Wisconsin Highway 145
Encyclopedia
State Trunk Highway 145 (STH 145, commonly known as Highway 145 or WIS 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.
Up until the fall of 2009, Highway 145's northern terminus was at the freeway interchange with US-41
in Richfield
. A project involving the construction of five roundabout
s in a less than one mile span has truncated the highway's northern terminus to the freeway interchange with US-45
, with the stretch of roundabouts between US-41 and US-45 now designated as County Highway FD. Highway 145 travels generally southeast through Germantown
as a secondary highway. Upon reaching Menomonee Falls
, the road expands into a four-lane boulevard for just over one mile (1.6 km), straddling the Waukesha
and Milwaukee County line before intersecting with US-41
/45
again.
At this point, the road heads into the city limits of Milwaukee and becomes a freeway, officially known as the Fond du Lac Freeway, though this term is rarely used locally. Although it was originally planned to continue into the heart of downtown, the freeway ends after just under five miles (8 km) at which point it intersects with 68th Street and Hampton Avenue. Highway 145 continues as Fond du Lac Avenue into downtown. It is a four-lane boulevard until Burleigh Street, at which point it becomes a four-lane urban arterial. It becomes a four-lane boulevard again at 20th Street until its intersection with Sixth Street. A major interchange at I-43
is just past the intersection with Walnut Street. Highway 145 turns south onto Sixth Street before terminating at the intersection with US-18 (Wells Street), adjacent to the Frontier Airlines Center convention hall.
Highway 145 was once also a part of the Park East Freeway, a short spur running east from its intersection with I-43, over the Milwaukee River
before terminating at Broadway and Milwaukee Street at East Knapp Street. The freeway was demolished between 2002 and 2003, with the replacement surface streets not complete until 2006.
and the proposed Bay Freeway
. This was never built.
In October 1975, Milwaukee County Executive John Doyne proposed connecting this freeway with the Stadium North stub end, existing 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south. While this "Gap Closure" has not been built to date due to public opposition, the current state trunk highway map shows a freeway planned for this corridor.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
with the city's downtown. For much of its route, the highway is known as Fond du Lac Avenue.
Up until the fall of 2009, Highway 145's northern terminus was at the freeway interchange with 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...
in Richfield
Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin
Richfield is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,373 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. The unincorporated communities of Colgate and Hubertus are located partially in Richfield.-Incorporation:...
. A project involving the construction of five roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
s in a less than one mile span has truncated the highway's northern terminus to the freeway interchange 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:...
, with the stretch of roundabouts between US-41 and US-45 now designated as County Highway FD. Highway 145 travels generally southeast through Germantown
Germantown, Wisconsin
Germantown is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,260 at the 2000 census. The village surrounds the Town of Germantown...
as a secondary highway. Upon reaching Menomonee Falls
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Menomonee Falls is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States, and is part of the Greater Milwaukee area. The population was 35,626 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous village in Wisconsin. It is the fourth largest community in Waukesha County...
, the road expands into a four-lane boulevard for just over one mile (1.6 km), straddling the Waukesha
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...
and Milwaukee County line before intersecting with US-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...
/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 ....
again.
At this point, the road heads into the city limits of Milwaukee and becomes a freeway, officially known as the Fond du Lac Freeway, though this term is rarely used locally. Although it was originally planned to continue into the heart of downtown, the freeway ends after just under five miles (8 km) at which point it intersects with 68th Street and Hampton Avenue. Highway 145 continues as Fond du Lac Avenue into downtown. It is a four-lane boulevard until Burleigh Street, at which point it becomes a four-lane urban arterial. It becomes a four-lane boulevard again at 20th Street until its intersection with Sixth Street. A major interchange at I-43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a 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...
is just past the intersection with Walnut Street. Highway 145 turns south onto Sixth Street before terminating at the intersection with US-18 (Wells Street), adjacent to the Frontier Airlines Center convention hall.
Highway 145 was once also a part of the Park East Freeway, a short spur running east from its intersection with I-43, over the Milwaukee River
Milwaukee River
The Milwaukee River is a river in the state of Wisconsin. It is about long.- Description :The river begins in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin and flows south past Grafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties into Lake Michigan...
before terminating at Broadway and Milwaukee Street at East Knapp Street. The freeway was demolished between 2002 and 2003, with the replacement surface streets not complete until 2006.
Interchanges
Fond du Lac Freeway section:| County | Location | Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
End Freeway -  Continues as an Urban 4-lane (Fond du Lac Ave) to Downtown Milwaukee |
|||||
| Milwaukee | Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the... |
7A | Grantosa Ave, Villard Ave | Southbound exit only; Northbound entrance only | |
| 7B |  WIS 181 - 76th St |
||||
| 8 | Silver Spring Dr | Northbound exit to Eastbound only; Southbound exit to Westbound only | |||
| 9 | 91st St | ||||
| 10A | Green Tree Rd, 102nd St | Southbound entrance only, Northbound exit only | |||
| 10B | 107th St, Good Hope Rd | Northbound POV | |||
| 107th St, Fond du Lac Ave | Southbound POV | ||||
| 10C | Park Place | ||||
End Freeway - intersects with    and continues as a 4-lane boulevard (124th Street) to |
|||||
Fond du Lac Freeway extension
Originally, the freeway portion of Highway 145 was to extend further southeast and there was to be a major interchange located near the intersection of W Lisbon Road and W North Avenue, connecting the Fond du Lac with the proposed extension of the Stadium FreewayStadium Freeway (Wisconsin)
The Stadium Freeway is a 6-lane divided highway running north–south in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This freeway was the first road of its kind built in Milwaukee County. It is designated as US Highway 41 along its northern stretch from Interstate 94 to Lisbon Avenue...
and the proposed Bay Freeway
Bay Freeway
The Bay Freeway was the name of separate freeways proposed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Seattle, Washington, United States. No portion of either freeway was ever constructed.-Milwaukee:...
. This was never built.
In October 1975, Milwaukee County Executive John Doyne proposed connecting this freeway with the Stadium North stub end, existing 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south. While this "Gap Closure" has not been built to date due to public opposition, the current state trunk highway map shows a freeway planned for this corridor.
External links
- WIS 145 Terminus Photos
- Wisconsin Highways: Milwaukee Freeways: Fond du Lac Freeway, Christopher Besser