U.S. Highway 63 (US 63) is a north–south highway in northwestern Wisconsin, traveling from Red Wing, Minnesota, to its national northern terminus 10 miles (16 km) west of Ashland, Wisconsin.
Route description
US 63 crosses the Mississippi River via the Red Wing Bridge, situated north of Red Wing, Minnesota. Entering Wisconsin, it meets Wisconsin Highway 35 (WIS 35) at a four-way stop in Hager City. The route continues north for 9.1 miles (14.6 km) until it intersects with US 10 outside Ellsworth. US 63 and US 10 then run concurrently eastward into Ellsworth's downtown area, where they encounter the southern end of WIS 65. On the eastern side of Ellsworth, US 10 branches off to the southeast, while US 63 turns north at the nearby WIS 72. East of Martell, US 63 briefly overlaps with WIS 29 for a mile. WIS 29 then heads west, and US 63 proceeds into St. Croix County.[1]
US 63 running concurrently along US 12 in Baldwin
In the Baldwin area, US 63 crosses over Interstate 94 (I-94) and intersects with US 12 in downtown Baldwin. Heading north from Baldwin, US 63 continues for 11 miles (18 km) before reaching a roundabout near Cylon. At this roundabout, it intersects with WIS 46 and briefly runs concurrently with WIS 64. US 63/WIS 64 runs for nearly five miles (8.0 km) before US 63 turns northward separately and enters Polk County. US 63 traverses through several towns in Polk County, including Clear Lake, Richardson, and Clayton. It then intersects with US 8 on the western side of Turtle Lake, sharing a route with US 8 as they enter the Barron County section of Turtle Lake. At a roundabout, US 63 splits from US 8 and heads northeasterly toward Comstock. Continuing its journey, US 63 intersects with WIS 48 in Cumberland and passes through Barronett before exiting Barron County and entering Washburn County.[1]
US 63 traverses Washburn County, passing through its county seat, Shell Lake, seven miles (11 km) northeast of its entry point. The highway continues northeast towards Spooner, intersecting with WIS 253 and WIS 70. It briefly merges with the US 53 expressway northeast of downtown Spooner, heading towards Trego. From Trego, US 63 proceeds northeastward towards Hayward and Ashland, passing through Earl, Springbrook, and south of Stanberry before entering Sawyer County. In Hayward, it intersects with WIS 27 and WIS 77. Continuing northeast towards Ashland, US 63 passes through Seeley. Entering Bayfield County, the highway passes through Cable, south of Drummond, through Grand View, and east of Mason. It intersects with the western end of WIS 118 before terminating at US 2, having covered 34.8 miles (56.0 km) within Bayfield County.[2]
History
With the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, US 63, as a whole, only served as far north as Des Moines, Iowa.[3] At the same time, a connection between Red Wing, and Ashland comprised a portion of WIS 46 south of Cylon and almost the entire portion of WIS 24 north of Cylon.[4] In 1934, US 63 was extended north from Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Ashland; its direct connection to Des Moines was replaced with the short-lived designation US 163.[5][6] In Wisconsin, the extension replaced WIS 24.[7][8]
^Wisconsin Highway Commission (1934). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin(PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: Wisconsin Highway Commission. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
^State Highway Commission of Wisconsin (January 1935). Official Highway Map of Wisconsin(PDF) (Map). 1:887,040. Madison: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
