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Highway 312 (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
State Trunk Highway 312 (often called Highway 312, STH 312 or WIS 312) is a 7.9 miles (12.7 km) long Wisconsin state highway running along the north side of Eau Claire
, from the Town of Union
in the west to the Town of Seymour
in the east. The entire length of Highway 312 is an expressway
with a few grade crossings.
The highway is a major transit route, bypassing the north side of Eau Claire by connecting I-94
with U.S. 53. The route number is derived as a "spur route
" of U.S. 12. Wisconsin Highway 312 is called the North Crossing in the Chippewa Valley
, and , remains signed as "Formerly STH 124", for its former designation.
, with U.S. 12 heading south on North Clairmont Avenue and Highway 312 continuing east as the North Crossing. Highway 312 travels another 2.4 miles through the northern edge of Eau Claire, crossing over a set of railroad tracks, before reaching the bridge over the Chippewa River
. After crossing the river, Highway 312 passes under more railroad tracks and comes to an interchange with North Hastings Way, a former alignment of U.S. Highway 53. About 1.3 miles east of the North Hastings Way junction, Highway 312 comes to an end at an interchange with U.S. 53 at Exit 90 just outside Eau Claire in the town of Seymour.
that, prior to its creation, had to pass either through downtown Eau Claire, via the Madison St. bridge, or just west of Chippewa Falls
on U.S. 53. The distance between these two bridges is approximately 8 miles (12.9 km). The "North Crossing" name specifically referred to a more northerly river crossing than any other point in Eau Claire. When it came time to decide upon a name for the highway, the term "North Crossing" had already become well-established in the vocabulary of the area, and so it was decided that that was the most natural name for the new roadway. WisDOT extended Highway 124 from Chippewa Falls
using an overlap with North Hastings Way (then U.S. 53) to the North Crossing highway and then west along the highway to I-94.
In June 2005, the northern half of the Eau Claire Bypass (current U.S. 53 freeway) was completed and signed as Bypass U.S. 53. The North Crossing highway was extended about a mile east of North Hastings Way to meet the new freeway. This extension was also designated as part of Bypass U.S. 53. Highway 312 was first established by legislation in 2005 as a new route number for the stretch of then Highway 124
running from Interstate 94 to U.S. Highway 53. This resulted in the shortening of Highway 124 to a length and routing nearly identical to that it had in 1992 before it was extended to cover the then-new "North Crossing" in Eau Claire. While the legislation establishing Highway 312 was intended to only take effect once the new U.S. 53 bypass of Eau Claire was completed, local authorities "jumped the gun", posting new "WIS 312" signs as early as November 2005. The southern half of the bypass opened in August 2006 and the U.S. 53 designation was relocated from North Hastings Way to the new freeway. This resulted in the retiring of the Bypass U.S. 53 designation. North Hastings Way was also turned back to local control.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, from the Town of Union
Union, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Union is a town in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,402 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Truax and Union are located in the town.-Geography:...
in the west to the Town of Seymour
Seymour, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Seymour is a town in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,978 at the 2000 census. The CDP of Seymour is located in the southwestern portion of the town.-Geography:...
in the east. The entire length of Highway 312 is an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
with a few grade crossings.
The highway is a major transit route, bypassing the north side of Eau Claire by connecting I-94
Interstate 94 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the western, central and southeastern portions of the state.-Route description:A total of of Interstate 94 lie in Wisconsin....
with U.S. 53. The route number is derived as a "spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
" of U.S. 12. Wisconsin Highway 312 is called the North Crossing in the Chippewa Valley
Chippewa Valley
The Chippewa Valley was first inhabited by the Ojibwe Indians and settled by German and Scandinavian immigrants. The region also has a large Hmong community...
, and , remains signed as "Formerly STH 124", for its former designation.
Route description
Highway 312 begins at an interchange with Interstate 94 (Exit 59) in the town of Union. It heads east for about 0.4 miles to an intersection with U.S. Highway 12. East of this junction, U.S. 12 and Highway 312 overlap for 2.6 miles past the Wild Ridge and Mill Run golf courses to the northwestern limits of the City of Eau Claire. The two routes split at a diamond interchangeDiamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
, with U.S. 12 heading south on North Clairmont Avenue and Highway 312 continuing east as the North Crossing. Highway 312 travels another 2.4 miles through the northern edge of Eau Claire, crossing over a set of railroad tracks, before reaching the bridge over the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
. After crossing the river, Highway 312 passes under more railroad tracks and comes to an interchange with North Hastings Way, a former alignment of U.S. Highway 53. About 1.3 miles east of the North Hastings Way junction, Highway 312 comes to an end at an interchange with U.S. 53 at Exit 90 just outside Eau Claire in the town of Seymour.
History
The North Crossing highway, serving as an alternative to I-94 bypassing downtown Eau Claire, was opened to traffic in 1994. The name "North Crossing" developed during the planning stages of the project that culminated in the creation of the highway—the highway was designed to divert traffic crossing the Chippewa RiverChippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
that, prior to its creation, had to pass either through downtown Eau Claire, via the Madison St. bridge, or just west of Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
on U.S. 53. The distance between these two bridges is approximately 8 miles (12.9 km). The "North Crossing" name specifically referred to a more northerly river crossing than any other point in Eau Claire. When it came time to decide upon a name for the highway, the term "North Crossing" had already become well-established in the vocabulary of the area, and so it was decided that that was the most natural name for the new roadway. WisDOT extended Highway 124 from Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
using an overlap with North Hastings Way (then U.S. 53) to the North Crossing highway and then west along the highway to I-94.
In June 2005, the northern half of the Eau Claire Bypass (current U.S. 53 freeway) was completed and signed as Bypass U.S. 53. The North Crossing highway was extended about a mile east of North Hastings Way to meet the new freeway. This extension was also designated as part of Bypass U.S. 53. Highway 312 was first established by legislation in 2005 as a new route number for the stretch of then Highway 124
Highway 124 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 124 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs in north–south in west central Wisconsin from Lake Hallie to near Eagleton, in the Town of Eagle Point. The entire length of the highway is in Chippewa County...
running from Interstate 94 to U.S. Highway 53. This resulted in the shortening of Highway 124 to a length and routing nearly identical to that it had in 1992 before it was extended to cover the then-new "North Crossing" in Eau Claire. While the legislation establishing Highway 312 was intended to only take effect once the new U.S. 53 bypass of Eau Claire was completed, local authorities "jumped the gun", posting new "WIS 312" signs as early as November 2005. The southern half of the bypass opened in August 2006 and the U.S. 53 designation was relocated from North Hastings Way to the new freeway. This resulted in the retiring of the Bypass U.S. 53 designation. North Hastings Way was also turned back to local control.