.gif)
Highway 341 (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
State Trunk Highway 341 (STH 341, WIS 341), better known as Miller Park Way, is the current name of the oldest freeway in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. It connects Interstate 94 (I-94) to WIS 59
(National Avenue), with a single set of off-ramps to Canal Street and the parking lots of Miller Park. The entire route is unsigned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
(WisDOT), leaving many people to not know its designation. It is one of two unsigned routes, along with a spur of Highway 794, in the greater Milwaukee
area.
with Parkway Drive and General Mitchell Boulevard. This interchange provides access to Miller Park and its surrounding parking lots. The highway continues north, and the WIS 341 designation terminates at an interchange with I-94 and US 41. The northern continuation of the roadway is US 41 along the Stadium Freeway
.
(US 41). when it reopened on August 6, 1998. US 41 was later rerouted in 1999 when the proposed plan to widen Layton Boulevard was successfully blocked by residents and city officials. Because Layton would no longer meet state highway standards, US 41 was rerouted to follow I-94. The section of the Stadium Freeway south of I-94 was given the WIS 341 designation in August 1999.
The Stadium Freeway, originally known as the South 44th Street Expressway for the street it would replace, was opened for traffic in 1953, just as the new Milwaukee County Stadium
was opening to host the Milwaukee Braves of the National League
of baseball
. Original plans were to have the freeway extend south from National Avenue to the Airport Freeway in Greenfield
(what is now Interstate 894
and Interstate 43
). The interchange at I-894 was built, but since the Stadium Freeway was never completed to connect to it, the ramps instead lead to a park and ride
lot at the corner of Loomis and Cold Spring Roads and are solely for the use of commuter buses, WisDOT and law enforcement vehicles. Because of lawsuits and protest, the southern extension was never built, though most of the right-of-way for the freeway was cleared down to Lincoln Avenue in West Milwaukee
. This section of South 43rd Street was renamed Miller Park Way in 2001, after the new park had opened.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. It connects Interstate 94 (I-94) to WIS 59
Highway 59 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 59 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs east–west in southeast Wisconsin from Milwaukee to Monroe....
(National Avenue), with a single set of off-ramps to Canal Street and the parking lots of Miller Park. The entire route is unsigned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, abbreviated as WisDOT, is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin responsible for planning, building and maintaining the state's highways...
(WisDOT), leaving many people to not know its designation. It is one of two unsigned routes, along with a spur of Highway 794, in the greater Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
area.
Route description
WIS 341 starts an intersection with National Avenue and Miller Park Way. The highway continues north across a rail line to a folded diamond interchangeDiamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with Parkway Drive and General Mitchell Boulevard. This interchange provides access to Miller Park and its surrounding parking lots. The highway continues north, and the WIS 341 designation terminates at an interchange with I-94 and US 41. The northern continuation of the roadway is US 41 along the Stadium Freeway
Stadium Freeway (Wisconsin)
The Stadium Freeway is a 6-lane divided highway running north–south in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This freeway was the first road of its kind built in Milwaukee County. It is designated as US Highway 41 along its northern stretch from Interstate 94 to Lisbon Avenue...
.
History
WIS 341 was commissioned in 1999 after the reopening of the Stadium Freeway between I-94 and National Avenue. Due to the construction of Miller Park, the old Freeway had to be moved to the east by a few hundred yards. It was rebuilt as an arterial highway with a 45 miles per hour (20 m/s) speed limit and carried the designation US Highway 41U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Highway 41 runs north–south the eastern side of the state. It enters from Illinois at Pleasant Prairie, and runs north to its northern terminus at the Michigan border at Marinette, WI.-Route description:US-41 is a freeway for nearly 70% of its route...
(US 41). when it reopened on August 6, 1998. US 41 was later rerouted in 1999 when the proposed plan to widen Layton Boulevard was successfully blocked by residents and city officials. Because Layton would no longer meet state highway standards, US 41 was rerouted to follow I-94. The section of the Stadium Freeway south of I-94 was given the WIS 341 designation in August 1999.
The Stadium Freeway, originally known as the South 44th Street Expressway for the street it would replace, was opened for traffic in 1953, just as the new Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
was opening to host the Milwaukee Braves of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
of baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Original plans were to have the freeway extend south from National Avenue to the Airport Freeway in Greenfield
Greenfield, Wisconsin
Greenfield is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2000 census.-History:Greenfield was originally created as the Town of Kinnickinnic around 1839. On Feb. 19, 1841, the name of the town was changed to Greenfield, taking its name from the name of the...
(what is now Interstate 894
Interstate 894
Interstate 894 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in Milwaukee County in the US state of Wisconsin. The route serves as a bypass of downtown Milwaukee, connecting with I-94 at the Zoo Interchange west of downtown and the Mitchell Interchange south of downtown...
and Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
). The interchange at I-894 was built, but since the Stadium Freeway was never completed to connect to it, the ramps instead lead to a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
lot at the corner of Loomis and Cold Spring Roads and are solely for the use of commuter buses, WisDOT and law enforcement vehicles. Because of lawsuits and protest, the southern extension was never built, though most of the right-of-way for the freeway was cleared down to Lincoln Avenue in West Milwaukee
West Milwaukee, Wisconsin
West Milwaukee is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,201 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Milwaukee is located at ....
. This section of South 43rd Street was renamed Miller Park Way in 2001, after the new park had opened.