Great Lakes Road Trip Day 9; back to civilization on freeways and expressways

The character of my trip changed a ton on day 9. For the most part I was traveling on two lane highways in some rural parts of the Great Lakes but that changed on the journey to southbound to Chicago. I started out by US 53 to reach I-535 off of Miller Hill. US 53 is a partial freeway approaching I-535 and has a weird traffic light/left entrance interchange with I-35/I-535.

I-535 is only about 2.8 miles long from I-35 in Duluth across the St. Louis River to Superior. The Interstate is completely multiplexed with US 53 through the duration of the alignment. I-535 uses the Blatnik Bridge which was opened in 1961 which replaced a prior swing bridge which carried car and rail traffic. I-535 was part of the 1957 Interstate system but wasn't officially designated until 1971 when the ramps with I-35 were completed. I-535 ends at the interchange with WI 35/US 2, I stayed on US 53.

I took US 53 all the way south to I-94 in Eau Claire through the center of Wisconsin. Aside from Superior US 53 south to Eau Claire is a divided expressway or freeway the entire way.

I-94 wasn't so bad with traffic before the merge with I-90, but talk about a whole lot of country with nothing to see.

I did stop at Mill Bluff State Park to check out some of the sandstone formations lapping I-90/94. I also managed to get some decent photos of the Interstate below.

I stayed on I-90/94 to Milwaukee and split off on I-894 briefly. I noticed a large utility project alongside I-90/94 that had a large plank road used by the trucks which was about the only thing that was worth seeing. Traffic was heavy but it is to be expected on one of the biggest trucking and transportation corridor in the country.

I pulled off I-90/94 upon entering Illinois to stay at a hotel near Naval Station Great Lakes near US 41. I stopped in to see some old digs but there wasn't much to write home about for the rest of the day, really I was just putting myself in position for downtown Chicago on Saturday.

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties. From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort. Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through. The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70. Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains. When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate. The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking. At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap. NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south. This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40. The Centra...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog