U.S. Route 8
Encyclopedia
U.S. Highway 8 is a United States Highway that runs primarily east–west for 280 miles (450.62 km), mostly within the state
of Wisconsin
. It runs from Interstate 35
(I-35) in Forest Lake, Minnesota
to US 2
at Norway
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
near the border with Wisconsin. Except for the short freeway segment near Forest Lake, and a section near the St. Croix River bridge, it is all undivided surface road. As a state highway in the three states, US 8 is maintained by the Minnesota
, Wisconsin
and Michigan
departments of transportation (Mn/DOT, WisDOT, MDOT, respectively).
The highway was originally commissioned on November 11, 1926 with the rest of the original US Highway System. Several changes have been made to the routing of the highway. The western end has been extended south to Minneapolis before being returned to Forest Lake. Other changes on the east end have moved that terminus from an original end location at Powers, Michigan
to the current location in Norway. Plans have surfaced at various times in internal Wisconsin and Michigan DOT map files that show the route of the missing highway segment to Powers.
A bypass built by WisDOT around the city of Rhinelander
in the 1990s created the opportunity for a business loop through the town. The loop was a locally maintained route through the central business district
in Rhinelander. Currently the signage for the loop has been removed.
with I-35
in Forest Lake
. This interchange is incomplete: traffic can only access US 8 directly from northbound I-35, and westbound traffic on US 8 merges onto southbound I-35. The first one-mile (1.6 km) segment of US 8 to Forest Lake is a freeway, with an interchange at US 61
. East of this junction
, the route follows Lake Boulevard North around Forest Lake and continues northeasterly through the community to cross the Washington
–Chisago county line. The highway continues running to the northeast along farmland and the shore of Green Lake to Chisago City
, where it meets up with County Road 22 (CR 22). US 8 follows Lake Boulevard through Chisago City along the isthmus between the larger Chisago Lake and the smaller Wallmark Lake on the eastern side of town. The highway turns along a more easterly path in Lindstrom
between North and South Lindstrom Lakes.
The highway continues east through Center Lake between North and South Center Lakes, curving around the north shore of South Center Lake. On the eastern edge of town, the highway turns due east and runs through Shafer
. US 8 merges with State Highway 95
(MN 95) two miles (3 km) southwest of Taylors Falls. The two routes concurrently
turn northeast along the St. Croix River
entering Taylors Falls
. At this point, MN 95 continues north along the river while US 8 turns east and exits the state of Minnesota into Wisconsin
, crossing the St. Croix River.
Legally, the Minnesota section of US 8 is defined as Constitutional Route 46 and Legislative Route 98 in the Minnesota Statutes §§161.114(2) and 161.115(29). The route is not marked with those numbers. The section of US 8 in Chisago County is officially designated the Moberg Trail.
as a multilane highway. The highway joins State Highway 35 (WIS 35) at a diamond interchange located approximately one mile from the state line. The two highways run concurrently for four miles (6 km) before WIS 35 turns off to the north at a location in the Town of St. Croix Falls
west of Deer Lake. US 8 continues east through forest lands, and WIS 46 joins the highway from the north for a four mile (6 km) conconcurrency before splitting off to the south. US 8 passes through Range
and crosses into Barron County at Turtle Lake
U.S. Route 63
joins US 8 from the south west of Turtle Lake and departs to the north in the downtown area. US 8 passes through Poskin
and junctions with WIS 25 in Barron
. East of Barron, the highway meets U.S. Route 53
at a mixed diamond/cloverleaf interchange and turns north into Cameron
, then turns east in downtown to leave Cameron. after a straight nine miles (14 km), the highway crosses into Rusk County
US 8 continues due east for five miles (8 km) before turning northeast and passing through Weyerhaeuser
and crossing WIS 40 in Bruce
. US 8 meets WIS 27 in downtown Ladysmith
, Glen Flora
, Ingram
(where it meets the northern terminus of WIS 73 and Hawkins
on its way out of Rusk county. In Price County
, US 8 passes through Kennan
and Catawba
. WIS 111 terminates at its south end on US 8 just east of Catawba. US 8 meets WIS 13 at a diamond interchange northwest of Prentice
and passes north of the city. The highway passes through Brantwood
and enters Lincoln County
at Clifford
US 8 passes through Tripoli
and McCord
and passes north of Tomahawk
as it passes through the Lake Nokomis area. U.S. Route 51
crosses US 8 northeast of Tomahawk. US 8 turns northeast into Oneida County
and on a twisting northeastward road passes through Woodboro
and expands to a divided highway into Rhinelander. It collects WIS 47 south on the southwest side of Rhinelander
. WIS 17 north joins the highways a half of a mile to the southeast, creating a wrong-way concurrency with WIS 47. WIS 17 turns to the north two miles (3 km) southeast of there and US 8 and WIS 47 head eastbound out of the Rhinelander area.
south in Monico
and WIS 47 follows US 45 south while US 45 North follows US 8 for 1 miles (1.6 km) before splitting north. US 8 enters Forest County
five miles (8 km) east of Monico. Seven miles in, the highway collects WIS 32 from the north in Crandon
and the two routes head east to Laona
where US 8 turns north and WIS 32 turns south. US 8 turns east again at Cavour
and passes through Armstrong Creek
one mile (1.6 km) from the Marinette County
line. The highway passes through Goodman
and Dunbar
as it meanders through the county and joins U.S. Route 141
at Pembine
. The two routes split ten miles (16 km) north near Niagara
, and with US 8 heading east. the highway takes a northward turn and heads across the Menominee River
into Michigan
near Pier's Gorge Park
US 8 enters Michigan south of Norway at the Menominee River
crossing in Norway Township
and proceeds north into the city where it ends at US 2
. US 8 in Michigan is 2.322 miles (3.7 km) long. In this segment, the road passes by the Dickinson County
fairgrounds and Norway Speedway.
and Powers, Michigan
. In Minnesota, US 8 followed Constitutional Route 46, which was designated in a constitutional amendment adopted on November 2, 1920. Route 46 originally ran between Forest Lake and Chisago City
through Wyoming
. The Wisconsin section of the highway was previously designated WIS 14 from the Minnesota–Wisconsin state line east to Armstrong Creek
.
Although originally designated in November 1926, US 8 was not designated as part of the state trunkline highway system
in Michigan at that time. The highway connection from Quinnesec
south into Wisconsin was part of M-57
which connected with WIS 57. US 8 ended at WIS 57 in Pembine at the time, with no connection into Michigan shown on official maps. A map by the American Automobile Association
does show the highway continuing east through Faithorn
and Hermansville
in Michigan to end at US 2. A later extension in 1928 moved US 8 to run along US 141
, which had replaced WIS 57 and M-57, ending in Quinnesec at US 2. By the next year, the highway was shifted to end in Norway.
In 1931, US 8 was extended south from Forest Lake into downtown Minneapolis to the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and Washington Avenue. At the time, US 12
and US 52
ran along Washington Avenue and US 65
ran on the other side of 3rd Avenue and also ended at this intersection. US 8 in Minnesota was paved in its entirety by 1940. Starting around the year 1955, US 8 was moved to a more direct routing between Forest Lake and Chisago City. US 8 replaced MN 98
along Legislative Route 98. The former routing between Wyoming and Chisago City along Constitutional Route 46 was then redesignated MN 98 until 1998.
As late as 1959, the Michigan State Highway Department still had plans on their books to build the section of US 8 west of Hermansville to the Menominee River
. The control section atlas published on January 1, 1959 showed this segment of highway on the Menominee County
map, complete with a control section number. The section of highway is shown as "proposed" or "under construction". However, a new bridge was built over the Menominee River to carry the highway across the Michigan–Wisconsin state line near Norway in 1966. WisDOT still shows the section of highway needed in their state to extend US 8 to the original eastern terminus in Michigan on internal maps. The December 31, 2004 edition of their Official State Trunk Highway System Maps shows this section as a "mapped corridor".
In 1978, with ongoing construction and completion of the I-35W
freeway in Minnesota, US 8 was truncated to end at the I-35W / New Brighton Boulevard interchange. In 1981, US 8 was truncated again to its current terminus in Forest Lake. The section in New Brighton
is currently known as Old Highway 8.
WisDOT built a bypass of the city of Rhinelander during the 1990s. The new highway was constructed south of town as a new two-lane highway. The former route through downtown Rhinelander and near Clear and George lakes was redesignated as Business US 8 (BUS US 8).
near Tomahawk
. Problems related to wetlands in the construction area and bad weather pushed completion of the project back almost a year. Contractors had install metal sheeting to stabilize the marshy ground. Originally scheduled to end November 1, 2002, the project did not finish until August 2003. The delays and additional work increased the price tag of the project from the original $4.5 million (equivalent to $ in ) to $6.0 million (equivalent to $ in ). A section of the project was only designed for 45 miles per hour (20.1 m/s) speeds for safety reasons. The design also allowed planners to limit the amount of land needed for the expansion.
Bill and Jerri Osberg sued the state and seven other parties over runoff from the construction in April 2003. They claimed that the runoff killed hundreds of trees and polluted ponds on their property. Later investigation uncovered damage to wildlife habitat in the Wisconsin River
. Included in the original lawsuit were six individual WisDOT employees, the primary contractor and a local pet supply company. The court of appeals partially upheld a ruling by the district court dismissing the employees and the contractor from the lawsuit in March 2006. The pet supply company was reinstated in the case by the appeals court. The couple settled their claims, and the state pursued the matter against Pagel Construction in a related lawsuit. WisDOT alleged that the contractor did not follow proper erosion controls and failed to remediate the erosion damage to the Osbergs' property. The state wanted the construction company to forfeit their $70,000 retainer (equivalent to $ in ) and pay damages of $150,000 (equivalent to $ in ). Pagel Construction faulted WisDOT's erosion control plan and said that the state's engineers controlled the project. The contractor was seeking the return of its retainer. In September 2007, a jury found in favor of Pagel Construction and awarded them $70,898.13 in damages(equivalent to $ in ).
Imitating the Highway 127 Corridor Sale, a Northern Wisconsin woman started the "The Great Eight Sale" in 2010. Her goal is to promote the area with a rummage sale that runs from the Minnesota state line to Norway, Michigan. Towns along the length of the highway participated in the first event on Labor Day weekend. Some groups planned to use the opportunity to raise money, while the original event planner was not charging participants for booths.
was a locally-maintained business loop highway routing through the central business district of the city. The route was designated when US 8 was shifted to a bypass of town in the 1990s. The former routing of US 8 through town was turned over to the city and county for maintenance. The local authorities erected signs along this route to designate it as a business loop of the main highway south of town. The signs along the road were removed on July 1, 2005 when the business loop was redesignated County Highway P.
Before the signage was removed, BUS US 8 started at the western junction of US 8 and WIS 47. The business loop ran east from this intersection along Kemp Street, crossing the Wisconsin River
north of the convergence with the Pelican River. The loop jogged north along Oneida Street for 3 blocks and turned east again on Lincoln Street. East of town, BUS US 8 intersected WIS 17 and turned to the southeast. Outside of town, the business loop ran through wooded terrain and turned south near Clear Lake. Near the larger George Lake, the roadway curved back east along the lake's southern shore, running parallel to the main highway before turning south to connect to the main highway. At this intersection with US 8/WIS 47, the business loop ended after a total run of 7.1 miles (11.4 km).
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. It runs from Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
(I-35) in Forest Lake, Minnesota
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake .Interstate 35 and U.S...
to US 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
at Norway
Norway, Michigan
Norway is a city in Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,959 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Iron Mountain, MI–WI Micropolitan Statistical Area....
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
near the border with Wisconsin. Except for the short freeway segment near Forest Lake, and a section near the St. Croix River bridge, it is all undivided surface road. As a state highway in the three states, US 8 is maintained by the Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
, Wisconsin
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...
and Michigan
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
departments of transportation (Mn/DOT, WisDOT, MDOT, respectively).
The highway was originally commissioned on November 11, 1926 with the rest of the original US Highway System. Several changes have been made to the routing of the highway. The western end has been extended south to Minneapolis before being returned to Forest Lake. Other changes on the east end have moved that terminus from an original end location at Powers, Michigan
Powers, Michigan
Powers is a village in Menominee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 430 at the 2000 census. It was named for John Powers, a bookkeeper for a logging company that came into the area in the late 19th century....
to the current location in Norway. Plans have surfaced at various times in internal Wisconsin and Michigan DOT map files that show the route of the missing highway segment to Powers.
A bypass built by WisDOT around the city of Rhinelander
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
in the 1990s created the opportunity for a business loop through the town. The loop was a locally maintained route through the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
in Rhinelander. Currently the signage for the loop has been removed.
Forest Lake to St. Croix Falls
US 8 begins at an interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with I-35
Interstate 35 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...
in Forest Lake
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake .Interstate 35 and U.S...
. This interchange is incomplete: traffic can only access US 8 directly from northbound I-35, and westbound traffic on US 8 merges onto southbound I-35. The first one-mile (1.6 km) segment of US 8 to Forest Lake is a freeway, with an interchange at US 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
. East of this junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
, the route follows Lake Boulevard North around Forest Lake and continues northeasterly through the community to cross the Washington
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
–Chisago county line. The highway continues running to the northeast along farmland and the shore of Green Lake to Chisago City
Chisago City, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,622 people, 1,038 households, and 685 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,329.0 people per square mile . There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of 561.1 per square mile...
, where it meets up with County Road 22 (CR 22). US 8 follows Lake Boulevard through Chisago City along the isthmus between the larger Chisago Lake and the smaller Wallmark Lake on the eastern side of town. The highway turns along a more easterly path in Lindstrom
Lindstrom, Minnesota
Lindström was settled predominantly by Swedish immigrants and their families. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,015 people, 1,225 households, and 855 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,332.1 people per square mile . There were 1,322 housing units at an average...
between North and South Lindstrom Lakes.
The highway continues east through Center Lake between North and South Center Lakes, curving around the north shore of South Center Lake. On the eastern edge of town, the highway turns due east and runs through Shafer
Shafer, Minnesota
Shafer is a city in Chisago County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 8 serves as a main arterial route for the community.-Geography:...
. US 8 merges with State Highway 95
Minnesota State Highway 95
Minnesota State Highway 95 is a highway in east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 23 near St. Cloud and continues east and south to its southern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
(MN 95) two miles (3 km) southwest of Taylors Falls. The two routes concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
turn northeast along the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
entering Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 951 people, 369 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6 people per square mile . There were 386 housing units at an average density of 103.7 per square mile...
. At this point, MN 95 continues north along the river while US 8 turns east and exits the state of Minnesota into Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, crossing the St. Croix River.
Legally, the Minnesota section of US 8 is defined as Constitutional Route 46 and Legislative Route 98 in the Minnesota Statutes §§161.114(2) and 161.115(29). The route is not marked with those numbers. The section of US 8 in Chisago County is officially designated the Moberg Trail.
St. Croix Falls to Ladysmith
US 8 enters Polk County at St. Croix FallsSt. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
St. Croix Falls is a city in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,033 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of St. Croix Falls....
as a multilane highway. The highway joins State Highway 35 (WIS 35) at a diamond interchange located approximately one mile from the state line. The two highways run concurrently for four miles (6 km) before WIS 35 turns off to the north at a location in the Town of St. Croix Falls
St. Croix Falls (town), Wisconsin
St. Croix Falls is a town in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,119 at the 2000 census. The City of St. Croix Falls is located within the town...
west of Deer Lake. US 8 continues east through forest lands, and WIS 46 joins the highway from the north for a four mile (6 km) conconcurrency before splitting off to the south. US 8 passes through Range
Range, Wisconsin
Range is an unincorporated community located in the towns of Apple River and Beaver, Polk County, Wisconsin, United States....
and crosses into Barron County at Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Turtle Lake is a village in Barron and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,065 at the 2000 census. The village is split between the towns of Almena and Beaver .-Geography:...
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
joins US 8 from the south west of Turtle Lake and departs to the north in the downtown area. US 8 passes through Poskin
Poskin, Wisconsin
Poskin is an unincorporated community in the town of Clinton, Barron County, Wisconsin, United States. Poskin is located on U.S. Route 8 west of Barron. Poskin had a post office, which opened on March 30, 1887, and closed on July 10, 1993....
and junctions with WIS 25 in Barron
Barron, Wisconsin
Barron is a city in Barron County , in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census...
. East of Barron, the highway meets U.S. Route 53
U.S. Route 53
U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
at a mixed diamond/cloverleaf interchange and turns north into Cameron
Cameron, Barron County, Wisconsin
Cameron is a village in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,546 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cameron is located at ....
, then turns east in downtown to leave Cameron. after a straight nine miles (14 km), the highway crosses into Rusk County
Rusk County, Wisconsin
Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,347. Its county seat is Ladysmith. Founded in 1901, Rusk County was originally named "Gates" County. It was formed out of the northern portion of Chippewa County....
US 8 continues due east for five miles (8 km) before turning northeast and passing through Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin
Weyerhaeuser is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.-History:The village was "[n]amed for Frederick Weyerhaeuser of the Weyerhaeuser Lumber company."-Geography:...
and crossing WIS 40 in Bruce
Bruce, Wisconsin
Bruce is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bruce is located at ....
. US 8 meets WIS 27 in downtown Ladysmith
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. It is the former location of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. For the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus...
Ladysmith to Rhinelander
Upon leaving Ladysmith, US 8 passes through the communities of TonyTony, Wisconsin
Tony is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 105 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tony is located at ....
, Glen Flora
Glen Flora, Wisconsin
Glen Flora is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 93 at the 2000 census. Founded as Miller's Siding, the village is within the town of True.-Geography:Glen Flora is located at ....
, Ingram
Ingram, Wisconsin
Ingram is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 76 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ingram is located at ....
(where it meets the northern terminus of WIS 73 and Hawkins
Hawkins, Wisconsin
Hawkins is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 317 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Hawkins.-Geography:Hawkins is located at ....
on its way out of Rusk county. In Price County
Price County, Wisconsin
Price County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...
, US 8 passes through Kennan
Kennan, Wisconsin
Kennan is a village in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Kennan.-Geography:Kennan is located at ....
and Catawba
Catawba, Wisconsin
Catawba is a village in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 149 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Catawba.-Geography:Catawba is located at ....
. WIS 111 terminates at its south end on US 8 just east of Catawba. US 8 meets WIS 13 at a diamond interchange northwest of Prentice
Prentice, Wisconsin
Prentice is a village in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 626. The village is located within the Town of Prentice.-Geography:...
and passes north of the city. The highway passes through Brantwood
Brantwood, Wisconsin
Brantwood is an unincorporated community in southern Price County, Wisconsin, United States located within the town of Knox. It lies along United States Highway 8 and on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, between Prentice on the west and Tomahawk on the east...
and enters Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Wisconsin
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 29,641. Its county seat is Merrill.-Geography:According to the U.S...
at Clifford
Clifford, Wisconsin
Clifford is an unincorporated community in Lincoln, Oneida, and Price counties, Wisconsin, United States. Clifford is located in the towns of Somo in Lincoln County, Lynne in Oneida County, and Knox in Price County. The community is located on U.S. Route 8 east of Prentice.-References:...
US 8 passes through Tripoli
Tripoli, Wisconsin
Tripoli is an unincorporated community in Lincoln and Oneida counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Tripoli is located on U.S. Route 8 west of Rhinelander, in the towns of Somo and Lynne. Tripoli has a post office with ZIP code 54564....
and McCord
McCord, Wisconsin
McCord is an unincorporated community in Lincoln and Oneida counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Lincoln County portion of McCord is located in the town of Wilson, while the Oneida County portion is located in the town of Little Rice. McCord is located on U.S. Route 8 west-northwest of...
and passes north of Tomahawk
Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Tomahawk is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2010 census. The city is located to the northeast of the Town of Tomahawk and is not contiguous with it.-History:...
as it passes through the Lake Nokomis area. U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
crosses US 8 northeast of Tomahawk. US 8 turns northeast into Oneida County
Oneida County, Wisconsin
Oneida County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 36,776. Its county seat is Rhinelander.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,236 square miles , of which 1,124 square miles is land and 111 square...
and on a twisting northeastward road passes through Woodboro
Woodboro, Wisconsin
Woodboro is a town in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Woodboro is located in the town...
and expands to a divided highway into Rhinelander. It collects WIS 47 south on the southwest side of Rhinelander
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
. WIS 17 north joins the highways a half of a mile to the southeast, creating a wrong-way concurrency with WIS 47. WIS 17 turns to the north two miles (3 km) southeast of there and US 8 and WIS 47 head eastbound out of the Rhinelander area.
Rhinelander to Norway
US 8 intersects with US 45U.S. Route 45 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 45 runs north–south through the eastern and northern portions of the state.-Route description:...
south in Monico
Monico, Wisconsin
Monico is a town in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 364 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Monico is located in the town.-Geography:...
and WIS 47 follows US 45 south while US 45 North follows US 8 for 1 miles (1.6 km) before splitting north. US 8 enters Forest County
Forest County, Wisconsin
Forest County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,304. Its county seat is Crandon.-Indian Reservations:...
five miles (8 km) east of Monico. Seven miles in, the highway collects WIS 32 from the north in Crandon
Crandon, Wisconsin
Crandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county...
and the two routes head east to Laona
Laona, Wisconsin
Laona is a town in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,212 at the 2010 census. The census-designated place of Laona is located in the town...
where US 8 turns north and WIS 32 turns south. US 8 turns east again at Cavour
Cavour, Wisconsin
Cavour is an unincorporated community in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. Cavour is located in the town of Caswell, east-northeast of Crandon....
and passes through Armstrong Creek
Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin
Armstrong Creek is a town in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 409 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Armstrong Creek, Bonneval, and Laona Junction are located with the town.-Geography:...
one mile (1.6 km) from the Marinette County
Marinette County, Wisconsin
Marinette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,384. Its county seat is Marinette.Marinette County is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
line. The highway passes through Goodman
Goodman, Wisconsin
Goodman is a town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 820 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Goodman is located in the town-Geography:...
and Dunbar
Dunbar, Wisconsin
See also Dunbar Dunbar is a town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,303 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Dunbar is located in the town.-History:...
as it meanders through the county and joins U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141 is a north–south highway in the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin. US 41 is its parent route. Its northern terminus, on US 41, is near Covington, Michigan; its southern terminus, with I-43 near Bellevue, Wisconsin; it remains in existence in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a...
at Pembine
Pembine, Wisconsin
Pembine is a town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Kremlin is located in the town, The census-designated place of Pembine is also located in the town.-Geography:...
. The two routes split ten miles (16 km) north near Niagara
Niagara, Wisconsin
Niagara is a city in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,880 at the 2000 census. The city lies to the north of and adjacent to the Town of Niagara. It is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and with US 8 heading east. the highway takes a northward turn and heads across the Menominee River
Menominee River
The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. It is approximately 118 mi , draining a rural forested area of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan...
into Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
near Pier's Gorge Park
US 8 enters Michigan south of Norway at the Menominee River
Menominee River
The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. It is approximately 118 mi , draining a rural forested area of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan...
crossing in Norway Township
Norway Township, Michigan
Norway Township is a civil township of Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,639 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The City of Norway is at the southwest corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....
and proceeds north into the city where it ends at US 2
U.S. Route 2 in Michigan
US Highway 2 is a component of the United States Numbered Highway System that connects Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan, with a separate segment that runs from Rouses Point, New York, to Houlton, Maine...
. US 8 in Michigan is 2.322 miles (3.7 km) long. In this segment, the road passes by the Dickinson County
Dickinson County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,472 people, 11,386 households, and 7,583 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 13,702 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
fairgrounds and Norway Speedway.
20th century
US 8 was created with the beginnings of the United States Numbered Highway System on November 26, 1926. The highway was originally shown on maps running between Forest Lake, MinnesotaForest Lake, Minnesota
Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake .Interstate 35 and U.S...
and Powers, Michigan
Powers, Michigan
Powers is a village in Menominee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 430 at the 2000 census. It was named for John Powers, a bookkeeper for a logging company that came into the area in the late 19th century....
. In Minnesota, US 8 followed Constitutional Route 46, which was designated in a constitutional amendment adopted on November 2, 1920. Route 46 originally ran between Forest Lake and Chisago City
Chisago City, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,622 people, 1,038 households, and 685 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,329.0 people per square mile . There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of 561.1 per square mile...
through Wyoming
Wyoming, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,048 people, 1,023 households, and 848 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,069.8 people per square mile . There were 1,055 housing units at an average density of 370.3 per square mile...
. The Wisconsin section of the highway was previously designated WIS 14 from the Minnesota–Wisconsin state line east to Armstrong Creek
Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin
Armstrong Creek is a town in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 409 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Armstrong Creek, Bonneval, and Laona Junction are located with the town.-Geography:...
.
Although originally designated in November 1926, US 8 was not designated as part of the state trunkline highway system
Michigan Highway System
The Michigan State Trunkline Highway System is made up of all the highways designated as Interstates, U.S. Highways and State Highways in the US state of Michigan. The system is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation and comprises of trunklines in all 83 counties of Michigan on...
in Michigan at that time. The highway connection from Quinnesec
Quinnesec, Michigan
Quinnesec is an unincorporated community in Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legally recognized status as a municipality. The population was 1,187 at the 2000 census...
south into Wisconsin was part of M-57
M-57 (Michigan highway)
M-57 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The highway connects US Highway 131 near Rockford on the west end to M-15 near Otisville in the Lower Peninsula. In between, the mostly rural highway passes through farmland and connects several highways and smaller towns...
which connected with WIS 57. US 8 ended at WIS 57 in Pembine at the time, with no connection into Michigan shown on official maps. A map by the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
does show the highway continuing east through Faithorn
Faithorn, Michigan
Faithorn is an unincorporated community in Menominee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located along County Road 577 approximately east of the state of Wisconsin....
and Hermansville
Hermansville, Michigan
Hermansville is an unincorporated community in the Meyer Township of Menominee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It formed as a company town based around the defunct Wisconsin Land & Lumber Company. The company's former headquarters is open as the IXL Historical Museum. U.S. Route 2 passes...
in Michigan to end at US 2. A later extension in 1928 moved US 8 to run along US 141
U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141 is a north–south highway in the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin. US 41 is its parent route. Its northern terminus, on US 41, is near Covington, Michigan; its southern terminus, with I-43 near Bellevue, Wisconsin; it remains in existence in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a...
, which had replaced WIS 57 and M-57, ending in Quinnesec at US 2. By the next year, the highway was shifted to end in Norway.
In 1931, US 8 was extended south from Forest Lake into downtown Minneapolis to the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and Washington Avenue. At the time, US 12
U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota
U.S. Route 12 is a highway in west-central and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the South Dakota state line at Ortonville near Big Stone Lake and continues east to the St. Croix River at the Wisconsin state line. U.S. 12 in Minnesota is in length...
and US 52
U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 52 enters the state of Minnesota at the unincorporated community of Prosper, north of the town of Burr Oak, Iowa. The route is marked north–south in Minnesota along its independent segment from the Iowa state line to downtown St. Paul...
ran along Washington Avenue and US 65
U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota...
ran on the other side of 3rd Avenue and also ended at this intersection. US 8 in Minnesota was paved in its entirety by 1940. Starting around the year 1955, US 8 was moved to a more direct routing between Forest Lake and Chisago City. US 8 replaced MN 98
Minnesota State Highway 98
Minnesota State Highway 98 was a highway in Minnesota, which ran from to U.S. Route 61 in Wyoming to U.S. Route 8 in Chisago City. It was decommissioned in 1996 and became Chisago County Road 22.Highway 98 was also known as Wyoming Trail....
along Legislative Route 98. The former routing between Wyoming and Chisago City along Constitutional Route 46 was then redesignated MN 98 until 1998.
As late as 1959, the Michigan State Highway Department still had plans on their books to build the section of US 8 west of Hermansville to the Menominee River
Menominee River
The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. It is approximately 118 mi , draining a rural forested area of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan...
. The control section atlas published on January 1, 1959 showed this segment of highway on the Menominee County
Menominee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,326 people, 10,529 households, and 7,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 13,639 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
map, complete with a control section number. The section of highway is shown as "proposed" or "under construction". However, a new bridge was built over the Menominee River to carry the highway across the Michigan–Wisconsin state line near Norway in 1966. WisDOT still shows the section of highway needed in their state to extend US 8 to the original eastern terminus in Michigan on internal maps. The December 31, 2004 edition of their Official State Trunk Highway System Maps shows this section as a "mapped corridor".
In 1978, with ongoing construction and completion of the I-35W
Interstate 35W (Minnesota)
Interstate 35W , is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, passing through downtown Minneapolis. It is one of two through routes for Interstate 35 through the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the other being Interstate 35E through downtown Saint Paul...
freeway in Minnesota, US 8 was truncated to end at the I-35W / New Brighton Boulevard interchange. In 1981, US 8 was truncated again to its current terminus in Forest Lake. The section in New Brighton
New Brighton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,206 people, 9,013 households, and 5,903 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,343.9 people per square mile . There were 9,121 housing units at an average density of 1,373.5 per square mile...
is currently known as Old Highway 8.
WisDOT built a bypass of the city of Rhinelander during the 1990s. The new highway was constructed south of town as a new two-lane highway. The former route through downtown Rhinelander and near Clear and George lakes was redesignated as Business US 8 (BUS US 8).
21st century
In 2002, US 8 was widened from two lanes to four lanes with a grass median between North Rifle Road and WIS 47. At the time, officials with WisDOT had plans to extend the four-lane divided highway as far west as US 51U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 51 runs north–south down the central part of the state...
near Tomahawk
Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Tomahawk is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2010 census. The city is located to the northeast of the Town of Tomahawk and is not contiguous with it.-History:...
. Problems related to wetlands in the construction area and bad weather pushed completion of the project back almost a year. Contractors had install metal sheeting to stabilize the marshy ground. Originally scheduled to end November 1, 2002, the project did not finish until August 2003. The delays and additional work increased the price tag of the project from the original $4.5 million (equivalent to $ in ) to $6.0 million (equivalent to $ in ). A section of the project was only designed for 45 miles per hour (20.1 m/s) speeds for safety reasons. The design also allowed planners to limit the amount of land needed for the expansion.
Bill and Jerri Osberg sued the state and seven other parties over runoff from the construction in April 2003. They claimed that the runoff killed hundreds of trees and polluted ponds on their property. Later investigation uncovered damage to wildlife habitat in the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
. Included in the original lawsuit were six individual WisDOT employees, the primary contractor and a local pet supply company. The court of appeals partially upheld a ruling by the district court dismissing the employees and the contractor from the lawsuit in March 2006. The pet supply company was reinstated in the case by the appeals court. The couple settled their claims, and the state pursued the matter against Pagel Construction in a related lawsuit. WisDOT alleged that the contractor did not follow proper erosion controls and failed to remediate the erosion damage to the Osbergs' property. The state wanted the construction company to forfeit their $70,000 retainer (equivalent to $ in ) and pay damages of $150,000 (equivalent to $ in ). Pagel Construction faulted WisDOT's erosion control plan and said that the state's engineers controlled the project. The contractor was seeking the return of its retainer. In September 2007, a jury found in favor of Pagel Construction and awarded them $70,898.13 in damages(equivalent to $ in ).
Imitating the Highway 127 Corridor Sale, a Northern Wisconsin woman started the "The Great Eight Sale" in 2010. Her goal is to promote the area with a rummage sale that runs from the Minnesota state line to Norway, Michigan. Towns along the length of the highway participated in the first event on Labor Day weekend. Some groups planned to use the opportunity to raise money, while the original event planner was not charging participants for booths.
Future
WisDOT has completed the environmental studies on bypasses of Barron and Cameron in Barron County. These bypasses would form a continuous expressway through the area. No funding has been identified to complete the projects. The entire length of US 8 in the state has been classified as a the North Country Corridor in the Connections 2030 Plan by the department. This designation marks the highway as a priority in "continued safety, enhanced mobility and efficiency" as well as "modernization to correct outdated infrastructure design".Major intersections
Business route
The U.S. Highway 8 Business Route (BUS US 8) in Rhinelander, WisconsinRhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
was a locally-maintained business loop highway routing through the central business district of the city. The route was designated when US 8 was shifted to a bypass of town in the 1990s. The former routing of US 8 through town was turned over to the city and county for maintenance. The local authorities erected signs along this route to designate it as a business loop of the main highway south of town. The signs along the road were removed on July 1, 2005 when the business loop was redesignated County Highway P.
Before the signage was removed, BUS US 8 started at the western junction of US 8 and WIS 47. The business loop ran east from this intersection along Kemp Street, crossing the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
north of the convergence with the Pelican River. The loop jogged north along Oneida Street for 3 blocks and turned east again on Lincoln Street. East of town, BUS US 8 intersected WIS 17 and turned to the southeast. Outside of town, the business loop ran through wooded terrain and turned south near Clear Lake. Near the larger George Lake, the roadway curved back east along the lake's southern shore, running parallel to the main highway before turning south to connect to the main highway. At this intersection with US 8/WIS 47, the business loop ended after a total run of 7.1 miles (11.4 km).
See also
- U.S. Highway 208
External links
- US 8 at US Highways
- US 8 at The Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page
- US 8 at Historic Minnesota Highways
- US 8 at Wisconsin Highways
- US 8 at Michigan Highways
- US 8 at US Ends
- US at Minnesota State Highway Endings
- US 8 at Michigan Highway Ends
- BUS US 8 on the Master List at Wisconsin Highways
- US 8 at CanHighways