Wisconsin Highway 188 Explained

State:WI
Type:WI
Route:188
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:WIS 188 highlighted in red
Length Mi:11.88
Direction A:South
Direction B:North
Terminus A: in Sauk City
Terminus B: in Merrimac
Counties:Dane, Columbia
Previous Type:WI
Previous Route:187
Next Type:WI
Next Route:189

State Trunk Highway 188 (often called Highway 188, STH-188 or WIS 188) is a 11.88miles state highway in Dane and Columbia counties in south - central Wisconsin, United States, that runs north–south from near Sauk City to near Merrimac.

Route description

WIS 188 starts in rural Dane County across the Wisconsin River from Sauk City. The highway runs northward through farm fields on the east side of the river, crosses into Columbia County, and heads to an intersection with WIS 60 east of Prairie du Sac. The two highways run concurrently to the northeast for about before WIS 188 separates and turns northward again. Near Lake Wisconsin, the highway turns east and then back north before sticking to an eastward course along a bend in the river. At the intersection with WIS 113 near the Merrimac Ferry, WIS 188 terminates.

History

Around 1942, the routing of WIS 78 was shifted to the east side of the Wisconsin River between Sauk City and the Merrimac Ferry. later, in 1947, that highway was moved back to its previous routing, and the highway on the east side of the river was rechristened WIS 188. The route of WIS 188 has remained unchanged since.