Wisconsin Highway 21

Infobox road
state=WI
type=WI
route=21
length_mi=123.37
length_ref=cite web | last = Bessert | first = Chris | title =Wisconsin Highways: Highways 20-29 (Highway 21) | work =Wisconsin Highways | url =http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys20-29.html#STH-021 | accessdate = 2007-03-20] | length_round=1
direction_a=West
direction_b=East
starting_terminus=jct|state=WI|WI|27 in Sparta
junction=jct|state=WI|I|94 near Tomah
jct|state=WI|I|39 in Coloma
ending_terminus=jct|state=WI|US|45 in Oshkosh
previous_type=WI
previous_route=20
next_type=WI
next_route=22
commons=category

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 east-west across the center of the state between Sparta, Wisconsin 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"

Route description

WIS 21 begins at the intersection of WIS 16, WIS 71 and WIS 27cite web | publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation | url = http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/sth/network-routes.pdf | title = State Trunk Network Routes in Wisconsin | format = pdf | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] 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 floolws 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.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/monroe.pdf | format=pdf | title=Monroe Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-08] WIS 21 passes through the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge during its twelve mile stretch of straight route to Necedah. The highway crosses WIS 80 within Necedah and crosses the Wisconsin River at about 3 miles east of the village. WIS 21 enters Adams County at the river, just south of Petenwell Lake.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/juneau.pdf | format=pdf | title=Juneau Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-08] WIS 29 junctions with WIS 13 three miles north of Friendship. The route also provides indirect access to Roche-a-Cri State Park via WIS 13. cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/adams.pdf | format=pdf | title=Adams Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-08]

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 before turning east again of the concurrency near Silver Lake. WIS 152 junctions with the routes about two miles northwest of the eastern concurrency terminus. The highway passes through Lohrville and Redgranite and junctions with WIS 49 south of Auroraville.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/waushara.pdf | format=pdf | title=Waushara Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-08]

WIS 21 enters Winnebago County five miles east of WIS 49. WIS 21 crosses WIS 116 in Omro. The route then enters the greater Oshkosh are and junctions with US 41 along Omro Road.cite map|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/docs/counties/winnebago.pdf | format=pdf | title=Winnebago Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | accessdate=2008-01-08] 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 Mortscite map|url=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Oshkosh,+WI,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=44.03121,-88.556242&spn=0.040728,0.074844&z=14&om=1 | title=Oshkosh, WI, United States of America - Google Maps | publisher=Google | cartography=NAVTEQ | accessdate=2008-01-08]

History

The route was first written into law in from La Crosse to Oshkosh.cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=74ZBAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA5-PA213&as_brr=1#PRA5-PA213,M1 | title=Bulletin 9 | origyear=1920 |publisher=Wisconsin Highway Commission|accessdate=2008-01-08] 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 |accessdate=2007-12-31] 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.

Major intersections

Jctint
state=WI
county=Monroe
cspan=7
location=Sparta
lspan=2
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|16|WI|27|WI|71|dir1=West|dir3=North
notes=End WIS 21
WIS 21 East / WIS 71 South follow WIS 16 East
WIS 71 North follow WIS 27 NorthJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|16|WI|71|dir1=East|dir2=South
notes=WIS 21 West / WIS 71 North follow WIS 16 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Angelo
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|I|CTH|Q
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Tunnel City
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|M
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Tomah
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|I|94|US|12
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Wyeville
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|173
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|PP
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Juneau
cspan=3
location=Cutler
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|M
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Necedah
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|80
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|G
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Adams
cspan=3
location=Arkdale
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|Z
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Cottonville
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|13
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location= | lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|G
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Waushara
cspan=10
location=Coloma
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|I|39|US|51
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Richford
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|B
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location= | lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|Y
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Wautoma
lspan=4
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|22|dir1=South
notes=WIS 22 North follow WIS 21 EastJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|22|WI|73|dir1=North|dir2=North
notes=WIS 22 South Follow WIS 21 West
WIS 73 South Follow WIS 21 EastJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|152
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=mplex
road=jct|state=WI|WI|73|dir1=South
notes=WIS 73 North follow WIS 21 WestJctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Lohrville
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|S
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Redgranite
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|E
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Auroraville
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|49
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=Winnebago
cspan=4
location=Rushford
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|CTH|K
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Omro
lspan=1
type=
road=jct|state=WI|WI|116
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=Oshkosh
lspan=2
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|41
notes=Jctint
state=WI
county=
cspan=
location=
lspan=
type=
road=jct|state=WI|US|45
notes=End WIS 21

References