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{{Short description|State highway in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox road
{{Infobox road
|state=WI
|state=WI
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|length_ref=<ref name="googlemaps"/>
|length_ref=<ref name="googlemaps"/>
|length_round=2
|length_round=2
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=180|frame-lat=43.536406|frame-long=-90.673345|zoom=7|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Wisconsin Highway 131}}}}
|map=Wisconsin Route 131 map.svg
|map_custom=yes
|maint=[[Wisconsin Department of Transportation|WisDOT]]
|map_notes=WIS 131 highlighted in red
|established=by 1927<ref name="rand27"/>
|established=1924
|direction_a=South
|direction_a=South
|direction_b=North
|direction_b=North
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=WI|WI|60}} in [[Wauzeka, Wisconsin|Wauzeka]]
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=WI|WI|60}} in [[Wauzeka, Wisconsin|Wauzeka]]
|junction={{plainlist|1=
|junction={{Jct|state=WI|US|61}} in [[Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin|Soldiers Grove]]<br>{{Jct|state=WI|US|14|US|61}} in [[Readstown, Wisconsin|Readstown]]<br>{{Jct|state=WI|I|90}} in [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]]
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=WI|US|12|WI|16}} in [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|US|61}} in [[Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin|Soldiers Grove]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|US|14|US|61}} in [[Readstown, Wisconsin|Readstown]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|I|90}} in [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]] }}
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=WI|US|12|WI|16}} in Tomah
|counties=[[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford]], [[Vernon County, Wisconsin|Vernon]], [[Richland County, Wisconsin|Richland]], [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe]]
|counties=[[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford]], [[Vernon County, Wisconsin|Vernon]], [[Richland County, Wisconsin|Richland]], [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe]]
|previous_type=WI
|previous_type=WI
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|next_route=132
|next_route=132
}}
}}
'''State Trunk Highway 131''' (also called '''Highway 131''', '''STH-131''' or '''WIS 131''') is a {{convert|78.9|mi|km|adj=on}} [[state highway (US)|state highway]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. The highway is located in Wisconsin's [[Driftless Area]], and it passes through [[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford]], [[Vernon County, Wisconsin|Vernon]], [[Richland County, Wisconsin|Richland]], and [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe]] counties. It runs from [[Wisconsin Highway 60|WIS 60]] near [[Wauzeka, Wisconsin|Wauzeka]] north to [[U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin|US Highway 12]] (US 12) and [[Wisconsin Highway 16|WIS 16]] in [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]]. WIS 131 is maintained by the [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] (WisDOT).
'''State Trunk Highway 131''' (also called '''Highway 131''', '''STH-131''' or '''WIS 131''') is a {{convert|78.9|mi|km|adj=on}} [[state highway (US)|state highway]] in the U.S. state of [[Wisconsin]]. The highway is located in Wisconsin's [[Driftless Area]], passing through [[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford]], [[Vernon County, Wisconsin|Vernon]], [[Richland County, Wisconsin|Richland]], and [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe]] counties. It runs from [[Wisconsin Highway 60|WIS 60]] near [[Wauzeka, Wisconsin|Wauzeka]] north to [[U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin|US Highway 12]] (US 12) and [[Wisconsin Highway 16|WIS 16]] in [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]]. WIS 131 is maintained by the [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] (WisDOT).


WIS 131 was designated in 1923 on a road between [[Ferryville, Wisconsin|Ferryville]] and [[Gays Mills, Wisconsin|Gays Mills]]. It was realigned and extended several times in the next fifteen years, and it ultimately connected Wauzeka and Tomah in 1948. The highway was rerouted in northern Vernon County in the 1970s in expectation of a new dam on the [[Kickapoo River]]; however, when the dam project stalled in 1975, part of the rerouting between [[Rockton, Wisconsin|Rockton]] and [[Ontario, Wisconsin|Ontario]] was put on hold as well. WisDOT consequently performed very little maintenance on this section of WIS 131 for two decades after the dam project stopped, and it fell into disrepair. The state ultimately rebuilt the highway in the early 2000s, and the refurbished highway opened in 2003.
WIS 131 was designated by 1924 on a road between [[Ferryville, Wisconsin|Ferryville]] and [[Gays Mills, Wisconsin|Gays Mills]]. It was realigned and extended several times in the next twenty-five years, and by 1948 it connected Wauzeka and Tomah roughly along its present route. The highway was rerouted in northern Vernon County in the 1970s in expectation of a new dam on the [[Kickapoo River]]; however, part of the rerouting between [[Rockton, Wisconsin|Rockton]] and [[Ontario, Wisconsin|Ontario]] was put on hold when the dam project stalled in 1975. WisDOT consequently performed very little maintenance on this section of WIS 131 for the next two decades, and it fell into disrepair. The state ultimately rebuilt the highway in the early 2000s, and the refurbished highway opened in 2003.


==Route description==
==Route description==
[[Image:WIS131TurningGaysMillsWisconsin.jpg|thumb|left|WIS 131 at its junction with WIS 171 in Gays Mills]]
[[Image:WIS131TurningGaysMillsWisconsin.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The signed junction of WIS 131 and WIS 171 in Gays Mills, with houses and trees in the background|WIS 131 at its junction with WIS 171 in Gays Mills]]


=== Wauzeka to Viola ===
=== Wauzeka to Viola ===
WIS 131 runs through hilly, rural terrain characteristic of the Driftless Area and [[Western Upland]] for its entire length. The route generally passes through farmland or wooded areas, though it also enters several small towns. WIS 131 begins in Crawford County at a [[3-way intersection]] with WIS 60 northeast of Wauzeka and north of the [[Wisconsin River]]. The highway heads in a generally northward direction from the intersection toward [[Steuben, Wisconsin|Steuben]]. WIS 131 begins to follow the Kickapoo River here, running within the river's deep river valley through [[Wilton, Wisconsin|Wilton]]. The highway enters Steuben from the southeast and heads east as Farris Street toward another 3-way intersection with [[Wisconsin Highway 179|WIS 179]]. WIS 131 heads north from this intersection as Midway Street for about a block before turning east and leaving Steuben as Railroad Street.<ref name="wisdot_crawford">{{cite map|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/crawford.pdf | title=Crawford Co | publisher=[[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] | date=January 2020 | accessdate=2020-12-05}}</ref>
WIS&nbsp;131 runs through hilly, rural terrain characteristic of the Driftless Area and [[Western Upland]] for its entire length. The route generally passes through farmland or wooded areas, though it also enters several small towns. WIS&nbsp;131 begins in Crawford County at a [[three-way intersection]] with WIS&nbsp;60 northeast of Wauzeka and north of the [[Wisconsin River]]. The highway heads northward from the intersection toward [[Steuben, Wisconsin|Steuben]]. WIS&nbsp;131 begins to follow the Kickapoo River here and it runs within the river's valley until [[Wilton, Wisconsin|Wilton]]. The highway enters Steuben from the southeast and heads east as Farris Street toward another 3-way intersection with [[Wisconsin Highway 179|WIS&nbsp;179]]. WIS&nbsp;131 heads north from this intersection as Midway Street for about a block before turning east and leaving Steuben as Railroad Street.<ref name="wisdot_crawford">{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |author-link = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = January 2020 |url = https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/crawford.pdf |title = ((Crawford Co.)) |scale = 1:100,000 |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref>


WIS 131 turns north again outside of Steuben and passes through [[Barnum, Wisconsin|Barnum]], [[Petersburg, Wisconsin|Petersburg]] and [[Bell Center, Wisconsin|Bell Center]] before intersecting [[Wisconsin Highway 171|WIS 171]] in Gays Mills. North of Gays Mills, the highway heads north-northeast toward [[Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin|Soldiers Grove]]. The route enters Soldiers Grove as Church Street before turning east onto Pine Street and intersecting [[U.S. Route 61 in Wisconsin|US 61]]. WIS 131 becomes [[Concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with US 61 and heads north into Vernon County toward [[Readstown, Wisconsin|Readstown]].<ref name="wisdot_crawford"/> The concurrency between WIS 131 and US 61 is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]]; this portion of WIS 131 and its short concurrency with US 14 are the only parts of the highway which are part of the NHS.<ref name="NHS">{{cite map|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/wisconsin/wi_wisconsin.pdf| title=The National Highway System: Wisconsin | publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] | format=PDF | date=2020-09-30 | accessdate=2020-12-05}}</ref> WIS 131 and US 61 enter Readstown as Soldiers Grove Road and meet [[U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin|US 14]] at a three-way intersection, where WIS 131 leaves US 61 and follows US 14 east for {{convert|0.4|mi|km}}. WIS 131 then leaves Readstown to the north as 4th Street. Outside of Readstown, WIS 131 cuts east and passes through the community of [[Kickapoo Center, Wisconsin|Kickapoo Center]] before turning back north toward [[Viola, Wisconsin|Viola]].<ref name="wisdot_vernon">{{cite map|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/vernon.pdf | title=Vernon Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | date=January 2020 | accessdate=2020-12-05}}</ref> The highway enters Viola from the southwest as Commercial Street, passes [[Kickapoo High School (Viola, Wisconsin)|Kickapoo High School]]<ref name="viola">{{cite web |last= |first= |url=http://www.violawisc.com/education.htm |title=Viola Area Education |accessdate=2009-01-26 |publisher=Viola, Wisconsin}}</ref> and briefly becomes concurrent with [[Wisconsin Highway 56|WIS 56]]. WIS 131 enters northwest Richland County while in Viola, and it remains in the county for a short distance northward.<ref name="wisdot_richland">{{cite map|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/richland.pdf | title=Richland Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | date=January 2020 | accessdate=2009-01-24}}</ref>
WIS&nbsp;131 turns north again outside of Steuben and passes through [[Barnum, Wisconsin|Barnum]], [[Petersburg, Wisconsin|Petersburg]] and [[Bell Center, Wisconsin|Bell Center]] before intersecting [[Wisconsin Highway 171|WIS&nbsp;171]] in Gays Mills. North of Gays Mills, the highway heads north-northeast toward [[Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin|Soldiers Grove]]. The route enters Soldiers Grove as Church Street before turning east onto Pine Street and intersecting [[U.S. Route 61 in Wisconsin|US 61]]. WIS&nbsp;131 becomes [[Concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with US 61 and heads north into Vernon County toward [[Readstown, Wisconsin|Readstown]].<ref name="wisdot_crawford"/> WIS&nbsp;131 and US 61 enter Readstown as Soldiers Grove Road and meet [[U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin|US 14]] at a three-way intersection, where WIS&nbsp;131 leaves US 61 and follows US 14 east across the Kickapoo River. The highway's concurrencies with US 61 and US 14 are the only parts of the highway which are part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]].<ref name="NHS">{{cite map |author = Federal Highway Administration |author-link = Federal Highway Administration |date = September 30, 2020 |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/wisconsin/wi_wisconsin.pdf |title = National Highway System: Wisconsin |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> After {{convert|0.4|mi|km}}, WIS&nbsp;131 turns north and leaves Readstown as 4th Street. Outside of Readstown, WIS&nbsp;131 cuts east and passes through the community of [[Kickapoo Center, Wisconsin|Kickapoo Center]] before turning back north toward [[Viola, Wisconsin|Viola]].<ref name="wisdot_vernon">{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = January 2020 |url = https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/vernon.pdf |title = ((Vernon Co.)) |scale = 1:100,000 |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> The highway enters Viola from the southwest as Commercial Street, passes [[Kickapoo High School (Viola, Wisconsin)|Kickapoo High School]]<ref name="US News">{{cite web |title = Kickapoo High |url = https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/wisconsin/districts/kickapoo-area-school-district/kickapoo-high-21862 |department = Best High Schools |work = [[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> and briefly becomes concurrent with [[Wisconsin Highway 56|WIS&nbsp;56]]. WIS&nbsp;131 enters northwest Richland County while in Viola and it remains in the county for a short distance northward.<ref name="wisdot_richland">{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = January 2020 |url = https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/richland.pdf |title = ((Richland Co.)) |scale = 1:100,000 |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = January 24, 2009 }}</ref>


=== La Farge to Tomah ===
=== La Farge to Tomah ===
[[File:Wisconsin Highway 131.jpg|thumb|Wisconsin Highway 131 south of [[Tomah, Wisconsin|Tomah]], looking north]]
⚫
After it returns to Vernon County, WIS 131 heads north toward [[La Farge, Wisconsin|La Farge]]. The highway enters La Farge from the south as State Street and follows [[Wisconsin Highway 82|WIS 82]] west for four blocks before turning north and leaving the village as Mill Street. The road passes through the [[Kickapoo Valley Reserve]] north of La Farge and remains in the reserve for most of its length through Ontario.<ref name="kvr">{{cite map|url=http://kvr.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=12569&locid=115 | title=Kickapoo Valley Reserve Map | publisher=Kickapoo Valley Reserve | accessdate=2009-01-24}}</ref> WIS 131 runs through unincorporated Rockton and bypasses [[Wildcat Mountain State Park]] to the west before entering the village of Ontario. The road crosses the Kickapoo River seven times on the {{convert|7.3|mi|km}} between Rockton and Ontario.<ref name="wisdot_vernon"/><ref name="google1">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=WI-131&daddr=43.722265,-90.591846&hl=en&geocode=FUrimQIdpJqZ-g%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=15&sll=43.723165,-90.589743&sspn=0.008312,0.017853&ie=UTF8&ll=43.677805,-90.573692&spn=0.066545,0.142822&z=12 |title=Overview Map of State Highway 131 Between Rockton and Ontario |accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref> In Ontario, WIS 131 meets [[Wisconsin Highway 33|WIS 33]] and follows the route east briefly before turning north and entering Monroe County. The highway heads north into [[Wilton, Wisconsin|Wilton]], where it becomes concurrent with [[Wisconsin Highway 71|WIS 71]]. WIS 131 follows WIS 71 northeast out of Wilton as Walker Street, and the two highways are concurrent for {{convert|3.4|mi|km}}. The two highways parallel the [[Elroy-Sparta State Trail]] for most of their concurrency, and the trail crosses over the roads before they separate at a 3-way intersection northeast of Wilton.<ref name="wisdot_monroe">{{cite map|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/monroe.pdf | format=PDF | title=Monroe Co | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | date=January 2020 | accessdate=2020-12-05}}</ref> WIS 131 heads due north from this intersection toward Tomah. Between Wilton and Tomah, WIS 131 is designated as a Long Truck Route by WisDOT; trucks are not subject to weight or length restrictions on this section of the highway.<ref name="WisDOT Long Truck">{{cite map|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/shared/truck-routes.pdf | title=Wisconsin Long Truck Operators Map | publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | format=PDF | accessdate=2020-12-05}}</ref> The highway intersects with [[Interstate 90 in Wisconsin|Interstate 90]] (I-90) in south Tomah and enters the city as Superior Avenue. This section of WIS 131 is the busiest of its entire route; according to WisDOT, the average daily traffic along this portion in 2017 was 6800 vehicles.<ref name="WisDOT Traffic">{{cite web |title=TCMap (Traffic Count Map) |url=https://wisdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2e12a4f051de4ea9bc865ec6393731f8 |publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date=December 5, 2020}}</ref> WIS 131 terminates at a four-way intersection with US 12 and [[Wisconsin Highway 16|WIS 16]] in southern Tomah; the road continues northward as US 12.<ref name="wisdot_monroe"/>
[[File:Tomah looking north from I-90.jpg|thumb|W-131 and [[Interstate 90|I-90]]]]
⚫
After it returns to Vernon County, WIS&nbsp;131 heads north toward [[La Farge, Wisconsin|La Farge]]. It enters La Farge from the south as State Street and follows [[Wisconsin Highway 82|WIS&nbsp;82]] west for four blocks before turning north and leaving the village as Mill Street. The highway enters the [[Kickapoo Valley Reserve]] north of La Farge; it continues through the Reserve until its northern border south of Ontario.<ref>{{cite map |author = Kickapoo Valley Reserve |date = n.d. |title = Kickapoo Valley Reserve Trail & Campsite Map |url = http://kvr.state.wi.us/Documents/Maps/RecreationMaps/VisitorGuideMap.pdf |scale = Scale not given |publisher = Kickapoo Valley Reserve |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> WIS&nbsp;131 passes through unincorporated Rockton and briefly enters the southwest corner of [[Wildcat Mountain State Park]] before reaching the village of Ontario.<ref>{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |author-link = Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |date = n.d. |title = Wildcat Mountain State Park |url = https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/wildcat/pdfs/wildcatmap.pdf |scale = Scale not given |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> The road crosses the Kickapoo River seven times in the {{convert|7.3|mi|km}} between Rockton and Ontario.<ref name="wisdot_vernon"/><ref name="google1">{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=WI-131&daddr=43.722265,-90.591846&hl=en&geocode=FUrimQIdpJqZ-g%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=15&sll=43.723165,-90.589743&sspn=0.008312,0.017853&ie=UTF8&ll=43.677805,-90.573692&spn=0.066545,0.142822&z=12 |title = Overview Map of State Highway 131 Between Rockton and Ontario |access-date = January 17, 2009 |link = no }}</ref> In Ontario, WIS&nbsp;131 meets [[Wisconsin Highway 33|WIS&nbsp;33]] and briefly follows it east before turning north and entering Monroe County. The highway heads north into Wilton, where it becomes concurrent with [[Wisconsin Highway 71|WIS&nbsp;71]]. WIS&nbsp;131 follows WIS&nbsp;71 northeast out of Wilton as Walker Street, and the two highways are concurrent for {{convert|3.4|mi|km}}. The two highways parallel the [[Elroy-Sparta State Trail]] for most of their concurrency, and the trail crosses over the roads before they separate at a 3-way intersection northeast of Wilton.<ref name="wisdot_monroe">{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = January 2020 |url = https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/monroe.pdf |format = PDF |title = ((Monroe Co.)) |scale = 1:100,000 |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> WIS&nbsp;131 heads due north from this intersection toward Tomah. The highway intersects with [[Interstate 90 in Wisconsin|Interstate 90]] (I-90) in south Tomah and enters the city as Superior Avenue. This section of WIS&nbsp;131 is the busiest of its entire route; according to WisDOT, this portion had an average daily traffic of 6800 vehicles in 2017.<ref name="WisDOT Traffic">{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = December 5, 2020 |title = TCMap (Traffic Count Map) |url = https://wisdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2e12a4f051de4ea9bc865ec6393731f8 |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}</ref> WIS&nbsp;131 terminates at a four-way intersection with [[U.S. Route 12|US 12]] and [[Wisconsin Highway 16|WIS&nbsp;16]] in southern Tomah; traffic continues straight as US 12.<ref name="wisdot_monroe"/>


==History==
==History==
WIS 131 was first designated between 1924 and 1927 on a route from [[Wisconsin Highway 35|WIS 35]] near Ferryville to [[Wisconsin Highway 11|WIS 11]] in Gays Mills. When WIS 11 was assigned to a different route before 1927, WIS 131 took on its route from Gays Mills north to [[Wisconsin Highway 27|WIS 27]] in Soldiers Grove.<ref name="rand27">{{cite map |publisher=Rand McNally |title=Rand McNally Junior Auto Road Map: Wisconsin |url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33752~1171468:Rand-McNally-junior-auto-road-map-W?sort=Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort&qvq=q:%2BPub_List_No%3D'5755.000'%22%2B;sort:Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=23&trs=55 |format= |edition= |year=1927 |cartography= |scale= |series= |page= |section= |inset= |accessdate=2011-03-26 |isbn= |id= |ref= |archiveurl= }}</ref><ref name="rand24">{{cite map |publisher=[[Rand McNally]] |title=Rand McNally Auto Trails Map: Wisconsin |url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~201676~3000650:Commercial-Atlas-of-America--Rand-M?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date&qvq=q:%2BPub_List_No%3D'5028.000'%22%2B;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=191&trs=379 |format= |edition= |year=1924 |cartography= |scale= |series= |page= |section= |inset= |accessdate=2011-03-26 |isbn= |id= |ref= |archiveurl= }}</ref> WIS 131 was extended further northward to La Farge in 1939 after a county highway was transferred to state control. In 1947, WisDOT switched the designations of WIS 131 and WIS 171 south and west of Gays Mills; WIS 131 was designated between Gays Mills and Wauzeka, and its original route between Ferryville and Gays Mills became WIS 171. WIS 131 was extended farther north to its current terminus in Tomah in 1948.<ref name="WH1">{{cite web | last = Bessert | first = Chris | title =Wisconsin Highways: Highways 130-139 (Highway 131) | work =Wisconsin Highways | url =http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys130-139.html#STH-131 | accessdate = 2007-03-20}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
WIS&nbsp;131 was first designated by 1924 on a route from [[Wisconsin Highway 35|WIS&nbsp;35]] near Ferryville to [[Wisconsin Highway 11|WIS&nbsp;11]] in Gays Mills.<ref>{{cite map |author = Rand McNally & Company |author-link = Rand McNally & Company |year = 1923 |map = District No. 8, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Northeast Iowa, Northern Michigan |title = Rand McNally Official 1923 Auto Trails Map |map-url = https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/maps/id/1102 |scale = [c. 1:657,000] |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally & Company |access-date = December 6, 2020 |via = [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1924 |link = yes |v-link = yes }}</ref> When WIS&nbsp;11 moved to a new route that bypassed Gays Mills in 1925, WIS&nbsp;131 took on its route from there north to Soldiers Grove.<ref>{{cite map |author = Wisconsin Highway Commission |year = 1925 |title = Official Highway Map of Wisconsin: 'The Playground of the Middle West' |url = https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/maps/id/14117 |scale = 1:950,400 |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Highway Commission |oclc = 829937616 |via = Wisconsin Historical Society }}</ref> The [[Wisconsin Highway Commission]] extended WIS&nbsp;131 northward to La Farge in 1939 along a county highway that had been transferred to the state.<ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1939 |link = yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1940 }}</ref> In 1947, the Highway Commission switched the designations of WIS&nbsp;131 and WIS&nbsp;171 south and west of Gays Mills; WIS&nbsp;131 took over the route between Gays Mills and Wauzeka, and its original route between Ferryville and Gays Mills became WIS&nbsp;171.<ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1947 }}</ref><ref name="WisDOT 1948">{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1948 }}</ref> WIS&nbsp;131 was extended from La Farge to its current terminus in Tomah in 1948.<ref name="WisDOT 1948"/><ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1949 }}</ref>


[[Image:La Farge Lake and Dam uncompleted.jpg|thumb|The incomplete Kickapoo River Dam in 1975, when construction stopped]]
[[Image:La Farge Lake and Dam uncompleted.jpg|thumb|alt=An aerial view of the incomplete Kickapoo River Dam, with the river in the center|The incomplete Kickapoo River Dam in 1975, when construction stopped]]
In the 1970s, the state government planned to dam the Kickapoo River between La Farge and Ontario. As WIS 131 crossed the river eleven times between these towns, the state had to relocate the highway as well.<ref>{{Cite web|title=La Farge Dam Project|url=http://kvr.state.wi.us/About-Us/History/La-Farge-Dam-Project/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=kvr.state.wi.us}}</ref> The first section of WIS 131 to be moved, between Ontario and Rockton, was realigned away from the river onto a route built to the east between 1978 and 1981.<ref name="stark78">{{cite map |publisher=Rockford Map Publishers, Inc. |title=Stark |url=http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/385720/Stark+T13N+R2W/Vernon+County+1978/Wisconsin/ |format= |edition= |year=1978 |cartography= |scale= |series= |page= |section= |inset= |accessdate=2011-03-26 |isbn= |id= |ref= |archiveurl= }}</ref><ref name="stark81">{{cite map |publisher=Rockford Map Publishers, Inc. |title=Stark |url=http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/385782/Stark+T13N+R2W/Vernon+County+1981/Wisconsin/ |format= |edition= |year=1981 |cartography= |scale= |series= |page= |section= |inset= |accessdate=2011-03-26 |isbn= |id= |ref= |archiveurl= }}</ref> The original section of the highway was abandoned so the dam could flood the area. This section was later turned into a [[Trail|recreational trail]] in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.<ref name="WSJ1">{{cite news |first= |last= |author-link= |title=Wild Area Now Wisconsin's - Tribe to Share In Control of Kickapoo Land |work=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |publisher= |date=2000-12-30 }}</ref> The portion of WIS 131 between Rockton and Ontario was supposed to be moved east as well; the new highway would run north past Rockton to a realigned WIS 33, which it would follow into Ontario. The state built the first half-mile of this new route, but construction stopped on the new highway after the dam project was suspended after a cost-benefit analysis. The dam project ultimately failed, and the community did not resolve several land ownership issues until 2000. This pushed back any plans to resolve the relocation of WIS 131, and the road between Rockton and Ontario consequently received little to no maintenance during the intervening period.<ref name="Brook">{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Vanden Brook |author-link= |title=River road is paved with apprehensions - All agree Kickapoo Valley route needs fixing, but plans are too big to some |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |publisher= |date=1998-09-08 }}</ref> The state first planned to complete the proposed relocation of the highway, but residents and environmentalists opposed this plan, and it eventually fell through. The state then planned a $20 million project to rebuild the existing stretch of WIS 131 instead; plans for this project were finalized in January 2000.<ref name="WSJ2">{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Trevelen |author-link= |title=Highway 131 Project to Continue - Opponents Wanted Court to Stop It |work=Wisconsin State Journal |publisher= |date=2001-08-30 }}</ref> Environmentalists tried to stop this plan as well, and the Kickapoo Valley Stewardship Alliance sued WisDOT, claiming it had violated the [[Water Resources Development Act of 1996]] and the [[Transportation Act of 1966]].<ref name="WSJ2"/> The [[U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin]] struck down the lawsuit, and construction continued on the road. The improved section of WIS 131 was completed and dedicated in August 2003.<ref name=WTBA>{{cite journal|last=Marks |first=Jerry |title=STH-131: Mobility in Harmony With Economic Stewardship |journal=Wisconsin Transportation Builder |year=2004 |issue=Fall |pages=8–13 |url=http://www.wtba.org/wimadasn/doc.nsf/files/71E06BC4145B49DF87256FF100516ECD/$file/WTBA%20Fall%2004.pdf |accessdate=2011-03-18 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505210446/http://www.wtba.org/wimadasn/doc.nsf/files/71E06BC4145B49DF87256FF100516ECD/$file/WTBA%20Fall%2004.pdf |archivedate=May 5, 2006 }}</ref>
In the 1970s, the federal government planned to dam the Kickapoo River between La Farge and Ontario. As WIS&nbsp;131 crossed the river eleven times between these towns, the state had to relocate the highway to make way for the dam.<ref>{{Cite web |last = Anderson |first = Al |title = La Farge Dam Project |url = http://kvr.state.wi.us/About-Us/History/La-Farge-Dam-Project/ |access-date = November 29, 2020 |publisher = Kickapoo Valley Reserve }}</ref> The first section of WIS&nbsp;131 to be moved, between La Farge and Rockton, was realigned away from the river to the east in 1976.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Ellenbecker |first1 = John |title = Kickapoo Dam Project Gets Baldus' Support |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64764874/kickapoo-dam-project-gets-baldus/ |access-date = December 6, 2020 |work = The La Crosse Tribune |date = March 7, 1976 |page = 1 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite WisDOT map |year = 1978}}</ref> The original highway was abandoned at first, as the dam was expected to flood the surrounding area, but was later converted to a [[Trail|recreational trail]].<ref name="WSJ1">{{cite news |title = Wild Area Now Wisconsin's: Tribe to Share in Control of Kickapoo Land |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64764952/wild-are-now-wisconsins/ |page = B1 |work = [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |location = Madison |date = December 30, 2000 |access-date = December 6, 2020 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The state planned to relocate the portion of WIS&nbsp;131 between Rockton and Ontario as well; the proposed new highway would run along the east bank of the Kickapoo River to a realigned WIS&nbsp;33, which it would follow into Ontario.<ref>{{cite news |title = Notice of Public Hearing in the Matter of a Proposed Change in the State Trunk Highway System in Vernon County: Highways 131 and 33 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64860411/ |access-date = December 7, 2020 |work = The La Crosse Tribune |date = October 21, 1971 |page = 22 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The relocation plans were put on hold when work halted on the dam project, which was ultimately canceled in the 1990s; the federal government did not fully resolve the ownership of the underlying land until 2000.<ref name="WSJ1"/>

Despite continued talks of reconstructing WIS&nbsp;131 in the 1980s and 1990s, the ownership issues and local opposition delayed any plans to rebuild it. In the meantime, the section between Rockton and Ontario received little to no maintenance, leaving the road with a heightened accident rate and issues with flooding.<ref name="WTBA">{{cite journal |last = Marks |first = Jerry |title = STH-131: Mobility in Harmony With Economic Stewardship |journal = Wisconsin Transportation Builder |date = Fall 2004 |pages = 8–13 |url = http://www.wtba.org/wimadasn/doc.nsf/files/71E06BC4145B49DF87256FF100516ECD/$file/WTBA%20Fall%2004.pdf |access-date = March 18, 2011 |url-status = unfit |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060505210446/http://www.wtba.org/wimadasn/doc.nsf/files/71E06BC4145B49DF87256FF100516ECD/$file/WTBA%20Fall%2004.pdf |archive-date = May 5, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Brook">{{cite news |first = Tom |last = Vanden Brook |title = River Road Is Paved with Apprehensions: All Agree Kickapoo Valley Route Needs Fixing, but Plans Are Too Big to Some |work = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date = September 8, 1998 }}</ref> Due to the opposition to the original relocation proposal, the state instead planned a $20 million project to rebuild the existing stretch of WIS&nbsp;131; plans for this project were finalized in January 2000.<ref name="WSJ2">{{cite news |first = Ed |last = Trevelen |title = Highway 131 Project to Continue: Opponents Wanted Court to Stop It |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64765030/highway-131-project-to-continue/ |page = B3 |work = Wisconsin State Journal |location = Madison |date = August 30, 2001 |access-date = December 6, 2020 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The Kickapoo Valley Stewardship Alliance sued WisDOT to stop this plan as well, claiming it had violated the [[Water Resources Development Act of 1996]] and the [[Transportation Act of 1966]].<ref name="WSJ2"/> The [[U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin]] struck down the lawsuit, and construction continued on the road. The improved section of WIS&nbsp;131 was completed and dedicated in August 2003.<ref name="WTBA"/>


==Major intersections==
==Major intersections==
{{jcttop|state=WI|length_ref=<ref name="googlemaps">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=WI-131&daddr=Farris+St%2FWI-131+to:WI-131+to:Pine+St%2FWI-131+to:Soldiers+Grove+Rd%2FUS-61%2FWI-131+to:W+Kickapoo+St%2FUS-14%2FWI-131+to:S+Commercial+St%2FWI-131+to:W+Commercial+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-56+to:S+State+St%2FWI-131+to:W+Main+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-82+to:Garden+Bridge%2FWI-131+to:E+South+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-33+to:WI-131+to:WI-131%2FWI-71+to:WI-131+to:43.971847,-90.504835&hl=en&geocode=FfiqkQIdDKWV-g%3BFZzikgIdxJyV-g%3BFQT2lAId0NaV-g%3BFQ4dlgIdWgCX-g%3BFfrplgIdzv-W-g%3BFUbplgIdihuX-g%3BFVjblwIdim-Y-g%3BFdzZlwIdkIKY-g%3BFWLkmAId1v-Y-g%3BFYrkmAIdWOyY-g%3BFbolmwId5q2Z-g%3BFfgjmwIdiLaZ-g%3BFQKMnAIdIJaa-g%3BFf7VnAIdInqb-g%3BFTK8ngId5gGb-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=14&mrsp=15&sz=16&sll=43.972218,-90.50329&sspn=0.004139,0.008926&ie=UTF8&z=16 |title=Overview map of State Highway 131 Distances Between Interchanges |accessdate=2009-01-15}}</ref>}}
{{jcttop|state=WI|length_ref=<ref name="googlemaps">{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=WI-131&daddr=Farris+St%2FWI-131+to:WI-131+to:Pine+St%2FWI-131+to:Soldiers+Grove+Rd%2FUS-61%2FWI-131+to:W+Kickapoo+St%2FUS-14%2FWI-131+to:S+Commercial+St%2FWI-131+to:W+Commercial+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-56+to:S+State+St%2FWI-131+to:W+Main+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-82+to:Garden+Bridge%2FWI-131+to:E+South+St%2FWI-131%2FWI-33+to:WI-131+to:WI-131%2FWI-71+to:WI-131+to:43.971847,-90.504835&hl=en&geocode=FfiqkQIdDKWV-g%3BFZzikgIdxJyV-g%3BFQT2lAId0NaV-g%3BFQ4dlgIdWgCX-g%3BFfrplgIdzv-W-g%3BFUbplgIdihuX-g%3BFVjblwIdim-Y-g%3BFdzZlwIdkIKY-g%3BFWLkmAId1v-Y-g%3BFYrkmAIdWOyY-g%3BFbolmwId5q2Z-g%3BFfgjmwIdiLaZ-g%3BFQKMnAIdIJaa-g%3BFf7VnAIdInqb-g%3BFTK8ngId5gGb-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=14&mrsp=15&sz=16&sll=43.972218,-90.50329&sspn=0.004139,0.008926&ie=UTF8&z=16 |title = Overview Map of State Highway 131 Distances Between Interchanges |access-date = January 15, 2009 }}</ref>}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
|county=Crawford
|county=Crawford
Line 65: Line 76:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|61|dir1=south|city1=Boscobel}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|61|dir1=south|city1=Boscobel}}
|notes=South end of US 61 concurrency
|notes=Southern end of US 61 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 75: Line 86:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|14|US|61|dir1=west|dir2=north|city1=Viroqua|city2=La Crosse}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|14|US|61|dir1=west|dir2=north|city1=Viroqua|city2=La Crosse}}
|notes=North end of US 61 concurrency; west end of US 14 concurrency
|notes=Northern end of US 61 concurrency; western end of US 14 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 81: Line 92:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|14|dir1=east|city1=Richland Center|city2=Madison}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|14|dir1=east|city1=Richland Center|city2=Madison}}
|notes=East end of US 14 concurrency
|notes=Eastern end of US 14 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 89: Line 100:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|56|dir1=west|city1=Viroqua}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|56|dir1=west|city1=Viroqua}}
|notes=West end of WIS 56 concurrency
|notes=Western end of WIS 56 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 96: Line 107:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|56|dir1=east|city1=Richland Center}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|56|dir1=east|city1=Richland Center}}
|notes=East end of WIS 56 concurrency
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 56 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 106: Line 117:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|82|dir1=east|city1=Hillsboro}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|82|dir1=east|city1=Hillsboro}}
|notes=East end of WIS 82 concurrency
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 82 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 112: Line 123:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|82|dir1=west|city1=Viroqua}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|82|dir1=west|city1=Viroqua}}
|notes=West end of WIS 82 concurrency
|notes=Western end of WIS 82 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 120: Line 131:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=west|city1=Cashton}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=west|city1=Cashton}}
|notes=West end of WIS 33 concurrency
|notes=Western end of WIS 33 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 126: Line 137:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=east|city1=Hillsboro}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|33|dir1=east|city1=Hillsboro}}
|notes=East end of WIS 33 concurrency
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 33 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 136: Line 147:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|71|dir1=west|city1=Norwalk|city2=Sparta}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|71|dir1=west|city1=Norwalk|city2=Sparta}}
|notes=West end of WIS 71 concurrency
|notes=Western end of WIS 71 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 142: Line 153:
|type=concur
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|71|dir1=east|city1=Kendall|countydab1=Monroe|city2=Elroy}}
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|71|dir1=east|city1=Kendall|countydab1=Monroe|city2=Elroy}}
|notes=East end of WIS 71 concurrency
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 71 concurrency
}}
}}
{{WIint
{{WIint
Line 160: Line 171:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 167: Line 178:


* {{Osmrelation-inline|4041690|State Trunk Highway 131|link=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4041690}}
* {{Osmrelation-inline|4041690|State Trunk Highway 131|link=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4041690}}
* [http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys130-139.html#STH-131 WIS 131] at Wisconsin Highways
* [http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys130-139.html#STH-131 WIS 131] at Wisconsin Highways


[[Category:State highways in Wisconsin|131]]
[[Category:State highways in Wisconsin|131]]
[[Category:Transportation in Crawford County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Vernon County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Richland County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Monroe County, Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 08:37, 4 October 2023

State Trunk Highway 131 marker
State Trunk Highway 131
Map
WIS 131 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT
Length78.9 mi[1] (127.0 km)
Existed1924–present
Major junctions
South end WIS 60 in Wauzeka
Major intersections
North end US 12 / WIS 16 in Tomah
Standort
LandVereinigte Staaten
StateWisconsin
CountiesCrawford, Vernon, Richland, Monroe
Highway system
← WIS 130→ WIS 132

State Trunk Highway 131 (also called Highway 131, STH-131 or WIS 131) is a 78.9-mile (127.0 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The highway is located in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, passing through Crawford, Vernon, Richland, and Monroe counties. It runs from WIS 60 near Wauzeka north to US Highway 12 (US 12) and WIS 16 in Tomah. WIS 131 is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

WIS 131 was designated by 1924 on a road between Ferryville and Gays Mills. It was realigned and extended several times in the next twenty-five years, and by 1948 it connected Wauzeka and Tomah roughly along its present route. The highway was rerouted in northern Vernon County in the 1970s in expectation of a new dam on the Kickapoo River; however, part of the rerouting between Rockton and Ontario was put on hold when the dam project stalled in 1975. WisDOT consequently performed very little maintenance on this section of WIS 131 for the next two decades, and it fell into disrepair. The state ultimately rebuilt the highway in the early 2000s, and the refurbished highway opened in 2003.

Route description

[edit]
The signed junction of WIS 131 and WIS 171 in Gays Mills, with houses and trees in the background
WIS 131 at its junction with WIS 171 in Gays Mills

Wauzeka to Viola

[edit]

WIS 131 runs through hilly, rural terrain characteristic of the Driftless Area and Western Upland for its entire length. The route generally passes through farmland or wooded areas, though it also enters several small towns. WIS 131 begins in Crawford County at a three-way intersection with WIS 60 northeast of Wauzeka and north of the Wisconsin River. The highway heads northward from the intersection toward Steuben. WIS 131 begins to follow the Kickapoo River here and it runs within the river's valley until Wilton. The highway enters Steuben from the southeast and heads east as Farris Street toward another 3-way intersection with WIS 179. WIS 131 heads north from this intersection as Midway Street for about a block before turning east and leaving Steuben as Railroad Street.[2]

WIS 131 turns north again outside of Steuben and passes through Barnum, Petersburg and Bell Center before intersecting WIS 171 in Gays Mills. North of Gays Mills, the highway heads north-northeast toward Soldiers Grove. The route enters Soldiers Grove as Church Street before turning east onto Pine Street and intersecting US 61. WIS 131 becomes concurrent with US 61 and heads north into Vernon County toward Readstown.[2] WIS 131 and US 61 enter Readstown as Soldiers Grove Road and meet US 14 at a three-way intersection, where WIS 131 leaves US 61 and follows US 14 east across the Kickapoo River. The highway's concurrencies with US 61 and US 14 are the only parts of the highway which are part of the National Highway System.[3] After 0.4 miles (0.64 km), WIS 131 turns north and leaves Readstown as 4th Street. Outside of Readstown, WIS 131 cuts east and passes through the community of Kickapoo Center before turning back north toward Viola.[4] The highway enters Viola from the southwest as Commercial Street, passes Kickapoo High School[5] and briefly becomes concurrent with WIS 56. WIS 131 enters northwest Richland County while in Viola and it remains in the county for a short distance northward.[6]

La Farge to Tomah

[edit]
Wisconsin Highway 131 south of Tomah, looking north
W-131 and I-90

After it returns to Vernon County, WIS 131 heads north toward La Farge. It enters La Farge from the south as State Street and follows WIS 82 west for four blocks before turning north and leaving the village as Mill Street. The highway enters the Kickapoo Valley Reserve north of La Farge; it continues through the Reserve until its northern border south of Ontario.[7] WIS 131 passes through unincorporated Rockton and briefly enters the southwest corner of Wildcat Mountain State Park before reaching the village of Ontario.[8] The road crosses the Kickapoo River seven times in the 7.3 miles (11.7 km) between Rockton and Ontario.[4][9] In Ontario, WIS 131 meets WIS 33 and briefly follows it east before turning north and entering Monroe County. The highway heads north into Wilton, where it becomes concurrent with WIS 71. WIS 131 follows WIS 71 northeast out of Wilton as Walker Street, and the two highways are concurrent for 3.4 miles (5.5 km). The two highways parallel the Elroy-Sparta State Trail for most of their concurrency, and the trail crosses over the roads before they separate at a 3-way intersection northeast of Wilton.[10] WIS 131 heads due north from this intersection toward Tomah. The highway intersects with Interstate 90 (I-90) in south Tomah and enters the city as Superior Avenue. This section of WIS 131 is the busiest of its entire route; according to WisDOT, this portion had an average daily traffic of 6800 vehicles in 2017.[11] WIS 131 terminates at a four-way intersection with US 12 and WIS 16 in southern Tomah; traffic continues straight as US 12.[10]

History

[edit]

WIS 131 was first designated by 1924 on a route from WIS 35 near Ferryville to WIS 11 in Gays Mills.[12][13] When WIS 11 moved to a new route that bypassed Gays Mills in 1925, WIS 131 took on its route from there north to Soldiers Grove.[14] The Wisconsin Highway Commission extended WIS 131 northward to La Farge in 1939 along a county highway that had been transferred to the state.[15][16] In 1947, the Highway Commission switched the designations of WIS 131 and WIS 171 south and west of Gays Mills; WIS 131 took over the route between Gays Mills and Wauzeka, and its original route between Ferryville and Gays Mills became WIS 171.[17][18] WIS 131 was extended from La Farge to its current terminus in Tomah in 1948.[18][19]

An aerial view of the incomplete Kickapoo River Dam, with the river in the center
The incomplete Kickapoo River Dam in 1975, when construction stopped

In the 1970s, the federal government planned to dam the Kickapoo River between La Farge and Ontario. As WIS 131 crossed the river eleven times between these towns, the state had to relocate the highway to make way for the dam.[20] The first section of WIS 131 to be moved, between La Farge and Rockton, was realigned away from the river to the east in 1976.[21][22][23] The original highway was abandoned at first, as the dam was expected to flood the surrounding area, but was later converted to a recreational trail.[24] The state planned to relocate the portion of WIS 131 between Rockton and Ontario as well; the proposed new highway would run along the east bank of the Kickapoo River to a realigned WIS 33, which it would follow into Ontario.[25] The relocation plans were put on hold when work halted on the dam project, which was ultimately canceled in the 1990s; the federal government did not fully resolve the ownership of the underlying land until 2000.[24]

Despite continued talks of reconstructing WIS 131 in the 1980s and 1990s, the ownership issues and local opposition delayed any plans to rebuild it. In the meantime, the section between Rockton and Ontario received little to no maintenance, leaving the road with a heightened accident rate and issues with flooding.[26][27] Due to the opposition to the original relocation proposal, the state instead planned a $20 million project to rebuild the existing stretch of WIS 131; plans for this project were finalized in January 2000.[28] The Kickapoo Valley Stewardship Alliance sued WisDOT to stop this plan as well, claiming it had violated the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and the Transportation Act of 1966.[28] The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin struck down the lawsuit, and construction continued on the road. The improved section of WIS 131 was completed and dedicated in August 2003.[26]

Major intersections

[edit]
CountyStandortmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
CrawfordWauzeka0.00.0 WIS 60 - Wauzeka, Prairie du Chien, Sauk City
Steuben7.111.4
 WIS 179 west – Eastman
Gays Mills19.331.1 WIS 171 - Mount Sterling, Boaz
Soldiers Grove27.043.5
 US 61 south – Boscobel		Southern end of US 61 concurrency
VernonReadstown31.150.1

 US 14 west / US 61 north – Viroqua, La Crosse		Northern end of US 61 concurrency; western end of US 14 concurrency
31.550.7
 US 14 east – Richland Center, Madison		Eastern end of US 14 concurrency
Viola38.962.6
 WIS 56 west – Viroqua		Western end of WIS 56 concurrency
Richland39.263.1
 WIS 56 east – Richland Center		Eastern end of WIS 56 concurrency
VernonLa Farge45.272.7
 WIS 82 east – Hillsboro		Eastern end of WIS 82 concurrency
45.473.1
 WIS 82 west – Viroqua		Western end of WIS 82 concurrency
Ontario58.193.5
 WIS 33 west – Cashton		Western end of WIS 33 concurrency
58.293.7
 WIS 33 east – Hillsboro		Eastern end of WIS 33 concurrency
MonroeWilton66.0106.2
 WIS 71 west – Norwalk, Sparta		Western end of WIS 71 concurrency
69.4111.7
 WIS 71 east – Kendall, Elroy		Eastern end of WIS 71 concurrency
Tomah78.3126.0 I-90 - La Crosse, Madison
78.9127.0 US 12 / WIS 16 - Sparta, Black River Falls, Oakdale
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Overview Map of State Highway 131 Distances Between Interchanges" (Map). Google Maps. Google. January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2020). Crawford Co. (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Federal Highway Administration (September 30, 2020). National Highway System: Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2020). Vernon Co. (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kickapoo High". Best High Schools. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2020). Richland Co. (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  7. ^ Kickapoo Valley Reserve (n.d.). Kickapoo Valley Reserve Trail & Campsite Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (n.d.). Wildcat Mountain State Park (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Overview Map of State Highway 131 Between Rockton and Ontario" (Map). Google Maps. Google. January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Wisconsin Department of Transportation (January 2020). Monroe Co. (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  11. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (December 5, 2020). TCMap (Traffic Count Map) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Rand McNally & Company (1923). "District No. 8, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Northeast Iowa, Northern Michigan" (Map). Rand McNally Official 1923 Auto Trails Map. [c. 1:657,000]. Chicago: Rand McNally & Company. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  13. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1924). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin: 'The Playground of the Middle West' (PDF) (Map). c. 1:950,400. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. OCLC 560719947. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  14. ^ Wisconsin Highway Commission (1925). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin: 'The Playground of the Middle West' (Map). 1:950,400. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. OCLC 829937616 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  15. ^ State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (1939). Official Highway Service Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:538,560. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  16. ^ State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (1940). Official Highway Service Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  17. ^ State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (January 1947). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  18. ^ a b State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (January 1948). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. OCLC 232303069. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  19. ^ State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (January 1949). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  20. ^ Anderson, Al. "La Farge Dam Project". Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  21. ^ Ellenbecker, John (March 7, 1976). "Kickapoo Dam Project Gets Baldus' Support". The La Crosse Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Highways (1976). Wisconsin Highway Map (Map). 1:823,680. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. OCLC 62715542, 846996281. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection.
  23. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Highways (1978). Wisconsin Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1978–1979 ed.). 1:823,680. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. OCLC 174123957. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Wild Area Now Wisconsin's: Tribe to Share in Control of Kickapoo Land". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison. December 30, 2000. p. B1. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Notice of Public Hearing in the Matter of a Proposed Change in the State Trunk Highway System in Vernon County: Highways 131 and 33". The La Crosse Tribune. October 21, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved December 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Marks, Jerry (Fall 2004). "STH-131: Mobility in Harmony With Economic Stewardship" (PDF). Wisconsin Transportation Builder: 8–13. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ Vanden Brook, Tom (September 8, 1998). "River Road Is Paved with Apprehensions: All Agree Kickapoo Valley Route Needs Fixing, but Plans Are Too Big to Some". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  28. ^ a b Trevelen, Ed (August 30, 2001). "Highway 131 Project to Continue: Opponents Wanted Court to Stop It". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison. p. B3. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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