| Southern Terminus: |
Wisconsin state line (connection w/WI STH-55) 9 miles southwest of Iron River |
| Northern Terminus: |
US-2 one mile west of Iron River |
| Length: |
8.171 miles |
| Maps: |
Route Map of M-73 |
| Notes: |
M-73 is a short highway serving as a connection between Iron River and STH-55 (State Trunk Highway 55) in Wisconsin. Other than a relocation onto a nearby, more direct alignment two years after first being added to the state trunkline highway system, no major changes have occurred to the route of M-73. |
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In "State Trunkline Needs, 1960–1980," a set of maps prepared by the State Highway Dept's Office of Planning, Programming Division in 1960 showing possible additions, upgrades and improvements to the state trunkline system over the ensuing twenty years, MSHD staff recommended one major change to the route of what is now M-73 during that timeframe: get rid of it. The planners proposed to turn back the entire route to the county and M-73 would cease to be a state trunkline route. Obviously, this did not come to pass. |
| History: |
1919 (Sept 12) – A 10.0-mile long segment of highway is officially established as a state trunkline route beginning at M-12 (now US-2) west of Iron River in Iron Co and continues westerly along Bernhardt Rd, southerly via Michaels Rd, westerly and southerly on Hanmer Rd, then west along Lake Ottawa Rd past Ottawa Lake. At Hagerman Lake, the officially-established route runs west of the lake on an unconstructed route then jogs slightly to the Brule River at the Wisconsin state line. This trunkline is assigned the designation of M-73. |
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1921 (Aug 6) – The entirety of the officially-established 10.0-mile long route of M-73 is cancelled, simultaneously replaced with a new 7.25-mile trunkline along its present-day route from US-2 southwesterly to the Brule River. The existing portions of the former route are turned back to county control. The reason for this simultanous cancellation and establishment is as a result of the completion of actual construction on a slightly diffrent alighment. |
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1922 – A bridge is completed spanning the Brule River connecting the southern end of M-73 with the northern terminus of Wisconsin's STH-55. |
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1937 – All 8.2 miles of M-73 are paved in the summer of 1937. The route was formerly entirely gravel-surfaced. |
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2003 – Replacing the 80-year-old structure constructed in 1922, a new Brule River bridge is constructed on the same location as the previous one. |
| Controlled Access: |
No portion of M-73 is freeway or expressway. |
| NHS: |
No portion of M-73 on the National Highway System (NHS). |
| Memorial Highway: |
At present, no portion of M-73 has been designated as part of a Memorial Highway. |
| Continue on: |
STH-55 into Wisconsin |
| Photographs: |
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| Weblinks: |
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