“The Way Into Madison – Once the Main Way to Milwaukee, Too”

Quickie Summary: State “Trunk” Highway 30 is a shell of its former self. Today it’s a short freeway spur from I-39/90/94 to U.S. Highway 151 (East Washington Avenue), with the Aberg Avenue extension connecting to Highway 113 and the MSN/Dane County Regional Airport. But prior to I-94’s opening in the 1960s, Highway 30 was THE main road between Madison and Milwaukee. We’ll look at the former highway and follow as much of it as possible so we can experience what getting between the two cities was like back in the day.

Highway 30 Road Trip – Today

The Current Drive (East to West): Highway 30 once ran all the way across from Milwaukee to Madison from 1924 until 1965, when I-94 was completed from Milwaukee to I-90 just outside of Madison. The three-mile stretch of original Highway 30 from I-39/90/94 to Aberg Avenue is what remains… so this will be quick!

We pick up Highway 30 in what’s called the “Badger Interchange.” where I-39/90 and I-94 meet. It’s the southern start of I-39/90/94’s “triple concurrency” run up to Portage – the longest such concurrency in the nation. Highway 30 heads west from the Badger Interchange and offers a view of the Madison isthmus, including the Capitol, much of downtown and part of the UW campus, as you descend from the high point of the Badger Interchange down into the city of Madison.

This portion is freeway, basically a continuation of I-94 getting into the capital city. Highway 30 crosses U.S. 51/Stoughton Road, the major north-south highway on Madison’s east side if you don’t count the interstates.

After that, you reach a small interchange with Fair Oaks Road, where an on-ramp to westbound Highway 30 basically points at the “END” sign for today’s highway just before the interchange with U.S. 151/East Washington Avenue. “East Wash,” as it’s called, is basically the primary route to the State Capitol from Highway 30.

The “END” sign for Highway 30 is right as traffic joins the road from Fair Oaks Avenue – or leaves it for U.S. 151/East Washington Avenue.

You can hit the Capitol via East Wash, or continue past Highway 30 on Aberg Avenue for Highway 113, the airport, Ale Asylum Brewery, the Kraft/Oscar Meyer plant, or another way into the UW campus.

Highway 30 technically ends at that point but the four-lane road continues west for another mile or so as Aberg Avenue, before ending at Highway 113/Packers Avenue. The “Packers” in the name refers to the mammoth Oscar Mayer plant that has been operating in Madison for decades; sadly, it is scheduled to close this year.

** BREWERY ALERT **

Just north on Highway 113, literally blocks away, you’ll find the Ale Asylum Brewery. Ale Asylum moved into this location at the junction of Highway 113 and the road to MSN – Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport – after about seven years on Stoughton Road. This location is a full restaurant, bar, brewery, and event space and is a fun place to enjoy craft brews, watch games, or see people having a few before dealing with TSA at the airport.

From this end, downtown Madison, the Capitol, and the UW campus are all an easy ride down U.S. 151 or Highway 113.

CONNECTIONS:
Western Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: U.S. 151/East Washington Avenue
Can connect nearby to: U.S. 51/Stoughton Road, about 1.5 miles east; Highway 113, about one mile west

Eastern Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: I-39, I-90, I-94
Can connect nearby to: Highway 73, about 10 miles east

What’s more intriguing about Highway 30? The HISTORICAL route!

The Highway 30 Historic Drive

The HISTORIC Drive (West to East): Highway 30 was originally designated between Madison and Milwaukee in 1924. From the Capitol, Highway 30 ran northeasterly out of downtown along East Washington Avenue and then dived to to Atwood Avenue, hugging Lake Monona and then beelining east about County BB/Cottage Grove Road through Cottage Grove and then via today’s County B through Lake Mills, Johnson Creek and Concord. From there, it followed much of today’s I-94 path except for the section between Willow Glen and Saywer Roads where it followed today’s County DR, and into Delafield where it followed today’s Delafield Road. East of today’s Goerkes Corners, Highway 30 followed Bluemound Road and Wisconsin Avenue into downtown Milwaukee.

In the early 1940s, Highway 30 was moved to a more direct route from Lake Mills to Concord, on the route of I-94 today. Gradually west of Lake Mills and east of Concord, Higwhway 30 was moved to today’s I-94 path in sections. In the late 1940s, the section of Highway 30 west of Cottage Grove was moved to today’s County T and Commercial Avenue.

Got it?

Okay, we’ll follow selected parts here, allowing us to go right through the heart of many of these towns that I-94 skims.

And we’ll be posting that shortly!

• Cows on the Concourse

  Jun 3, 2017 1:00 pm
  
  
  Cows on the Concourse is a celebrated tradition that kicks off June Dairy Month in Dane County. At this free and family-friendly event, kids and adults can meet and greet cows and baby calves from local dairy farms. Check out Cows on the Concourse as you peruse the Dane County Farmers' Market on Saturday, June 3, 2017 and enjoy live music, tasty food, fun games, and real, live cows! Cows on the Concourse celebrates Wisconsin's dairy industry, which contributes more than $43.4 billion to our state's economy - Wisconsin is truly "America's Dairyland." Activities Cow Zone Get up close and personal with two different herds of cows and baby calves from several dairy breeds. You can even pet them! Joining the cows are local Wisconsin farmers and other "Moo Experts" to answer all your questions. Get MOOving & Fit Zone Kids, check out our athletic stations and learn how dairy products are a part of healthy lifestyle and keep your bodies strong. Don't forget to fuel up with ice-cold milk after you exercise! Ed'Moo'cation Zone Dairy is a rich tradition in Wisconsin, but how did it get to be that way? In this youth-friendly station, learn how dairy has become the cornerstone of Wisconsin's economy as well as how all the great dairy products have become signature treats for folks in the Badger State.

  Cows on the Concourse Big Cheese Zone

  Sink your teeth into a melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese sandwich for only $2. Don't forget to grab a bottle of ice-cold milk to wash it down! NEW! My Dairyland Scavenger Hunt Join in the My Dairyland Scavenger Hunt and visit each zone at Cows on the Concourse. Learn fun dairy facts and record your answers for a chance to win a free souvenir t-shirt while supplies last. Saturday Science Can't get enough dairy? Hop on a school bus for an excursion to the Town Center at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on the UW-Madison campus. You will learn about the science of dairy foods and even do some sampling too! A free shuttle will travel between the two locations, departing every 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and noon. Saturday Science will include a bonus stop for the My Dairyland Scavenger Hunt.When you complete the My Dairyland Scavenger Hunt at Cows on the Concourse, take your question card to Saturday Science and earn a token for a scoop of Culver's custard while supplies last! Their website (CowsOnTheConcourse.org) has even more details. Check it out Saturday, June 3 from 8am-1pm on the Capitol Square in Madison. U.S. 12, 14, 18 and Highways 30 and 113 all bring you to the city, and U.S. 151 takes you right to the Square!