Interstate 43
Encyclopedia
Interstate 43 is a 191.55 miles (308.3 km) intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
, connecting Interstate 39
and Interstate 90
in Beloit
with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41
and U.S. Route 141
in Green Bay
. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate Highway system. Wisconsin Highway 32 shares a concurrency
with I-43 in two sections and US 41, U.S. Route 45
, Interstate 94
, Interstate 894
, U.S. Route 10
, Wisconsin Highway 57, and Wisconsin Highway 42 overlap I-43 once each. There are no auxiliary or business routes connected to I-43.
I-43 came about as a result of toll road proposals that included a Milwaukee to Superior
corridor that included Hurley
, Wausau
and Green Bay. Only the Milwaukee to Green Bay section was approved. The route was originally planned to follow an alignment about midway between US 41 and US 141 (the latter paralleled Lake Michigan at the time) along Highway 57. Controversy about this location and use of right-of-way led to the establishment of the current alignment, which follows much of what was the 1950s-era realignment of US 141 from Milwaukee to Sheboygan
, and a new alignment from Sheboygan to Green Bay. This section was completed in 1981.
The Beloit-to-Milwaukee segment was developed after two separate proposals for Interstates, one of them being between Milwaukee and Beloit and the other between Milwaukee and Janesville
. The Milwaukee-Beloit route was chosen, completed in 1976 as WIS 15 and renumbered as I-43 in 1988. To connect the two segments, I-43 was signed concurrently with the east–west segment of I-894 and the north–south portion of I-94 in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area from I-894 to the Marquette Interchange
, which was completely reconstructed with work being completed in 2008.
which could be completed in increments. However, only the Milwaukee to Green Bay segment was approved. The original plan for the northern part of I-43 was to locate it midway between US 141 and US 41, using most of the current alignment of WIS 57 north of STH 33 in Saukville
. But opposition to the plan by farmers and landowners within the corridor arose. According to the opponents of the I-43 construction, what the commission revealed as their plan to construct I-43 along the WIS 57 corridor did not reveal that instead of using the existing right-of-way, the freeway was to be built 2.25 miles (3.6 km) west of WIS 57. This was the case despite the fact that WIS 57 had a wide right-of-way of 300 feet (91.4 m). Protests, including farmers bringing their cows to graze on the Wisconsin State Capitol
grounds, prompted a compromise to utilize the freeway built for US 141 between Milwaukee and Sheboygan instead, building the remaining freeway for the Interstate itself. This plan, particularly the new freeway, met resistance from the Brown, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc County
governments. Construction first began in 1963 on the freeway that was at the time designated US-141. The first segment to begin construction was a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) segment beginning at the New Port exit on Washington Road in Milwaukee County. An additional ten miles (16 km) of the highway were completed in Ozaukee County by 1964. In 1965, a 9.3 miles (15 km) bypass of Sheboygan opened to traffic. The last major segment, consisting of 94.4 miles (151.9 km) of roadway, was started in 1972 after the last of these governments, Manitowoc county, pledged their support. The portion in Milwaukee County extending from the New Port exit to the Marquette Interchange was completed in 1981 to open the route.
The southwestern portion has also had a history of requests for Interstate routings. Interstate routings for such a connection between Beloit and the Milwaukee metropolitan area were requested by WisDOT but denied by FHWA in 1973. Another request for a link to Janesville was also denied. Despite the denials, local and state officials continued to seek funding to construct a freeway between these two metropolitan areas. A government collaboration called the "Highway 15 Committee" was formed to present and promote the route. Construction began on the route in the 1960s with the first segment, a 0.9 miles (1.4 km) connector linking US 45 with I-894 as part of the project to build the Hale Interchange connecting the pending route with I-894. The new connector received the US 45 designation as that highway was transferred onto the freeway heading north. The first long segment was completed in 1969. It extended from the US 45 "connector" to CTH-F (now STH-164) in Big Bend. After this segment was opened, the WIS 15 designation was applied. The next segment, to East Troy, was opened in 1972, the year the "Highway 15 Committee" had hoped the route would be completed in its entirety. It was extended to Elkhorn in 1973 in conjunction with the US 12 freeway construction, then to I-90 in 1976. I-43 signs were placed on the freeway by 1988 after designation in 1987, replacing WIS 15. I-43 was also mapped concurrently with I-94 and I-894 to link the two segments together. Even though exit number tabs were labeled according to the new mileposts, the mileposts themselves were not renumbered to coincide with the current length until 1991.
The Marquette Interchange, which connects I-43 with I-94, US 41 and Interstate 794
, was completely reconstructed over a four-year span, beginning in October, 2004 and ending in September 2008. This project eliminated left-hand exits and widened connecting ramps between I-94 and I-43 to ease congestion problems.
as the eastern leg of a cloverleaf interchange
with I-39/I-90
just east of Beloit
. The highway becomes WIS 81 west of the interchange. The Beloit to Milwaukee segment of I-43 passes mainly through farmland situated on rolling hills, going around urbanized areas except for in the greater Milwaukee area—where the route passes through residential suburban zoning with some embedded industrial establishments. The Interstate bypasses Clinton to the north at WIS 140 and passes into Walworth County
five miles (8 km) east of WIS 140. Daily traffic counts as of 2007 for Rock County range from 12400 to 19200 with the higher counts closest to Beloit. The interchange with I-39/I-90 accommodates 1000 to 5200 vehicles daily, with the most traffic on ramps connecting southbound I-39/I-90 to westbound WIS 81 and westbound I-43 to southbound I-39/I-90. I-43 passes north of Darien
and crosses US 14
at that point, then junctions with WIS 50 south of Delavan
. About 14,000 to 19,200 vehicles use this section daily as of 2006
In Elkhorn, I-43 junctions with WIS 67, US 12
, and WIS 11. The freeway passes through East Troy
about ten miles (16 km) northeast of Elkhorn and junctions with WIS 20 and Wisconsin Highway 120. It then enters Waukesha County
at Mukwonago
. I-43 crosses WIS 83 at an interchange just southeast of the village. After about eight miles (13 km), the highway junctions with WIS 164 just north of Big Bend
, and then enters the city of New Berlin
where the freeway has interchanges with South Racine Avenue (CTH Y) and South Moorland Road (CTH O). It then turns east to enter Milwaukee County. Traffic volumes range from 21,000 (as of 2006) around Elkhorn to 35,800 (as of 2006) in Waukesha County to 85,000 (2007 figures) at Highway 100
.
The Beloit to Milwaukee portion (at the Hale Interchange with I-894) was given the name "Rock Freeway," named because the freeway traverses Rock County and heads towards the cities in the Rock River valley, including Rockford, Illinois
. However, the moniker generally only applies to the portion of the route in Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties; freeway names in southeastern Wisconsin media are used interchangeably with interstate numbers. The freeway is entirely four lanes from Beloit to New Berlin. A six-lane segment begins where US 45 merges on the Interstate.
I-43 connects with US 45
south and WIS 100 at South 108th Street. US 45 joins the highway for one mile (1.6 km), then turns northward onto I-894 west at the Hale Interchange. while I-43 follows I-894 east along the Airport Freeway into Greenfield
, with interchanges with WIS 24, WIS 36 and WIS 241. At the Mitchell Interchange, I-894 ends while I-43 turns north to follow I-94
and US 41
, also known as the North–South Freeway, into downtown Milwaukee where it meets I-794 at the Marquette Interchange
. The Airport Freeway carries 107,000 to 134,000 vehicles per day (as of 2007). The freeway between the Mitchell and Marquette Interchanges carried less at that time - 97,000 (closer to downtown) to 105,000 The highway passes through mixed urban residential/industrial areas of the greater Milwaukee area, carrying six lanes throughout with the exception of near the Marquette Interchange where eight lanes of traffic exist.
I-43 continues north from the Marquette Interchange, while I-94 and US 41 turn westward. After passing through downtown Milwaukee, just east of Marquette University
, and crosses WIS 145
at the McKinley Boulevard/Fond du Lac Avenue interchange. Exit 72C's northbound off and on ramps in downtown Milwaukee pass underneath the county courthouse via tunnels to Kilbourn Avenue. On the way north out of Milwaukee, The Interstate passes through Glendale, junctioning with WIS 190 (Capitol Drive) and WIS 57 (Green Bay Ave), and north of Good Hope Road has a grassy median with a cable barrier
. WIS 100 and WIS 32 connect at Brown Deer Road and WIS 32 follow the Interstate north into Ozaukee County. Up to 146,000 vehicles used this portion daily in 2007. This count decreased further north — with a count of 78,900 vehicles per day near WIS 100's northern terminus and 69,600 closer to the Ozaukee County border. As it passes through mixed residential and commercial zones north of downtown, the highway carries eight lanes of traffic downtown, six lanes of traffic north of North Ave to Bender Road, and four lanes of traffic north of Bender road all the way to Green Bay
.
WIS 57 joins the freeway three miles (5 km) north of the county line in Mequon
at the junction of WIS 167. The urban residential areas thin out north of this point as a mix of farmland and forest begins to dominate. WIS 60 terminates in Grafton
at the Interstate seven miles (11 km) further north and WIS 32 turns off toward Port Washington
one mile (1.6 km) north of WIS 60. WIS 33 crosses the route in Saukville, Wisconsin
. WIS 57 turns north off the freeway, which turns eastward to go around Port Washington to the north. WIS 32 rejoins the freeway on the north side and the two routes follow the Lake Michigan
shoreline northeast into Sheboygan County. WIS 32 leaves the freeway at Cedar Grove
and the Interstate passes Oostburg
to the east and Sheboygan
to the west. In Sheboygan, I-43 interchanges with WIS 28, WIS 23, and WIS 42. I-43 enters Manitowoc County nine miles (14 km) north of Sheboygan. Traffic counts in southern Ozaukee County peak at 66,900 vehicles per day (as of 2007), this value generally decreases further north. The counts in Sheboygan County bottom out at 21,100 vehicles per day (as of 2005) just south of the Manitowoc County line.
I-43 passes Cleveland
on the county line. The highway continues to follow the lakeshore to straddle Manitowoc's rapidly developing west side, passing west of Newton, Wisconsin
, with a weigh station
for southbound truck drivers located mid-way between Newton and Cleveland. I-43 connects with US 151 and WIS 42. WIS 42 north follows the freeway north to the interchange with US 10
. WIS 42 leaves to the east along with US 10 east, and US 10 west follows I-43 north to the interchange with WIS 310 where it turns off to the west. The Interstate passes Francis Creek
and Maribel
(at WIS 147) and turns northwestward into Brown County, with a rest stop located just before the county line. I-43 in Manitowoc County has the least traveled portion of the highway with 17,400 vehicles passing south of WIS 147 according to 2005 results. These values increase further south.
The Interstate passes Denmark
and meets the terminus of WIS 96 one mile (1.6 km) north of the county line. the Interstate then continues another seven miles (11 km) to Bellevue
where US 141 begins. This interchange provides access to WIS 29, a route the freeway crosses under later. At this point, the Interstate enters urban residential areas as it approaches Green Bay. I-43 junctions with WIS 172 in Allouez
then turns northeast to bypass Green Bay to the east, passing under the aforementioned WIS 29. After turning northwestward, the Interstate interchanges with WIS 54 and WIS 57 and crosses the Fox River
on the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge
, passing through a heavily industrialized area near the Port of Green Bay. I-43 ends at US 41
and US 141. I-43's lowest traffic volume in this county is at the southernmost entry with a 2006 value of 22,100 vehicles per day near Denmark. Values around Green Bay range from 34,600 to 42,200 vehicles per day.
occurred on I-43, just south of Cedar Grove
. The accident occurred on southbound I-43 in Sheboygan County just north of the Ozaukee–Sheboygan county line. It involved 50 vehicles and was found to have been caused by low visibility due to fog at a point where the freeway comes its closest to paralleling Lake Michigan, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from shore. The accident and resulting fires led to the deaths of 10 individuals making this accident the deadliest in Wisconsin history. In addition to the fatalities, 36 people were also injured in the pile-up. According to witnesses at the scene, fire from the wreckage rose over 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 ) into the air. First responders said many of the bodies they recovered were burned beyond recognition. Sheboygan County Sheriff Loni Koenig said of the accident site, "In my 21 years [of law enforcement], this is the most horrific scene I have ever seen, and I'm sure that it is for many of the people there." The accident has since been described as the worst traffic accident in Wisconsin state history.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, connecting Interstate 39
Interstate 39
Interstate 39 is a highway in the midwestern United States. I-39 runs from Normal, Illinois at Interstate 55 to Highway 29 in Rothschild, Wisconsin, approximately six miles south of Wausau. I-39 was designed to replace US Highway 51, which in the early 1980s was one of the busiest two-lane...
and Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
in Beloit
Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...
with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
and U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141 is a north–south highway in the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin. US 41 is its parent route. Its northern terminus, on US 41, is near Covington, Michigan; its southern terminus, with I-43 near Bellevue, Wisconsin; it remains in existence in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a...
in Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate Highway system. Wisconsin Highway 32 shares a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-43 in two sections and US 41, U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45 is a north–south United States highway. US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as ....
, Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
, Interstate 894
Interstate 894
Interstate 894 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in Milwaukee County in the US state of Wisconsin. The route serves as a bypass of downtown Milwaukee, connecting with I-94 at the Zoo Interchange west of downtown and the Mitchell Interchange south of downtown...
, U.S. Route 10
U.S. Route 10
U.S. Route 10 is an east–west United States highway formed in 1926. Though it never became the cross-country highway suggested by the "0" as the last digit of its route number, U.S...
, Wisconsin Highway 57, and Wisconsin Highway 42 overlap I-43 once each. There are no auxiliary or business routes connected to I-43.
I-43 came about as a result of toll road proposals that included a Milwaukee to Superior
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
corridor that included Hurley
Hurley, Wisconsin
Hurley is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census. It is directly across the Montreal River from Ironwood, Michigan.-History:...
, Wausau
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
and Green Bay. Only the Milwaukee to Green Bay section was approved. The route was originally planned to follow an alignment about midway between US 41 and US 141 (the latter paralleled Lake Michigan at the time) along Highway 57. Controversy about this location and use of right-of-way led to the establishment of the current alignment, which follows much of what was the 1950s-era realignment of US 141 from Milwaukee to Sheboygan
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
, and a new alignment from Sheboygan to Green Bay. This section was completed in 1981.
The Beloit-to-Milwaukee segment was developed after two separate proposals for Interstates, one of them being between Milwaukee and Beloit and the other between Milwaukee and Janesville
Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...
. The Milwaukee-Beloit route was chosen, completed in 1976 as WIS 15 and renumbered as I-43 in 1988. To connect the two segments, I-43 was signed concurrently with the east–west segment of I-894 and the north–south portion of I-94 in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area from I-894 to the Marquette Interchange
Marquette Interchange
The Marquette Interchange is a major freeway interchange in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, located near Marquette University where Interstate 43, Interstate 94, Interstate 794, and U.S. Highway 41 meet...
, which was completely reconstructed with work being completed in 2008.
History
Wisconsin had anticipated the Interstates with studies of possible toll roads. When the original Interstate system was approved the state was only given two routes: I-90 and I-94. The Wisconsin Transportation Commission submitted a request to add an Interstate in 1953 connecting Milwaukee to Green Bay, a request the FHWA denied. The commission, after a study by Wisconsin Turnpike Commission—which was established in 1953—submitted a request in 1963 for a route that connected Milwaukee and Superior by way of Green Bay, Wausau, Hurley and AshlandAshland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 8,695 at the 2010 census....
which could be completed in increments. However, only the Milwaukee to Green Bay segment was approved. The original plan for the northern part of I-43 was to locate it midway between US 141 and US 41, using most of the current alignment of WIS 57 north of STH 33 in Saukville
Saukville, Wisconsin
-External links:* *...
. But opposition to the plan by farmers and landowners within the corridor arose. According to the opponents of the I-43 construction, what the commission revealed as their plan to construct I-43 along the WIS 57 corridor did not reveal that instead of using the existing right-of-way, the freeway was to be built 2.25 miles (3.6 km) west of WIS 57. This was the case despite the fact that WIS 57 had a wide right-of-way of 300 feet (91.4 m). Protests, including farmers bringing their cows to graze on the Wisconsin State Capitol
Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed during 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature...
grounds, prompted a compromise to utilize the freeway built for US 141 between Milwaukee and Sheboygan instead, building the remaining freeway for the Interstate itself. This plan, particularly the new freeway, met resistance from the Brown, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc County
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 82,887. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The United States Census Bureau's Manitowoc Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Manitowoc County.-Government:...
governments. Construction first began in 1963 on the freeway that was at the time designated US-141. The first segment to begin construction was a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) segment beginning at the New Port exit on Washington Road in Milwaukee County. An additional ten miles (16 km) of the highway were completed in Ozaukee County by 1964. In 1965, a 9.3 miles (15 km) bypass of Sheboygan opened to traffic. The last major segment, consisting of 94.4 miles (151.9 km) of roadway, was started in 1972 after the last of these governments, Manitowoc county, pledged their support. The portion in Milwaukee County extending from the New Port exit to the Marquette Interchange was completed in 1981 to open the route.
The southwestern portion has also had a history of requests for Interstate routings. Interstate routings for such a connection between Beloit and the Milwaukee metropolitan area were requested by WisDOT but denied by FHWA in 1973. Another request for a link to Janesville was also denied. Despite the denials, local and state officials continued to seek funding to construct a freeway between these two metropolitan areas. A government collaboration called the "Highway 15 Committee" was formed to present and promote the route. Construction began on the route in the 1960s with the first segment, a 0.9 miles (1.4 km) connector linking US 45 with I-894 as part of the project to build the Hale Interchange connecting the pending route with I-894. The new connector received the US 45 designation as that highway was transferred onto the freeway heading north. The first long segment was completed in 1969. It extended from the US 45 "connector" to CTH-F (now STH-164) in Big Bend. After this segment was opened, the WIS 15 designation was applied. The next segment, to East Troy, was opened in 1972, the year the "Highway 15 Committee" had hoped the route would be completed in its entirety. It was extended to Elkhorn in 1973 in conjunction with the US 12 freeway construction, then to I-90 in 1976. I-43 signs were placed on the freeway by 1988 after designation in 1987, replacing WIS 15. I-43 was also mapped concurrently with I-94 and I-894 to link the two segments together. Even though exit number tabs were labeled according to the new mileposts, the mileposts themselves were not renumbered to coincide with the current length until 1991.
The Marquette Interchange, which connects I-43 with I-94, US 41 and Interstate 794
Interstate 794
Interstate 794 is Interstate Highway spur route in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of two auxiliary Interstates in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and serves the lakefront, the Port of Milwaukee and connects downtown with the southeastern suburbs of St...
, was completely reconstructed over a four-year span, beginning in October, 2004 and ending in September 2008. This project eliminated left-hand exits and widened connecting ramps between I-94 and I-43 to ease congestion problems.
Route description
I-43 begins in Rock CountyRock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
as the eastern leg of a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
with I-39/I-90
Interstate 90 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, Interstate 90 runs east–west through the western, central and southern portions of the state. A total of of Interstate 90 lie in Wisconsin.-Route description:...
just east of Beloit
Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...
. The highway becomes WIS 81 west of the interchange. The Beloit to Milwaukee segment of I-43 passes mainly through farmland situated on rolling hills, going around urbanized areas except for in the greater Milwaukee area—where the route passes through residential suburban zoning with some embedded industrial establishments. The Interstate bypasses Clinton to the north at WIS 140 and passes into Walworth County
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
five miles (8 km) east of WIS 140. Daily traffic counts as of 2007 for Rock County range from 12400 to 19200 with the higher counts closest to Beloit. The interchange with I-39/I-90 accommodates 1000 to 5200 vehicles daily, with the most traffic on ramps connecting southbound I-39/I-90 to westbound WIS 81 and westbound I-43 to southbound I-39/I-90. I-43 passes north of Darien
Darien, Wisconsin
Darien is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is pronounced or . The population was 1,572 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Darien.-Geography:Darien is located at ....
and crosses US 14
U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 14 runs northwest-southeast across the western to southwest portions of the state. It links La Crosse and the southwestern portion of the state with Madison and Janesville...
at that point, then junctions with WIS 50 south of Delavan
Delavan, Wisconsin
Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan.-Economy:Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Andes Candies.-History:...
. About 14,000 to 19,200 vehicles use this section daily as of 2006
In Elkhorn, I-43 junctions with WIS 67, US 12
U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 12 runs east–west across the western to southeast portions of the state...
, and WIS 11. The freeway passes through East Troy
East Troy, Wisconsin
East Troy is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,564 at the 2000 census. The village is located southeast of the Town of East Troy. A small portion extends into the adjacent Town of Troy...
about ten miles (16 km) northeast of Elkhorn and junctions with WIS 20 and Wisconsin Highway 120. It then enters Waukesha County
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
at Mukwonago
Mukwonago, Wisconsin
-Geography:Mukwonago is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.8 square miles , of which, 4.7 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is water.It is situated at the southwestern flank of the sprawling Vernon...
. I-43 crosses WIS 83 at an interchange just southeast of the village. After about eight miles (13 km), the highway junctions with WIS 164 just north of Big Bend
Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Big Bend is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Bend is located at ....
, and then enters the city of New Berlin
New Berlin, Wisconsin
New Berlin is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 38,220 at the 2000 census. New Berlin is the third largest community in Waukesha County after the cities of Waukesha and Brookfield....
where the freeway has interchanges with South Racine Avenue (CTH Y) and South Moorland Road (CTH O). It then turns east to enter Milwaukee County. Traffic volumes range from 21,000 (as of 2006) around Elkhorn to 35,800 (as of 2006) in Waukesha County to 85,000 (2007 figures) at Highway 100
Highway 100 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 100 is a road which encircles the outer edges of Milwaukee County...
.
The Beloit to Milwaukee portion (at the Hale Interchange with I-894) was given the name "Rock Freeway," named because the freeway traverses Rock County and heads towards the cities in the Rock River valley, including Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. However, the moniker generally only applies to the portion of the route in Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties; freeway names in southeastern Wisconsin media are used interchangeably with interstate numbers. The freeway is entirely four lanes from Beloit to New Berlin. A six-lane segment begins where US 45 merges on the Interstate.
I-43 connects with US 45
U.S. Route 45 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 45 runs north–south through the eastern and northern portions of the state.-Route description:...
south and WIS 100 at South 108th Street. US 45 joins the highway for one mile (1.6 km), then turns northward onto I-894 west at the Hale Interchange. while I-43 follows I-894 east along the Airport Freeway into Greenfield
Greenfield, Wisconsin
Greenfield is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2000 census.-History:Greenfield was originally created as the Town of Kinnickinnic around 1839. On Feb. 19, 1841, the name of the town was changed to Greenfield, taking its name from the name of the...
, with interchanges with WIS 24, WIS 36 and WIS 241. At the Mitchell Interchange, I-894 ends while I-43 turns north to follow 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....
and US 41
U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Highway 41 runs north–south the eastern side of the state. It enters from Illinois at Pleasant Prairie, and runs north to its northern terminus at the Michigan border at Marinette, WI.-Route description:US-41 is a freeway for nearly 70% of its route...
, also known as the North–South Freeway, into downtown Milwaukee where it meets I-794 at the Marquette Interchange
Marquette Interchange
The Marquette Interchange is a major freeway interchange in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, located near Marquette University where Interstate 43, Interstate 94, Interstate 794, and U.S. Highway 41 meet...
. The Airport Freeway carries 107,000 to 134,000 vehicles per day (as of 2007). The freeway between the Mitchell and Marquette Interchanges carried less at that time - 97,000 (closer to downtown) to 105,000 The highway passes through mixed urban residential/industrial areas of the greater Milwaukee area, carrying six lanes throughout with the exception of near the Marquette Interchange where eight lanes of traffic exist.
I-43 continues north from the Marquette Interchange, while I-94 and US 41 turn westward. After passing through downtown Milwaukee, just east of Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, and crosses WIS 145
Wisconsin Highway 145
State Trunk Highway 145 is a road which connects the northwest suburbs of Milwaukee with the city's downtown. For much of its route, the highway is known as Fond du Lac Avenue....
at the McKinley Boulevard/Fond du Lac Avenue interchange. Exit 72C's northbound off and on ramps in downtown Milwaukee pass underneath the county courthouse via tunnels to Kilbourn Avenue. On the way north out of Milwaukee, The Interstate passes through Glendale, junctioning with WIS 190 (Capitol Drive) and WIS 57 (Green Bay Ave), and north of Good Hope Road has a grassy median with a cable barrier
Cable barrier
Cable barrier, sometimes referred to as guard cable, is a type of roadside or median barrier. It consists of steel wire ropes mounted on weak posts. As is the case with any roadside barrier, its primary purpose is to prevent a vehicle from leaving the traveled way and striking a fixed object or...
. WIS 100 and WIS 32 connect at Brown Deer Road and WIS 32 follow the Interstate north into Ozaukee County. Up to 146,000 vehicles used this portion daily in 2007. This count decreased further north — with a count of 78,900 vehicles per day near WIS 100's northern terminus and 69,600 closer to the Ozaukee County border. As it passes through mixed residential and commercial zones north of downtown, the highway carries eight lanes of traffic downtown, six lanes of traffic north of North Ave to Bender Road, and four lanes of traffic north of Bender road all the way to Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
.
WIS 57 joins the freeway three miles (5 km) north of the county line in Mequon
Mequon, Wisconsin
Mequon is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 21,823 at the 2000 census, and an estimated population of 23,739 in July 2009...
at the junction of WIS 167. The urban residential areas thin out north of this point as a mix of farmland and forest begins to dominate. WIS 60 terminates in Grafton
Grafton, Wisconsin
Grafton is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,312 at the 2000 census. The village is adjacent to the Town of Grafton and the City of Cedarburg.-History:...
at the Interstate seven miles (11 km) further north and WIS 32 turns off toward Port Washington
Port Washington, Wisconsin
Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467...
one mile (1.6 km) north of WIS 60. WIS 33 crosses the route in Saukville, Wisconsin
Saukville, Wisconsin
-External links:* *...
. WIS 57 turns north off the freeway, which turns eastward to go around Port Washington to the north. WIS 32 rejoins the freeway on the north side and the two routes follow the Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
shoreline northeast into Sheboygan County. WIS 32 leaves the freeway at Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove, Wisconsin
Cedar Grove is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,887 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and the Interstate passes Oostburg
Oostburg, Wisconsin
Oostburg is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population as of 2009 is 2,842. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The Village of Oostburg was incorporated in 1909...
to the east and Sheboygan
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
to the west. In Sheboygan, I-43 interchanges with WIS 28, WIS 23, and WIS 42. I-43 enters Manitowoc County nine miles (14 km) north of Sheboygan. Traffic counts in southern Ozaukee County peak at 66,900 vehicles per day (as of 2007), this value generally decreases further north. The counts in Sheboygan County bottom out at 21,100 vehicles per day (as of 2005) just south of the Manitowoc County line.
I-43 passes Cleveland
Cleveland, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Cleveland is a village in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,361 at the 2000 census.-History:The village was named after President Grover Cleveland.-Education:...
on the county line. The highway continues to follow the lakeshore to straddle Manitowoc's rapidly developing west side, passing west of Newton, Wisconsin
Newton (community), Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Newton is an unincorporated community located in the town of Newton, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. Newton is located along Interstate 43 near Exit 144, east-northeast of Cleveland. Newton has a post office with ZIP code 53063....
, with a weigh station
Weigh station
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Usually, trucks and commercial vehicles are subject to the inspection....
for southbound truck drivers located mid-way between Newton and Cleveland. I-43 connects with US 151 and WIS 42. WIS 42 north follows the freeway north to the interchange with US 10
U.S. Route 10 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 10 runs east–west across the central part of the state. It runs from the Prescott Drawbridge over the St...
. WIS 42 leaves to the east along with US 10 east, and US 10 west follows I-43 north to the interchange with WIS 310 where it turns off to the west. The Interstate passes Francis Creek
Francis Creek, Wisconsin
Francis Creek is a village in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 681 at the 2000 census.-History:The original village name, "French Creek," was abandoned due to its conflict with another location.-Geography:...
and Maribel
Maribel, Wisconsin
Maribel is a village in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 264 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Maribel is located at ....
(at WIS 147) and turns northwestward into Brown County, with a rest stop located just before the county line. I-43 in Manitowoc County has the least traveled portion of the highway with 17,400 vehicles passing south of WIS 147 according to 2005 results. These values increase further south.
The Interstate passes Denmark
Denmark, Wisconsin
Denmark is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,123 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and meets the terminus of WIS 96 one mile (1.6 km) north of the county line. the Interstate then continues another seven miles (11 km) to Bellevue
Bellevue, Wisconsin
Bellevue is a village in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. It was a town until incorporating as a village on February 14, 2003. The population of the area that became the village was 11,828 in 2000...
where US 141 begins. This interchange provides access to WIS 29, a route the freeway crosses under later. At this point, the Interstate enters urban residential areas as it approaches Green Bay. I-43 junctions with WIS 172 in Allouez
Allouez, Wisconsin
Allouez is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 15,443. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
then turns northeast to bypass Green Bay to the east, passing under the aforementioned WIS 29. After turning northwestward, the Interstate interchanges with WIS 54 and WIS 57 and crosses the Fox River
Fox River (Wisconsin)
The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...
on the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge
Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge
The Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge is a bridge on the north side of Green Bay, Wisconsin which brings Interstate 43 over the Fox River just south of its mouth into Green Bay...
, passing through a heavily industrialized area near the Port of Green Bay. I-43 ends at US 41
U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Highway 41 runs north–south the eastern side of the state. It enters from Illinois at Pleasant Prairie, and runs north to its northern terminus at the Michigan border at Marinette, WI.-Route description:US-41 is a freeway for nearly 70% of its route...
and US 141. I-43's lowest traffic volume in this county is at the southernmost entry with a 2006 value of 22,100 vehicles per day near Denmark. Values around Green Bay range from 34,600 to 42,200 vehicles per day.
Major accidents
On October 10, 2002, a multiple-vehicle collisionMultiple-vehicle collision
A multi-vehicle collision is a road traffic accident involving many vehicles. Generally occurring on high capacity and high speed routes such as freeways, they are one of the deadliest forms of traffic accidents...
occurred on I-43, just south of Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove, Wisconsin
Cedar Grove is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,887 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. The accident occurred on southbound I-43 in Sheboygan County just north of the Ozaukee–Sheboygan county line. It involved 50 vehicles and was found to have been caused by low visibility due to fog at a point where the freeway comes its closest to paralleling Lake Michigan, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from shore. The accident and resulting fires led to the deaths of 10 individuals making this accident the deadliest in Wisconsin history. In addition to the fatalities, 36 people were also injured in the pile-up. According to witnesses at the scene, fire from the wreckage rose over 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 ) into the air. First responders said many of the bodies they recovered were burned beyond recognition. Sheboygan County Sheriff Loni Koenig said of the accident site, "In my 21 years [of law enforcement], this is the most horrific scene I have ever seen, and I'm sure that it is for many of the people there." The accident has since been described as the worst traffic accident in Wisconsin state history.
Exit list
External links
- http://www.phatpage.org/highways/i43.html
- http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-043.html
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/wirroads0/43wi.html&date=2009-10-26+00:14:57