Wisconsin Highway 73

{{short description|Highway in Wisconsin}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox road |state = WI |type = WI |route = 73 |map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=260|type=line|stroke-width=3|from.map}} |map_custom = yes |map_notes = WIS 73 highlighted in red |length_mi = 265.78 |length_ref = <ref name="STHL"/> |direction_a = South |terminus_a = {{Jct|state=WI|I|39|I|90|US|51}} near [[Edgerton, Wisconsin|Edgerton]] |junction = * {{Jct|state=WI|US|12|US|18}} near [[Deerfield, Wisconsin|Deerfield]] * {{Jct|state=WI|I|94}} in Deerfield * {{Jct|state=WI|WI|19}} in [[Marshall, Dane County, Wisconsin|Marshall]] * {{Jct|state=WI|US|151}} near [[Columbus, Wisconsin|Columbus]] * {{Jct|state=WI|I|39|US|51}} near [[Plainfield, Wisconsin|Plainfield]] * {{Jct|state=WI|WI|80}} in [[Pittsville, Wisconsin|Pittsville]] * {{Jct|state=WI|WI|95}} near [[Neillsville, Wisconsin|Neillsville]] * {{Jct|state=WI|US|10}} in Neillsville * {{Jct|state=WI|WI|29|CTH|T}} near [[Withee, Wisconsin|Withee]] * {{Jct|state=WI|WI|64}} near [[Gilman, Taylor County, Wisconsin|Gilman]] |direction_b = North |terminus_b = {{Jct|state=WI|US|8}} near [[Ingram, Wisconsin|Ingram]] |counties = [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane]], [[Columbia County, Wisconsin|Columbia]], [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge]], [[Green Lake County, Wisconsin|Green Lake]], [[Marquette County, Wisconsin|Marquette]], [[Waushara County, Wisconsin|Waushara]], [[Adams County, Wisconsin|Adams]], [[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage]], [[Wood County, Wisconsin|Wood]], [[Clark County, Wisconsin|Clark]], [[Taylor County, Wisconsin|Taylor]], [[Rusk County, Wisconsin|Rusk]] |previous_type = WI |previous_route = 72 |next_type = WI |next_route = 74 }}

'''State Trunk Highway 73''' (often called '''Highway 73''', '''STH-73''' or '''WIS 73''') is a {{convert|265.84|mi|km|adj=on}} [[List of state trunk highways in Wisconsin|state highway]] in the central part of the US state of [[Wisconsin]] that runs mostly north–south from [[Ingram, Wisconsin|Ingram]] to near [[Edgerton, Wisconsin|Edgerton]]. The exception is in [[Wood County, Wisconsin|Wood]] and [[Adams County, Wisconsin|Adams]] counties, where this highway runs east–west. It is one of the longer Wisconsin state highways.

==Route description== [[File:Wrong-way concurrency WI-44 and WI-73.jpg|thumb|left|A [[wrong-way concurrency]] of WIS 44/WIS 73, just west of Manchester; actual direction of travel is east.]] WIS 73 starts in [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County]] at an interchange with [[Interstate 39]] (I-39), [[Interstate 90 in Wisconsin|I-90]] and [[U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin|US Highway 51]] (US 51) north of the city of [[Edgerton, Wisconsin|Edgerton]]. Also near this junction, [[Wisconsin Highway 106|WIS 106]] meets WIS 73 east of [[Albion, Dane County, Wisconsin|Albion]]. WIS 73 heads north {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} where it meets [[U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin|US 12]] and [[U.S. Route 18 in Wisconsin|US 18]]. WIS 73 continues north and heads {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} to [[Deerfield, Wisconsin|Deerfield]]. About {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Deerfield, it meets [[Interstate 94 in Wisconsin|I-94]] at exit 250, and continues north another {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} to [[Marshall, Dane County, Wisconsin|Marshall]] where it briefly [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with [[Wisconsin Highway 19|WIS 19]].

It continues north about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the city of [[Columbus, Wisconsin|Columbus]]. Just before it goes under an overpass for [[U.S. Route 151|US 151]], it crosses into [[Columbia County, Wisconsin|Columbia County]]. WIS 73 crosses US 151, [[Wisconsin Highway 89|WIS 89]], [[Wisconsin Highway 16|WIS 16]], [[Wisconsin Highway 60|WIS 60]] and US 151 again, in that order, as it travels northeast through Columbus on Park Avenue and Ludington Street. It also crosses into [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]] just after WIS 16/WIS 60.

WIS 73 then continues north for {{convert|13|mi|km}} to [[Randolph, Wisconsin|Randolph]]. Just north of town, it crosses [[Wisconsin Highway 33|WIS 33]]. WIS 73 will continue to go back and forth between both sides of Columbia–Dodge county line until it crosses into [[Green Lake County, Wisconsin|Green Lake County]] at County Trunk Highway AW (CTH-AW), {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} north of WIS 33. WIS 73 continues to head north for {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} to a junction with [[Wisconsin Highway 44|WIS 44]]. The two routes head west, forming a [[wrong-way concurrency]] through the unincorporated town of [[Manchester (community), Green Lake County, Wisconsin|Manchester]] for {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} before WIS 44 splits off to head to [[Kingston, Wisconsin|Kingston]].

WIS 73 heads north another {{convert|10|mi|km}} to a junction with [[Wisconsin Highway 23|WIS 23]], {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} east of [[Princeton, Wisconsin|Princeton]]. WIS 23/WIS 73 overlaps to Princeton using Fulton Street and Main Street before WIS 23 splits southwest to [[Montello, Wisconsin|Montello]]. WIS 73 then heads north-northwest, crossing into [[Marquette County, Wisconsin|Marquette County]] at Eagle Road, to [[Neshkoro, Wisconsin|Neshkoro]]. WIS 73 will then cross into [[Waushara County, Wisconsin|Waushara County]] just north of CTH-E, north of Neshkoro. WIS 73 continues north-northwest {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} to [[Wautoma, Wisconsin|Wautoma]], where it meets [[Wisconsin Highway 21|WIS 21]]. WIS 21/WIS 73 runs concurrently through downtown before WIS 21 splits off to head to [[Necedah, Wisconsin|Necedah]].

[[File:Jump River below wayside.jpg|thumb|Looking downstream from the wayside where the highway crosses the [[Jump River]]]] WIS 73 heads northwest for about {{convert|15|mi|km}} to [[Plainfield, Wisconsin|Plainfield]] where WIS 73 crosses I-39 (exit 136) and US 51 west of town. It continues heading west, crossing into [[Adams County, Wisconsin|Adams County]] at CTH-D. WIS 73 straddles the Adams-[[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage]] county line for about {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}}. It then enters [[Wood County, Wisconsin|Wood County]] before WIS 73 continues west-northwest to [[Wisconsin Highway 13|WIS 13]], where it briefly runs concurrently with WIS 13. WIS 73 continues west for {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} to the [[Wisconsin River]] where it enters the city of [[Nekoosa, Wisconsin|Nekoosa]]. In Nekoosa, WIS 73 has a junction with [[Wisconsin Highway 173|WIS 173]]. WIS 73 follows roughly along the west bank of the Wisconsin River into [[Port Edwards, Wisconsin|Port Edwards]], where it meets with [[Wisconsin Highway 54|WIS 54]]. WIS 54 is cosigned with WIS 73 along the west bank of the Wisconsin River as they enter [[Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin|Wisconsin Rapids]]'s southwest side.

At Riverview Expressway, they meet with WIS 13. WIS 54 heads to [[Plover, Wisconsin|Plover]] while WIS 73 and WIS 13 are cosigned briefly before they split at [[Wisconsin Highway 34|WIS 34]] (4th Avenue) and Grand Avenue. WIS 73 heads west-northwest out of town. It crosses [[Wisconsin Highway 186|WIS 186]]. WIS 73 meets [[Wisconsin Highway 80|WIS 80]] in [[Pittsville, Wisconsin|Pittsville]] where WIS 73/WIS 80 overlap for about {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} before WIS 80 heads north to [[Marshfield, Wisconsin|Marshfield]].

WIS 73 heads west {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} to where it crosses into [[Clark County, Wisconsin|Clark County]]. It continues west about {{convert|17|mi|km|}} to [[Wisconsin Highway 95|WIS 95]] before it turns north and enters [[Neillsville, Wisconsin|Neillsville]] where it has a one-block overlap with [[U.S. Route 10 in Wisconsin|US 10]] before heading north out of town. WIS 73 heads north to [[Greenwood, Wisconsin|Greenwood]] and [[Withee, Wisconsin|Withee]]. Just before Withee, WIS 73 meets with the [[Wisconsin Highway 29|WIS 29]] expressway, overlaps with it for about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to [[Thorp, Wisconsin|Thorp]], where WIS 73 exits and heads north once again. It crosses into [[Taylor County, Wisconsin|Taylor County]] about {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} north of WIS 29.

It goes north another seven miles to [[Wisconsin Highway 64|WIS 64]]. They are cosigned heading north before WIS 64 splits just east of [[Gilman, Taylor County, Wisconsin|Gilman]]. WIS 73 continues north to [[Jump River (town), Wisconsin|Jump River]] before entering [[Rusk County, Wisconsin|Rusk County]]. It continues north for {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} to Ingram, where WIS 73 ends at [[U.S. Route 8|US 8]].

==Major intersections== {{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name="STHL">Wisconsin State Trunk Highway Logs: *{{cite book |author = [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] |date = December 31, 2024 |title = State Trunk Highway Log: Region 1 |type = XLS |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation }} *{{cite book |author = [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] |date = December 31, 2024 |title = State Trunk Highway Log: Region 4 |type = XLS |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation }} *{{cite book |author = [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] |date = December 31, 2024 |title = State Trunk Highway Log: Region 5 |type = XLS |location = Madison |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation }}</ref>}} {{WIint |county=Dane |cspan=6 |town=Albion |ctdab=Dane |lspan=2 |mile=0.00 |length_ref= |road={{jct|state=WI|I|39|I|90|US|51|dir3=north|city1=Madison|city2=Janesville}} {{jct|state=WI|US|51|dir1=south|city1=Edgerton}} |notes=Southern terminus; road continues south as US 51 }} {{WIint |mile=1.06 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|106|dir1=east|city1=Fort Atkinson}} |notes=Western terminus of WIS 106 }} {{WIint |town=Deerfield |ctdab=Dane |mile=11.10 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|12|US|18|city1=Madison|city2=Cambridge}} |notes=Interchange }} {{WIint |town=Medina |mile=16.88 |mile2=16.90 |road={{jct|state=WI|I|94|city1=Madison|location2=[[Milwaukee]]}} |notes=Exit 250 on I-94 }} {{WIint |location=Marshall |ctdab= Dane |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=21.19 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|19|dir1=west|name1=Main Street}} |notes=Western end of WIS 19 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=21.35 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|19|dir1=east|name1=Main Street}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 19 concurrency }} {{WIint |county=Columbia |cspan=3 |town=Columbus |type=concur |mile=33.71 |mile2=33.77 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|151|city1=Beaver Dam|city2=Madison}} {{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|151|dir1=north|dab1=Columbus}} |notes=Southern end of Bus. US 151 concurrency; diamond interchange; exit 115 on US 151; }} {{WIint |location=Columbus |lspan=2 |mile=35.43 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|89|dir1=south|name1=Farnham Street}} |notes=Northern terminus of WIS 89 }} {{WIint |mile=35.87 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|16|WI|60|name2=James Street}} |notes= }} {{WIint |county=Dodge |town=Elba |type=concur |mile=37.54 |mile2=37.59 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|151|city1=Madison|city2=Beaver Dam}} {{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|151|dir1=south|dab1=Columbus}} |notes=Northern end of Bus. US 151 concurrency; diamond interchange; exit 120 on US 151 }} {{WIint |county1=Columbia |county2=Dodge |town1=Randolph |town2=Fox Lake |mile=52.00 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|33|city1=Portage|city2=Fox Lake}} |notes= }} {{WIint |county=Green Lake |cspan=8 |town=Manchester |ctdab= Green Lake |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=61.82 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|44|dir1=north|city1=Markesan}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 44 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=63.26 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|44|dir1=south|city1=Kingston}} |notes=Western end of WIS 44 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Princeton |type=concur |mile=73.18 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|23|dir1=east|city1=Green Lake}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 23 concurrency }} {{WIint |location=Princeton |lspan=4 |type=concur |mile=75.67 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|D}} |notes=Southern end of CTH-D concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=76.11 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|J}} |notes=Eastern end of CTH-J concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=76.82 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|D}} |notes=Northern end of CTH-D concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=76.89 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|23|dir1=west|city1=Montello}} |notes=Western end of WIS 23 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Princeton |type=concur |mile=77.29 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|J}} |notes=Western end of CTH-J concurrency }} {{WIint |county=Marquette |cspan=2 |location=Neshkoro |type=concur |mile=85.84 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|E|CTH|N}} |notes=Southern end of CTH-E/CTH-N concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Neshkoro |type=concur |mile=86.97 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|E|CTH|N}} |notes=Northern end of CTH-E/CTH-N concurrency }} {{WIint |county=Waushara |cspan=5 |town=Dakota |type=concur |mile=93.34 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|21|dir1=east|city1=Redgranite}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 21 concurrency }} {{WIint |location=Wautoma |lspan=3 |mile=95.02 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|152|dir1=east|location1=[[Mount Morris (community), Wisconsin|Mount Morris]]}} |notes=Western terminus of WIS 152 }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=95.85 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|22|dir1=north|city1=Wild Rose|city2=Waupaca}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 22 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=96.98 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|21|WI|22|dir1=west|dir2=south|city1=Coloma|city2=Montello}} |notes=Western end of WIS 21/WIS 22 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Plainfield |mile=113.60 |mile2=113.62 |road={{jct|state=WI|I|39|US|51|city1=Portage|city2=Stevens Point}} |notes=Exit 136 on I-39/US 51 }} {{jctco|state=WI|county=Adams}} {{jctco|state=WI|county=Portage}} {{WIint |county=Wood |cspan=14 |town=Saratoga |lspan=3 |mile=129.48 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|13|location1=[[Friendship (village), Wisconsin|Friendship]]|city2=Wisconsin Rapids}} |notes= }} {{WIint |mile=131.17 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|Z|dir1=north}} |notes=Eastern end of CHT-Z concurrency }} {{WIint |mile=133.14 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|Z|dir1=south}} |notes=Western end of CHT-Z concurrency }} {{WIint |location=Nekoosa |mile=133.65 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|173|dir1=south|city1=Babcock}} |notes=Northern terminus of WIS 173 }} {{WIint |location=Port Edwards |type=concur |mile=135.74 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|54|dir1=west|city1=Black River Falls}} |notes=Western end of WIS 54 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |location=Wisconsin Rapids |lspan=2 |mile=140.55 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|13|dir1=south}} {{jct|state=WI|WI|54|dir1=east}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 54 concurrency; southern end of WIS 13 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=141.36 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|13|dir1=north}} {{jct|state=WI|WI|34|dir1=north}} |notes=Northern end of WIS 13 concurrency; southern terminus of WIS 34 }} {{WIint |town1=Sigel |town2=Hansen |ctdab=Wood |mile=149.07 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|186|dir1=north|city1=Vesper}} |notes=Southern terminus of WIS 186 }} {{WIint |location1=Wood |area1=town |location2=Pittsville |location_group=city |mile=157.44 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|80|dir1=south|city1=Pittsville}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 80 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Wood |type=concur |mile=159.82 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|80|dir1=north|city1=Marshfield}} |notes=Western end of WIS 80 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Cary |lspan=4 |mile=161.34 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|B|dir1=south}} |notes=Eastern end of CTH-B concurrency }} {{WIint |mile=161.84 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|B|dir1=north}} |notes=Western end of CTH-B concurrency }} {{WIint |mile=163.83 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|V|dir1=south}} |notes=Eastern end of CTH-V concurrency }} {{WIint |mile=164.83 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|V|dir1=north}} |notes=Western end of CTH-V concurrency }}  {{WIint |type=concur |county=Clark |cspan=9 |town=Pine Valley |mile=183.18 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|95|dir1=west|city1=Merrillan}} |notes=Southern end of WIS 95 concurrency }} {{WIint |location=Neillsville |lspan=3 |type=concur |mile=188.0 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|10|dir1=west|city1=Fairchild}} {{jct|state=WI|WI|95|dir1=west}} |notes=Northern end of WIS 95 concurrency; western end of US 10 concurrency; eastern terminus of WIS 95 }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=188.10 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|10|dir1=east|city1=Marshfield}} {{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|10|dab1= Neillsville|dir1=west}} |notes=Eastern end of US 10 concurrency; souther end of Bus. US 10 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=186.73 |road={{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|10|dab1=Neillsville|dir1=west|CTH|B|dir2=west}} |notes=Northern end of Bus. US 10 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Eaton |mile=199.60 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|98|dir1=east|city1=Loyal}} |notes=Western terminus of WIS 98 }} {{WIint |town=Longwood |lspan=3 |type=concur |mile=210.08 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|N|dir1=east}} |notes=Southern end of CTH-N concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=212.09 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|N|dir1=west}} |notes=Northern end of CTH-N concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=214.06 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|29|dir1=east|city1=Wausau}} |notes=Eastern end of WIS 29 concurrency; interchange }} {{WIint |location=Thorp |type=concur |mile=223.83 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|29|dir1=west|city1=Chippewa Falls}} |notes=Western end of WIS 29 concurrency; interchange }} {{WIint |type=concur |county=Taylor |cspan=4 |town=Ford |lspan=2 |mile=236.43 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|64|dir1=east|city1=Medford}} |notes=Southern end of WIS 64 concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=239.70 |road={{jct|state=WI|WI|64|dir1=west|location1=[[Gilman, Taylor County, Wisconsin|Gilman]]}} |notes=Northern end of WIS 64 concurrency }} {{WIint |town=Jump River |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=252.72 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|D|dir1=east}} |notes=Eastern end of CTH-D concurrency }} {{WIint |type=concur |mile=254.43 |road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|D|dir1=west|name1=Old 194}} |notes=Western end of CTH-D concurrency }} {{WIint |county=Rusk |town=Richland |ctdab=Rusk |mile=265.78 |road={{jct|state=WI|US|8|city1=Ladysmith|city2=Prentice}} |notes=Northern terminus }} {{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}

==See also== *{{portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} *{{commons category-inline| Wisconsin Highway 73}}

[[Category:State highways in Wisconsin|073]] [[Category:Transportation in Dane County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Columbia County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Dodge County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Green Lake County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Marquette County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Waushara County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Adams County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Portage County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Wood County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Clark County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Taylor County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Transportation in Rusk County, Wisconsin]]