U.S. Highway 151
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USHwy151NearDBQIAJuly2004.jpg
U.S. Highway 151 is a US highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The northern terminus for the route is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and southern terminus is in Iowa County, Iowa, at the Interstate 80 exit 225 (near Amana). The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through Iowa and Wisconsin.
Approximately seven miles (11 km) south of Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. 151 joins with U.S. Highway 61. The two highways share a route from there to Dickeyville, Wisconsin. Three miles (5 km) south of Dubuque, U.S. 61/151 join with U.S. Highway 52, and share a route with U.S. 52 until the White Street exit in Dubuque.
In Wisconsin, U.S. 61/151 joins with Wisconsin State Highway 35 about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Iowa/Wisconsin border. At Dickeyville, U.S. 151 splits off and heads northeast to Platteville. U.S. 61 and Wisconsin 35 continue north. U.S. 151 later joins with U.S. Highway 18 near Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The two highways share a route all the way to Madison, Wisconsin.
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History
U.S. 151 was one of the original highways from 1926. At the time, it only ran from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin. Originally, the highway ended at Western Avenue and Main Street in Madison. In 1934, the highway was extended to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The highway was comprised mainly of what had been U.S. 161, which was a decommisioned route. At the time, the southern end of the route was at Williams Blvd SW and 16th Ave SW, what was then U.S. Highways 30 and 218. In the 1940's, the highway was extended north to Manitowoc.
In 1981, the southern terminus of the highway was extended once again when the U.S. 30 bypass was built. The southern terminus was at the US 151 and 30 interchange. By 1986, the main U.S. 151 was rerouted on to state highway 13 and U.S. highway 30 to bypass Cedar Rapids. The previous route through Cedar Rapids was renamed as Business U.S. 151. Finally in 1989, U.S. 151 was extended to its current southern terminus at Interstate 80, exit 225. This extension followed the route of the former state highway 149. As a result, U.S. 151 became the main route through the Amana Colonies.
Recent Construction
The highway is in the process of being converted into a four lane highway from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Madison, Wisconsin.
In 2000, construction began along the Iowa sections of U.S. 151 between Cedar Rapids and Dubuque. By the end of 2001, the four lane sections from Marion to Anamosa were completed. By 2002, the bypass around Cascade was completed. By the summer of 2004, the Monticello bypass was opened, as was most of the remaining segments of highway. The last major portion of the highway - a 16 mile (26 km) section between Cascade and about two miles (3 km) south of the intersection with US 61 still under construction - was completed in the summer of 2004. The two new southbound lanes were opened on September 13, 2004. The remaining work on the highway is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.
In Wisconsin, most of the construction is finished and the four lane highway is open. The only exception is an 8 mile (13 km) stretch of highway between Dickeyville and Platteville. This section is expected to be finished and open by the summer of 2005.
Notable Locations
Notable locations along the route include;