|
Approx. time period
|
North Terminus
|
South Terminus
|
|
1926-1938
|
Fond du Lac, WI
|
Madison, WI
|
|
1938-1940
|
Fond du Lac, WI
|
Cedar Rapids, IA (1st St SW)
|
|
1940-1981
|
Manitowoc, WI
|
Cedar Rapids, IA (16th Av)
|
| 1981-1985 |
Manitowoc, WI |
Cedar Rapids, IA (bypass) |
|
1985-present
|
Manitowoc, WI
|
(near Amana Colonies, IA)
|
(about 55 k)
Note: since I don't have access to a comprehensive collection
of historical road atlases, much of the info below is based on the research
of Robert Droz and
Jon Enslin.
More research and photos: Jason
Hancock; Jeff
Morrison; me
US 151 was an original 1926 highway, but it ran only between
Madison and Fond du Lac WI at the time. The photo below is in Madison, looking
northeast on Washington Avenue (northbound US 151):
me, Oct. 2006
Today US 151 continues straight ahead, while US 51 uses the
cross street (Stoughton Road). There was a similar assembly on the right-hand
side of the road, indicating that southbound US 51 is to the right. But I
chose to focus on this one, because it resembles the signage that would've
been posted at this intersection back when US 151 began here. You see, originally
US 51 came up Washington to this point, and then north (left) on Stoughton.
Straight ahead on Washington was the south beginning of US 151 until 1938.
(You can view more US highway photos from Madison on this
page.)
The photo below is looking north on Main Street in Fond du Lac,
which used to be US 41:
me, Aug. 2005
The original north beginning of US 151 was to the left on Western
Avenue. Below is the current signage at the former north end of US 151:
me, Aug. 2005
That's looking east on Western. Sometime before 1947, US 151
was extended to the left, heading northeast out of Fond du Lac to serve Manitowoc
(you can view photos from there on my main
US 151 page).
In 1938, the other end of US 151 was extended southwest to Cedar
Rapids IA. Initially the route ended on 1st Avenue West at 1st Street Southwest.
But US 30 was soon rerouted, so US 151 then ended at the intersection of Williams
Boulevard (Business US 151 today) and 16th Avenue SW (US 30/US 218). Jason
writes:
"This photo shows the intersection where US 151 ended before 1981,
looking southwestward along Williams Boulevard toward 16th Avenue SW."
Hancock, 2001
"After the US 30 bypass opened in 1981, US 151 was extended southwestward
to the interchange with the new US 30. This photo (below) looks southwestward
toward US 30/US 218. Today this interchange marks the end of Business US
151, which replaced mainline US 151 through Cedar Rapids and Marion upon
its 1989 rerouting via Bertram."
Hancock, 2001
More photos from that junction can be viewed on Jeff
Morrison's page, here. In 1985, US 151 was extended further southwest
out of Cedar Rapids: along former IA hwy. 149, past the Amana Colonies, to
its current endpoint at interchange 225 on I-80 (you can view photos from
there on my main
US 151 page).