U.S. Route 53, or U.S. Highway 53 (U.S. 53), is a north–south
U.S. highway that runs for 404 miles (650 km) from
La Crosse, Wisconsin to
International Falls, Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between
I-94 at
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire (; ) (French for "clear water") is a city mostly located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat, and with a small portion in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. It had a population of 69,421 in 2020, making it the stat ...
and the
Twin Ports
The Duluth MN-WI Metropolitan Area, commonly called the Twin Ports, is a small metropolitan area centered around the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The Twin Ports are located at the western part of Lake Superior (the weste ...
of
Superior, Wisconsin, and
Duluth, Minnesota
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
. The entire route from Eau Claire to the city limits of Superior is a four lane
divided highway
A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
. The highway's northern terminus is at the
Fort Frances-International Falls Bridge in
International Falls, Minnesota, at the
Canada–US border. Its southern terminus is in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at
U.S. Highway 14.
Route description
Wisconsin
U.S. Highway 53 begins at its southern terminus with a
junction
Junction may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film
* Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film
* Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille
* Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002
* Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...
at
U.S. 14,
U.S. 61, and
Wisconsin Highway 16
State Trunk Highway 16 (often called Highway 16, STH-16 or WIS 16) is a Wisconsin state highway running from Pewaukee across the state to La Crosse. Much of its route in the state parallels the former mainline of the Milwaukee Road and cur ...
in downtown
La Crosse. From there, U.S. 53 crosses
Interstate 90 and becomes a freeway bypass of
Onalaska and
Holmen before proceeding north to Eau Claire as a two-lane roadway. The interchange with
Interstate 94 at Eau Claire begins a
freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
/
expressway stretch for U.S. 53 north to the city limits of
Superior. The freeway in Eau Claire bypasses most of the city, alleviating congestion on the original route (signed now as both Business U.S. 53 and Hastings Way). Business U.S. 53 / Hastings Way is a mix of grade-separated interchanges and at-grade intersections, and is routed through Eau Claire, passing within about of downtown Eau Claire. Other smaller towns between Eau Claire and Superior (
Minong and
Solon Springs) were bypassed in a similar manner.
Wisconsin's first
single-point urban interchange
A single-point urban interchange (SPUI, or ), also called a single-point interchange (SPI) or single-point diamond interchange (SPDI), is a type of highway interchange. The design was created in order to help move large volumes of traffic thr ...
is found along the U.S. 53 bypass of Eau Claire, at its interchange with
U.S. 12 in
Altoona.
[Chris Bessert]
Wisconsin Highways - Highway 53
2006, URL accessed 2006 December 31 This interchange received the 2005 Outstanding Highway Construction award from the Bureau of Project Development.
U.S. 53 continues as a freeway north of Eau Claire past
Chippewa Falls to
Rice Lake, where it then becomes an expressway with only three grade-separated interchanges (one at 28th Avenue (CTH-V) in
Haugen, one at
Wisconsin Highway 70
State Trunk Highway 70 (often called Highway 70, STH-70 or WIS 70) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs east–west in northern Wisconsin from a shared terminus with WIS 101 at US Highway 2 (US 2) and U ...
near
Spooner and one at
Wisconsin Highway 13
State Trunk Highway 13 (often called Highway 13, STH-13 or WIS 13) is a state highway running north–south across northwest and central Wisconsin. WIS 13 serves as a major north–south route connecting the communities of Wisconsin Del ...
, immediately southeast of Superior). U.S. 53 has a partial grade-separated interchange with
U.S. 2 in the
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
of
Amnicon, but traffic turning from U.S. 2 westbound onto U.S. 53 southbound must take a U-turn at an at-grade crossover past the interchange.
After passing through the city of Superior as a four-lane city surface street (East Second Street) for a stretch, U.S. 53 then approaches the
Saint Louis Bay. U.S. 53 then runs together with
Interstate 535
Interstate 535 (I-535) is a auxiliary Interstate Highway spur route of I-35 in the US states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is paired with U.S. Highway 53 (US 53) along its entire route. The Interstate was part of the original 1956 Inte ...
and crosses the bay via the John Blatnik Bridge into Minnesota.
In 1989, the entirety of US 53 in Wisconsin was designated the ''Peace Memorial Highway'', commemorating citizens of Wisconsin who have worked to promote international peace.
Minnesota
US 53 enters the state at the city of
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
on the
John Blatnik Bridge over the Saint Louis Bay. US 53
runs concurrently with
I-535 for as it enters Minnesota. I-535/US 53 has an
interchange with
I-35 in
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
, known locally as the "
Can of Worms
Can of worms is an idiom referring to a slew of subsequent problems and dilemmas arising from a decision or action. The phrase may also refer to:
Transportation
* Can of Worms (interchange) in Rochester, New York
* Can of Worms (Minnesota interc ...
"; it features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.
After its
junction
Junction may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film
* Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film
* Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille
* Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002
* Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...
with I-35, US 53 continues through Duluth on Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road for .
US 53 then runs concurrently with
State Highway 194 (MN 194) for , from Trinity Road in Duluth to Lindahl Road in the city of
Hermantown. This four-lane stretch of US 53 and MN 194 are also known as the
Miller Trunk Highway in the cities of Duluth and Hermantown.
From Hermantown, the route proceeds north to the city of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. The portion of the route from Duluth to Virginia is a four-lane expressway. US 53 has a junction with
MN 33 at the unincorporated community of
Independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
. Continuing northbound, US 53 has an interchange with
US 169 in Virginia. In between the US 169 and MN 135 interchanges is the
Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge. This bridge is the tallest in the state and spans 4 lanes of freeway. Immediately north of Virginia, US 53 has an interchange with
MN 169 in
Wuori Township.
US 53 then proceeds northwest to
International Falls
International Falls (sometimes referred to as I-Falls) is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota. The population was 5,802 at the time of the 2020 census.
International Falls is located on the Rainy River directly acro ...
, where it has a junction with
US 71 and
MN 11.
US 53 in Minnesota passes through
Saint Louis and
Koochiching counties. Legally, the Minnesota section of US 53 is defined as unmarked
legislative routes 106, 11, and 315 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.115(37), (246), and 161.114(2). US 53 is not marked with these legislative numbers along the actual highway.
Designations
*A portion of US 53 in Minnesota is officially designated the ''Voyageur Highway''. The ''Voyageur Highway'' is a state designation that is also applied to various other state highways in Minnesota.
*The portion of US 53 from the city limits of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
to
MN 11 in
International Falls
International Falls (sometimes referred to as I-Falls) is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota. The population was 5,802 at the time of the 2020 census.
International Falls is located on the Rainy River directly acro ...
was designated as ''Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway'' in 2009 in honor of former State House Speaker
Irv Anderson
Irvin Neil Anderson (June 18, 1923 – November 17, 2008) was a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1965 to 1983, and again from 1991 to 2007.
From International Falls, Anderson entered politics at app ...
.
*The 2008 Minnesota Legislature named US 53 between Superior Street and Central Entrance in the city of
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
as ''Walter F. Mondale Drive''. On June 12, 2008, this section of highway (Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road) was dedicated as Walter F. Mondale Drive in honor of the
former vice president's public service.
History
U.S. Highway 53 was extended into Minnesota in 1934. When marked, it was paved from the Wisconsin border to its junction with U.S. 169 in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, on a short segment between
Britt and
Idington, and from
Cusson to the Canadian border.
The segment from Virginia to Britt was paved during that year,
and the remainder was paved in 1935.
A bypass around Virginia was completed in 1964 and opened to traffic that November;
State Highway 135 was extended along the previous alignment through the city.
The
expressway section between
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
and Virginia was constructed by 1970, except the portion between
Four Corners and
Independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
.
A new four-lane
divided highway
A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
section of U.S. 53 in Duluth was constructed in 2004. This section of the route is known locally as ''Piedmont Avenue''. Previously, from 1934 to 2004, this same section of U.S. 53 was a narrow two-lane roadway that had proceeded up the hill to a seven-legged
intersection that had included Duluth's ''Skyline Parkway''. Locally, this now-defunct famous intersection, had been known for 70 years by the name "Seven Corners".
A new U.S. Highway 53
interchange with
State Highway 169 in
Wuori Township was built in 2006.
A four-lane expressway from north of the city of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
to the south city limits of
Cook
Cook or The Cook may refer to:
Food preparation
* Cooking, the preparation of food
* Cook (domestic worker), a household staff member who prepares food
* Cook (professional), an individual who prepares food for consumption in the food industry
* ...
was constructed beginning in 2009 as part of a long-range goal of providing a four-lane highway to Canada as part of the Falls-to-Falls Corridor. The first stage, from approximately County Road 307 to 0.25 miles south of County Road 652 (Goodell Road), was completed in 2009;
the second stage was completed in the fall of 2013.
Relocation between Eveleth and Virginia
On May 5, 2010,
Cliffs Natural Resources
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., formerly Cliffs Natural Resources, is a Cleveland, Ohio-based company that specializes in the mining, beneficiation, and pelletizing of iron ore, as well as steelmaking, including stamping and tooling. It is the largest ...
provided notice to the
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) that U.S. Highway 53 easement rights across the United Taconite Mine, per a 1960 agreement, would be terminated to allow for expansion of the mine. United Taconite and MnDOT negotiated an agreement to move the roadway by 2017.
There were three rerouting options proposed:
* West – Following
State Highway 37 and
Saint Louis County Road 7.
* Center – Through the Auburn Pit; on the south side of the existing route of Highway 53.
* East – Around and across the
Rouchleau Pit; on the north side of the existing route of Highway 53.
The East route was selected for the project and construction began in November 2015,
with the realignment reaching completion in 2017. On September 15, the new roadway was opened, with a dedication of the bridge spanning the Rouchleau Pit. The bridge is the tallest in the state at in height.
Falls-to-Falls Corridor
The Falls-to-Falls Corridor (officially The Falls-to-Falls Corridor—United States Route 53 from International Falls on the Minnesota/Canada border to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) is, by the United States federal government, a recognized trade corridor.
In the 1990s, the federal government listed the corridor as a priority for development. The primary development planned is infrastructure-related, specifically, a highway project hoped to spur economic development in northwestern
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
and northeastern
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
by upgrading U.S. Highway 53 to full
expressway standards from
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 14,778 in the 2021 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa Cou ...
to
International Falls, Minnesota.
Interstate Highway 535 forms the only section of the route that is part of the
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. T ...
.
Wisconsin
With the exception of a stretch as a four-lane city surface street (East Second Street) in the city of
Superior, the entire route within Wisconsin is completed to
freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
or expressway standards. On the south end of the corridor, the connection to
Interstate Highway 94 is a stretch through the
Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls conurbation. After years of legal and political wrangling, the decision was made in the late 1990s to bypass the current route, rather than to upgrade the present highway to freeway standards. The northern half of this bypass, as far south as
WIS 312 was opened to traffic in mid-2005. The southern half of the bypass, which includes a pair of multilane bridges over the
Eau Claire River, goes mostly through
Altoona and includes interchanges with
WIS 312,
U.S. Highway 12 and
WIS 93. This project won multiple awards in 2005 and 2006.
[ This section of the bypass was opened mid-morning on August 21, 2006.
]
Minnesota
Federal funding for the project in northern Minnesota was $940,000 in 2003 and nearly $600,000 in 2004. At present, with the exception of stretch within the city of Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
(Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road), the route is completed as an expressway as far north as the city of Cook
Cook or The Cook may refer to:
Food preparation
* Cooking, the preparation of food
* Cook (domestic worker), a household staff member who prepares food
* Cook (professional), an individual who prepares food for consumption in the food industry
* ...
, leaving approximately of the route to International Falls
International Falls (sometimes referred to as I-Falls) is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota. The population was 5,802 at the time of the 2020 census.
International Falls is located on the Rainy River directly acro ...
to be upgraded to expressway standards.
Major intersections
See also
* List of U.S. Routes
References
External links
Endpoints of U.S. Highway 53
Steve Riner's Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page
{{US Highways
53
53
53
Transportation in La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Barron County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Washburn County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Douglas County, Wisconsin
Transportation in St. Louis County, Minnesota
Transportation in Koochiching County, Minnesota