The Rustic Road system is a system of Wisconsin scenic roads. They differ from the main trunkline highway system in that they are not meant to be major through routes, but lightly traveled local access,[1] and are to meet minimum standards for natural features. Rustic roads have lower speed limits than those on other highway systems.[2] Each route is marked by brown and yellow signs, with the route number on a small placard below the sign.[3] The letter "R" prefix is followed by the number designation. Wisconsin is the only state to have a system of rustic roads.[4] Wisconsin has a separate system of scenic byways following the development of a national system in the 1990s.[5]
| Rustic Roads | |
|---|---|
 Standard Rustic Road marker | |
| Highway names | |
| Interstates | Interstate X (I-X) |
| US Highways | U.S. Highway X (US X) |
| State | (State Trunk) Highway X (STH-X or WIS X) |
| County Highway: | (County Trunk) Highway X (CTH-X) |
| Rustic Road: | Rustic Road X (RX) |
| System links | |
System description
The Rustic Road concept was conceived in 1973.[1] The Wisconsin State Legislature established the program to help preserve lightly traveled scenic rural roads. There are a few requirements that a road must have in order to be designated as a rustic road, such as having outstanding natural features or areas that set the road apart from other roads, be a lightly traveled road, not be scheduled for a major improvement which would change its rustic characteristics, and preferably be at least two miles (3.2 km) with a loop, completed closure, or connection to a major highway at both ends of the route.[6] The maximum speed limit established by law is 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), but can be set lower by a local government if desired.[6] Rustic roads may be dirt, gravel, or paved.[6] They can be one- or two-way and can have accommodations for bicycles and hiking adjacent to or incorporated into the road or surrounding area.[2] The designation process is initiated by application for designation by a local government.[1]
History
The effort to identify rustic roads began in order to help local government and citizens preserve Wisconsin's scenic routes. The Rustic Roads system was established by the 1973 Wisconsin State Legislature.[3] The law created the Wisconsin Rustic Roads Board.[7] The first road was designated in 1975 in Taylor County in the Town of Rib Lake.[1] The application requires the reasons why a road should be designated, photographs, and a resolution of support from the local government.[1] A 10-member volunteer board develops the rules and standards for the roads, and enacts the final approval for each designation.[3] Before approving, two members of the board separately drive and personally assess the proposed route.[1] As of 2014, the system has 115 Rustic Roads for a total length of 665 miles (1,070 km) in 59 of the state's 72 counties.[1] At that time, the roads varied in length from 2 to 37 miles (3.2 to 59.5 km).[1]
List
 |
| Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Counties | Formed | Removed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 R1 |
5.0 | 8.0 | CTH-D in Rib Lake | WIS 102 in Rib Lake | Taylor | 1975 | current | Gravel, first Rustic Road in Wisconsin |
| R2 |
7.9 | 12.7 | Center and Grove Streets in Burlington | WIS 83 in Waterford | Racine | — | — | Paved; three segments with 0.9 mi (1.4 km) of connecting highway |
| R3 |
3.6 | 5.8 | CTH-E in Springfield | WIS 128 in Glenwood | Saint Croix | — | — | Paved |
| R4 |
4.0 | 6.4 | CTH-W in Springfield | WIS 128 in Glenwood | Saint Croix | — | — | Gravel; gas a spur segment included in R4 Spur for a total mileages of 4.6 mi (7.4 km) |
| R4 Spur |
0.6 | 0.97 | R4 in Springfield | CTH-W in Springfield | Saint Croix | — | — | Gravel; it is included in R4 mileage and description by WisDOT |
| R5 |
3.1 | 5.0 | WIS 164 in Waterford | WIS 36 in Wind Lake | Racine | — | — | Paved |
| R6 |
13.6 | 21.9 | WIS 64 in Cleveland | CTH-D in Washington | Chippewa, Rusk | — | — | Paved; WisDOT lists the route stopping 0.3 mi (0.48 km) short at the Rusk County line, but it is signed to CTH–D; route is concurrent with CTH-E |
| R7 |
3.5 | 5.6 | CTH-AB in Franklin–Montpelier | WIS 29 in Montpelier | Kewaunee | — | — | Paved |
| R8 |
3.0 | 4.8 | Loop including CTH-IR, Sunrise Road, Pine Lane, and Westview Road in Suamico | Brown | — | — | Paved; loop route | |
| R9 |
6.7 | 10.8 | CTH-T and Brauer Road in Sevastopol–Sturgeon Bay | CTH-T and Whitefish Bay Road in Sevastopol | Door | — | — | Paved; route is concurrent with CTH-T |
| R10 |
2.5 | 4.0 | Main Street in Summit | CTH-P in Summit | Waukesha | — | — | Paved; part of route is concurrent with CTH-B |
| R11 |
8.9 | 14.3 | WIS 50 in Lyons | R11 / S Road in Lyons | Walworth | — | — | Paved; loop route that has two spur segments included in R11 Spur A and R11 Spur B for a total mileage as 10.3 mi (16.6 km) |
| R11 Spur A |
0.2 | 0.32 | R12 in Lyons | R11 in Lyons | Walworth | — | — | Paved; it is included in R11 mileage and description by WisDOT |
| R11 Spur B |
0.3 | 0.48 | R11 in Lyons | Walburg Road in Lyons | Walworth | — | — | Paved; it is included in R11 mileage and description by WisDOT |
| R12 |
5.7 | 9.2 | WIS 50 in Lyons | WIS 36 in Lyons | Walworth | — | — | Paved |
| R13 |
3.0 | 4.8 | Baer Drive in Hudson | River Road in Saint Joseph | Saint Croix | — | — | Paved |
| R14 |
2.0 | 3.2 | CTH-A in Easton | CTH-B in New Chester–Easton | Adams | — | — | Gravel |
| R15 |
5.4 | 8.7 | Fish Lake Road in Grantsburg | Hickerson Road in Grantsburg | Burnett | — | — | WisDOT lists portions of the route as gravel, but it appears to be fully paved |
| R16 |
6.0 | 9.7 | CTH-O at city limits of Two Rivers | CTH-V in Two Rivers | Manitowoc | — | — | Paved; WisDOT lists the route starting 0.8 mi (1.3 km) late at the city limits of Two Rivers, but it is signed from a point parallel with 25th Street; route is concurrent with CTH-O |
| R17 |
2.7 | 4.3 | CTH-T in Lanark | US 10 in Lanark | Portage | — | — | Paved |
| R18 |
6.8 | 10.9 | Loop including 23rd Street, 23-24 1/2 Street, 16 1/4 Avenue, 25th Street, and 17 1/4 Avenue in Stanley and Sumner | Barron | — | — | Paved; two segments with CTH-M as a connecting highway | |
| R19 |
2.3 | 3.7 | CTH-B in Dunn | Goodland Park Road in Dunn | Dane | — | — | Paved |
| R20 |
2.9 | 4.7 | Dreyson Road in Stoughton | Schneider Road in McFarland | Dane | — | — | Paved |
| R22 |
5.5 | 8.9 | White River Road in Neshkoro | White River Road in Neshkoro | Green Lake | — | — | Gravel and paved portions |
| R23 |
3.6 | 5.8 | Rural Road in Hartman Creek State Park | Rural Road in Rural | Waupaca | — | — | Paved |
| R24 |
2.7 | 4.3 | Emmons Creek Road near Waupaca | Emmons Creek Road near Rural | Waupaca | — | — | Paved and gravel portions |
| R41 |
2.3 | 3.7 | 70th Street north of CTH-G | Eastern end of Clara Lake Drive at CTH-E | Polk | — | — | Paved and gravel sections; the road turns from north–south to east–west just north of the Hunky Dory resort and just south of the Straight River and the south end of Big Round Lake. |
| R61 |
3.3 | 5.3 | CTH-M in Hortonville | Wisconsin Highway 76 near Stepehnsville | Outagamie | — | — | Paved |
| R81 |
2.9 | 4.7 | WIS 39 near New Glarus | CTH-H near New Glarus | Green | — | — | Paved, known to locals as Marty Road |
| R116 |
2.2 | 3.5 | CTH-A in Boardman | 120th St | St. Croix | — | — | Travels along 140th Avenue |
| R117 |
1.8 | 2.9 | CTH-A near Saxeville | CTH-W and 26th rd near Saxeville | Waushara | — | — | Connects with R-48 |
See also
References
External links
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