road) / CTH-HHH – Ridgeway
Barneveld58
CTH-ID west – Blue Mounds, Arena
DaneTown of Blue Mounds65

Bus. US 18 / Bus. US 151 / WIS 78 – Mount Horeb, Blanchardville
US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed northbound
Mount Horeb69

Bus. US 18 / Bus. US 151 / CTH-ID – Mount Horeb
US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed southbound
Town of Springdale70
CTH-PD to CTH-P – Cross Plains
Town of Verona75 CTH-G (Dairy Ridge Road) – Mount Vernon
Verona76

Bus. US 18 / Bus. US 151 / CTH-MV (W. Verona Avenue) / Epic Lane
US 18 Business / US 151 Business only signed northbound
77 WIS 69 – Belleville, Monroe
79




CTH-PB to CTH-M / Alt. US 18 / Alt. US 151 – Paoli, Oregon
Alternate US 151 / Alternate US 18 only signed northbound
Town of Verona81

Bus. US 18 (E. Verona Avenue) / Bus. US 151 / CTH-MV – Verona
Southbound exit and northbound entrance only
Fitchburg83A CTH-PD (McKee Road)
83BWilliamsburg Way
Madison258

US 12 west / US 14 west – Baraboo, La Crosse
Southern end of US 12 / US 14 overlap
258ASeminole HighwaySouthbound exit and northbound entrance only
259Todd Drive
260 CTH-D (Fish Hatchery Road) – FitchburgSigned as exits 260A (southbound) and 260B (northbound)
261




US 12 east / US 14 east / US 18 east / Alt. US 18 / Alt. US 151
Northern end of US 12 / US 14 / US 18 overlaps; Alternate US 151 / Alternate US 18 only signed southbound

WIS 113 north (First Street)
WIS 30
US 51 (Stoughton Road)
97 I-39 / I-90 / I-94 – Milwaukee, Chicago, Wisconsin DellsSigned as exits 97A (southbound) and 97B (northbound)
98ANelson RoadExits combined southbound
98BAmerican Parkway
Sun Prairie100 CTH-C (Reiner Road)
101
Bus. US 151 (Main Street)
US 151 Business only signed northbound
102 WIS 19 (Windsor Street) – Waunakee, Marshall
103
Bus. US 151 (Bristol Street) / CTH-N
US 151 Business only signed southbound
Town of Bristol108 CTH-VV – East Bristol
Town of York111 CTH-V – East Bristol
ColumbiaTown of Columbus115
Bus. US 151 / WIS 73 – Columbus, Marshall
US 151 Business only signed northbound
Columbus118 WIS 16 / WIS 60 – Columbus, Portage, Fall River
DodgeTown of Elba120
Bus. US 151 / WIS 73 – Columbus, Randolph
US 151 Business only signed southbound
Beaver Dam129
Bus. US 151 / CTH-D – Beaver Dam
130 CTH-G – Lowell, Beaver Dam
132 WIS 33 – Beaver Dam, Horicon
134Industrial DriveNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
135
Bus. US 151 / CTH-B – Beaver Dam, Burnett
136 CTH-A – Fox Lake
Town of Chester142
Bus. US 151 / CTH-M – Waupun
Northbound exit and southbound entrance only
144 WIS 26 – Waupun, Juneau, Watertown
DodgeFond du Lac
county line
Waupun146

WIS 49 / Alt. I-41 south – Waupun, Brownsville
I-41 Alt follows WIS 49 east
Fond du LacTown of Waupun147

Bus. US 151 / WIS 26 south – Waupun
Southern end of WIS 26 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance only
148
WIS 26 north – Rosendale, Oshkosh
Northern end of WIS 26 overlap
Town of Fond du Lac160 CTH-D (Military Road) – Oakfield
Fond du Lac161

CTH-VVV (Hickory Street) / Alt. I-41 north
County VVV unsigned on exit ramps or exit signs; I-41 Alt follows CTH-VVV north
162
WIS 175 south (Main Street)

I-41 / US 41 / US 45 north – Oshkosh, Green Bay, Milwaukee
Southern end of US 45 overlap
Town of Fond du Lac164
US 45 south (Fond du Lac Avenue) / CTH-V – Eden
Northern end of US 45 overlap
Fond du Lac168 WIS 23 (Johnson Street) – Sheboygan
CalumetTown of Stockbridge
WIS 55 north – Sherwood, Kaukauna
Chilton

WIS 32 north / WIS 57 north (Madison Street) – Green Bay
Southern end of WIS 32 / WIS 57 overlap


WIS 32 south / WIS 57 south (E. Chestnut Street) – Milwaukee
Northern end of WIS 32 / WIS 57 overlap
ManitowocTown of Eaton
WIS 67 south – Kiel
Manitowoc
WIS 42 south – Howards Grove, Osman
Southern end of WIS 42 overlap

I-43 / WIS 42 north / LMCT – Green Bay, Milwaukee
Northern end of WIS 42 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Route Number Database".
  2. ^ Amana Colonies Convention & Visitors Bureau (2008). "How to Find Us". Amana Colonies Convention & Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  3. ^ Dubuque Regional Airport (2000). "Frequently Asked Questions". Dubuque Regional Airport. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs (August 16, 2010). "Exit Numbers on US 151". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "River Valley northeast of Dickeyville, WI" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  6. ^ "Mineral Point, WI Valleys section 1" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Mineral Point, WI Valleys section 2" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  8. ^ bnovak@madison.com, BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times | (June 15, 2011). "US 18/151 near Ridgeway getting interchange to boost safety". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Madison Beltline" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  10. ^ "Madison: US 30 Terminus from Downtown" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  11. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northeast Region (October 15, 2008). "US 151 Fond du Lac Bypass Corridor Preservation Study". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  12. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Southwest Region (May 27, 2014). "US 151 Freeway Conversion Study Columbus–Waupun, Dodge County". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "Road Network (Portal)" (ESRI shapefile). Ames: Iowa Department of Transportation. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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