View source for U.S. Route 53

{{Short description|U.S. Highway in Minnesota and Wisconsin}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=53
|map={{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 53.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=US&nbsp;53 highlighted in red
|length_mi=404
|length_ref=<ref name="AASHTO database">{{cite web |title=U.S. Route Number Database |url=https://route.transportation.org/u-s-route-number-database/ |website=Transportation.org |publisher=[[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] |access-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref>
|established=1926{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
|direction_a=South
|direction_b=North
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=WI|US|14|US|61|WI|16}} at [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La&nbsp;Crosse, WI]]
|junction=
*{{Jct|state=WI|I|90}} at La Crosse, WI
*{{Jct|state=WI|I|94}} at [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire, WI]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|US|12}} at [[Altoona, Wisconsin|Altoona, WI]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|WI|29}} at [[Lake Hallie, Wisconsin|Lake Hallie, WI]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|US|63}} at [[Spooner, Wisconsin|Spooner, WI]]
*{{Jct|state=WI|US|2}} at [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior, WI]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|35|I|535}} at [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth, MN]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|MN|33}} at [[Independence, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Independence, MN]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|169|MN|169}} at [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia, MN]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|71|MN|11}} at [[International Falls, Minnesota|Int'l. Falls, MN]]
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=ON|Hwy|71|Hwy|11|to2=11}} at [[Fort Frances|Fort Frances, ON]]
|states=[[Wisconsin]], [[Minnesota]]
|counties='''WI''': [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Trempealeau County, Wisconsin|Trempealeau]], [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa]], [[Barron County, Wisconsin|Barron]], [[Washburn County, Wisconsin|Washburn]], [[Douglas County, Wisconsin|Douglas]]<br />'''MN''': [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|St. Louis]], [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching]]
|system1={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=WI}}
|system2={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=MN}}
|browse={{Us browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=52|next_type=US|next_route=54|route=[[List of United States Numbered Highways|US]]}}{{wi browse|previous_type=WI|previous_route=52|route=WI|next_type=WI 1919|next_route=53}}{{mn browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=52|route=MN|next_type=MN|next_route=54}}
}}
'''U.S. Route 53''', or '''U.S. Highway 53''' ('''U.S.&nbsp;53'''), is a north–south [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S. highway]] that runs for 404 miles (650&nbsp;km) from [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]] to [[International Falls, Minnesota]].  It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between [[Interstate 94 in Wisconsin|I-94]] at [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin]] and the [[Twin Ports]] of [[Superior, Wisconsin]], and [[Duluth, Minnesota]].  The entire route from Eau Claire to the city limits of Superior is a four lane [[dual carriageway|divided highway]].  The highway's northern terminus is at the [[Fort Frances–International Falls International Bridge]] in [[International Falls, Minnesota]], at the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US]] border.  Its southern terminus is in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at [[U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin|U.S. Highway 14]].

==Route description==

===Wisconsin===

{{multiple image
 | width = 140
 | align  = center
 | image1 = Wisconsin 157 highway.jpg 
 | alt1   = [[Wisconsin Highway 157]] turns in to 53 and the Freeway
 | image2 = Wisconsin Highway 53.jpg|80px
 | alt2   = 53 in [[Onalaska, Wisconsin|Onalaska]]
 | image3 = Wisconsin Highway 53 in Holmen.jpg
 | alt3   = 53 in [[Holmen, Wisconsin|Holmen]]
 | footer = At the Start of U.S. Route 53 in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Onalaska, Wisconsin|Onalaska]], and [[Holmen, Wisconsin|Holmen]]. 
}}

U.S. Highway 53 begins at its southern terminus with a [[junction (traffic)|junction]] at [[U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin|U.S. 14]], [[U.S. Route 61 in Wisconsin|U.S. 61]], and [[Wisconsin Highway 16]] in downtown [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]]. From there, U.S. 53 crosses [[Interstate 90 in Wisconsin|Interstate 90]] and becomes a freeway bypass of [[Onalaska, Wisconsin|Onalaska]] and [[Holmen, Wisconsin|Holmen]] before proceeding north to Eau Claire as a two-lane roadway. The interchange with [[Interstate 94 in Wisconsin|Interstate 94]] at Eau Claire begins a [[freeway]] / [[limited-access road|expressway]] stretch for U.S. 53 north to the city limits of [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]]. The {{circa|2006}} freeway in Eau Claire bypasses most of the city, alleviating congestion on the original route (signed now as both Business U.S. 53 and Hastings Way). Business U.S. 53 / Hastings Way is a mix of grade-separated interchanges and at-grade intersections, and is routed through Eau Claire, passing within about {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} of downtown Eau Claire. Other smaller towns between Eau Claire and Superior ([[Minong, Wisconsin|Minong]] and [[Solon Springs, Wisconsin|Solon Springs]]) were bypassed in a similar manner.

Wisconsin's first [[single-point urban interchange]] is found along the U.S. 53 bypass of Eau Claire, at its interchange with [[U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin|U.S. 12]] in [[Altoona, Wisconsin|Altoona]].<ref name="bessert01">Chris Bessert. [http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys50-59.html#US-053 Wisconsin Highways - Highway 53] 2006, URL accessed 2006 December 31</ref> This interchange received the 2005 Outstanding Highway Construction award from the Bureau of Project Development.<ref name=WisDOT2>{{cite web |url= http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d6/us53/index.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061007182054/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d6/us53/index.htm |title=US 53 project |date=October 3, 2006 |archive-date=October 7, 2006 |publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation}}</ref>

U.S. 53 continues as a freeway north of Eau Claire past [[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin|Chippewa Falls]] to [[Rice Lake, Wisconsin|Rice Lake]], where it then becomes an expressway with only three grade-separated interchanges (one at 28th Avenue (CTH-V) in [[Haugen, Wisconsin|Haugen]], one at [[Wisconsin Highway 70]] near [[Spooner, Wisconsin|Spooner]] and one at [[Wisconsin Highway 13]], immediately southeast of Superior). U.S. 53 has a partial grade-separated interchange with [[U.S. Route 2 in Wisconsin|U.S. 2]] in the [[town (Wisconsin)|town]] of [[Amnicon, Wisconsin|Amnicon]], but traffic turning from U.S. 2 westbound onto U.S. 53 southbound must take a U-turn at an at-grade crossover past the interchange.

After passing through the city of Superior as a four-lane city surface street (East Second Street) for a {{convert|5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch, U.S. 53 then approaches the [[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis Bay]]. U.S. 53 then runs together with [[Interstate 535]] and crosses the bay via the John Blatnik Bridge into Minnesota.

===Minnesota===
US&nbsp;53 enters the state at the city of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] on the [[John A. Blatnik Bridge|John Blatnik Bridge]] over the Saint Louis Bay. US&nbsp;53 [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with [[Interstate 535|I-535]] for {{convert|2.8|mi|km}} as it enters Minnesota. I-535/US&nbsp;53 has an [[interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 35|I-35]] in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], known locally as the "[[Can of Worms (Minnesota interchange)|Can of Worms]]"; it features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.<ref>{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Duluth+MN&ll=46.765515,-92.12255&spn=0.005762,0.01663&t=h |title=Overview Map and Aerial Photo of the Can of Worms |access-date=June 8, 2009}}</ref>

After its [[junction (traffic)|junction]] with I-35, US&nbsp;53 continues through Duluth on Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road for {{convert|3.5|mi|km}}.

US&nbsp;53 then runs concurrently with [[Minnesota State Highway 194|State Highway 194]] (MN&nbsp;194) for {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}}, from Trinity Road in Duluth to Lindahl Road in the city of [[Hermantown, Minnesota|Hermantown]]. This four-lane stretch of US&nbsp;53 and MN&nbsp;194 are also known as the Miller Trunk Highway in the cities of Duluth and Hermantown.

From Hermantown, the route proceeds north to the city of [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]]. The portion of the route from Duluth to Virginia is a four-lane expressway. US&nbsp;53 has a junction with [[Minnesota State Highway 33|MN&nbsp;33]] at the unincorporated community of [[Independence, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Independence]]. Continuing northbound, US&nbsp;53 has an interchange with [[U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota|US&nbsp;169]] in Virginia. In between the US 169 and MN 135 interchanges is the [[Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge]]. This bridge is the tallest in the state and spans 4 lanes of freeway. Immediately north of Virginia, US&nbsp;53 has an interchange with [[Minnesota State Highway 169|MN&nbsp;169]] in [[Wuori Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Wuori Township]].

US&nbsp;53 then proceeds northwest to [[International Falls, Minnesota|International Falls]], where it has a junction with [[U.S. Route 71|US&nbsp;71]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 11|MN&nbsp;11]].

US&nbsp;53 in Minnesota passes through [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|Saint Louis]] and [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching]] counties. Legally, the Minnesota section of US&nbsp;53 is defined as unmarked [[legislative route (Minnesota)|legislative routes]] 106, 11, and 315 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.115(37), (246), and 161.114(2). US&nbsp;53 is not marked with these legislative numbers along the actual highway.

====Designations====
*A portion of US&nbsp;53 in Minnesota is officially designated the ''Voyageur Highway''.  The ''Voyageur Highway'' is a state designation that is also applied to various other state highways in Minnesota.
*The portion of US&nbsp;53 from the city limits of [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] to [[Minnesota State Highway 11|MN 11]] in [[International Falls, Minnesota|International Falls]] was designated as ''Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway'' in 2009 in honor of former State House Speaker [[Irv Anderson]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Jon Ellis |url=http://www.fox21online.com/news/pawlenty-approves-irv-anderson-memorial-highway |title=Pawlenty approves Irv Anderson Memorial Highway |publisher=FOX 21 Online |date=2009-04-16 |access-date=2010-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711050044/http://www.fox21online.com/news/pawlenty-approves-irv-anderson-memorial-highway |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*The 2008 Minnesota Legislature named US&nbsp;53 between Superior Street and Central Entrance in the city of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] as ''Walter F. Mondale Drive''. On June 12, 2008, this section of highway (Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road) was dedicated as Walter F. Mondale Drive in honor of the [[Walter Mondale|former vice president]]'s public service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/161.14/pdf|title=2021 Minnesota Statutes ch. 810.14|publisher=Office of the Revisor of Statutes|accessdate=February 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/duluth-to-dedicate-mondale-drive|publisher=Duluth News Tribune|title=Duluth to dedicate Mondale Drive|date=June 11, 2008|accessdate=February 10, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
U.S. Highway 53 was extended into Minnesota in 1934. When marked, it was paved from the Wisconsin border to its junction with U.S. 169 in [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]], on a short segment between [[Britt, Minnesota|Britt]] and [[Idington, Minnesota|Idington]], and from [[Cusson, Minnesota|Cusson]] to the Canadian border.<ref name=MN1934map>{{cite map |title=1934 Map of Trunk Highway System, State of Minnesota |publisher=Minnesota Highway Department |date=May 1, 1934 |cartography=McGill-Warner Co. |section= L-3 to O-10 |url=http://cdm16022.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mdt/id/211/rec/16 |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> The segment from Virginia to Britt was paved during that year,<ref name=MN1935map>{{cite map |title=1935 Map of Trunk Highway System, State of Minnesota |publisher=Minnesota Highway Department |date=April 1, 1935 |cartography=McGill-Warner Co. |section= L-3 to O-10 |url=http://cdm16022.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mdt/id/210/rec/15 |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> and the remainder was paved in 1935.<ref name=MN1936map>{{cite map |title=1936 Map of Trunk Highway System, State of Minnesota |publisher=Minnesota Highway Department |date=April 1, 1936 |cartography=McGill-Warner Co. |section= L-3 to O-10 |url=http://cdm16022.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mdt/id/210/rec/15 |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

A bypass around Virginia was completed in 1964 and opened to traffic that November;<ref name=MNH1964-12>{{cite magazine |title=News from Central Offices and Districts - Maintenance Area 1-B |last1=Schumann |first1=Lois |last2=Biondich |first2=Mary |magazine=Minnesota Highways |editor1-last=Buxton |editor1-first=Tom |publisher=Minnesota Department of Highways |volume=14 |issue=2 |page=13 |date=December 1964 |url=http://cdm16022.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/mdt/id/3164/rec/12 |access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> [[Minnesota State Highway 135|State Highway 135]] was extended along the previous alignment through the city.<ref name=CS6918>{{citation |title=Construction Project Log Record, Control Section 6918 |publisher=Minnesota Highway Department |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/docs/projlog/county69/6918.pdf |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

The [[Limited-access road|expressway]] section between [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] and Virginia was constructed by 1970, except the portion between [[Four Corners, Minnesota|Four Corners]] and [[Independence, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Independence]].

In 1989, the entirety of US 53 in Wisconsin was designated the ''Peace Memorial Highway'', commemorating citizens of Wisconsin who have worked to promote international peace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/pages/travel/road/comm-hwys/default.aspx|title=Commemorative Highways & Bridges|author=Wisconsin Department of Transportation|accessdate=February 10, 2022}}</ref>

A new four-lane [[dual carriageway|divided highway]] section of U.S. 53 in Duluth was constructed in 2004.  This section of the route is known locally as ''Piedmont Avenue''.  Previously, from 1934 to 2004, this same section of U.S. 53 was a narrow two-lane roadway that had proceeded up the hill to a seven-legged [[Intersection (road)|intersection]] that had included Duluth's ''Skyline Parkway''.  Locally, this now-defunct famous intersection, had been known for 70 years by the name "Seven Corners".

A new U.S. Highway 53 [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Minnesota State Highway 169|State Highway 169]] in [[Wuori Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Wuori Township]] was built in 2006.

A four-lane expressway from north of the city of [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] to the south city limits of [[Cook, Minnesota|Cook]] was constructed beginning in 2009 as part of a long-range goal of providing a four-lane highway to Canada as part of the '''Falls-to-Falls Corridor'''. The first stage, from approximately County Road 307 to 0.25 miles south of County Road 652 (Goodell Road), was completed in 2009;<ref name="MnDOT">{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53-1b/index.html |title=U.S. Highway 53 from Virginia to Cook – Four-lane expansion improvement project |year=2009 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102030025/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53-1b/index.html |archive-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> the second stage was completed in the fall of 2013.

===Relocation between Eveleth and Virginia===
On May 5, 2010, [[Cliffs Natural Resources]] provided notice to the [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] (MnDOT) that U.S. Highway 53 easement rights across the United Taconite Mine, per a 1960 agreement, would be terminated to allow for expansion of the mine.  United Taconite and MnDOT negotiated an agreement to move the roadway by 2017.<ref name="MnDOT2">{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53relocation/index.html |title=U.S. Highway 53 Relocation between Eveleth and Virginia |date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220149/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53relocation/index.html |archive-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>

There were three rerouting options proposed:<ref name=SEH>{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53relocation/pdf/sehreport.pdf |title=Highway 53 Realignment Study - United Taconite |publisher=Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. |via=Minnesota Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927194628/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy53relocation/pdf/sehreport.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref>

* West – Following [[Minnesota State Highway 37|State Highway 37]] and [[County roads in St. Louis County, Minnesota#7|Saint Louis County Road 7]].
* Center – Through the Auburn Pit; on the south side of the existing route of Highway 53.
* East – Around and across the [[Rouchleau Mine|Rouchleau Pit]]; on the north side of the existing route of Highway 53.

The East route was selected for the project and construction began in November 2015,<ref name=PP2015-11>{{cite news |title=MnDOT to relocate highway to make room for now-idled iron mine |newspaper=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=November 3, 2015 |url=https://www.twincities.com/2015/11/03/mndot-to-relocate-highway-to-make-room-for-now-idled-iron-mine/ |access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> with the realignment reaching completion in 2017. On September 15, the new roadway was opened, with a dedication of the bridge spanning the Rouchleau Pit. The bridge is the tallest in the state at {{convert|204|ft|m}} in height.<ref name=PP2017-09>{{cite news |last=Slater |first=Brady |title=Tallest bridge in Minnesota is dedicated. You can drive over it really soon.   |newspaper=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=September 16, 2017 |url=https://www.twincities.com/2017/09/16/tallest-bridge-in-minnesota-is-dedicated-you-can-drive-over-it-really-soon/ |access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

==Falls-to-Falls Corridor==
The '''Falls-to-Falls Corridor''' (officially '''The Falls-to-Falls Corridor—United States Route 53 from International Falls on the Minnesota/Canada border to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin''') is, by the United States federal government, a recognized trade corridor.

In the 1990s, the federal government listed the corridor as a priority for development.  The primary development planned is infrastructure-related, specifically, a highway project hoped to spur economic development in northwestern [[Wisconsin]] and northeastern [[Minnesota]] by widening U.S. Highway 53 to full [[Limited-access road|expressway]] standards from [[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin]] to [[International Falls, Minnesota]].  [[Interstate 535|Interstate Highway 535]] forms the only section of the route that is part of the [[Interstate Highway System]].

===Wisconsin===
With the exception of a {{convert|5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch as a four-lane city surface street (East Second Street) in the city of [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]], the entire route within Wisconsin is completed to [[freeway]] or expressway standards.  On the south end of the corridor, the connection to [[Interstate 94|Interstate Highway 94]] is a {{convert|7.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch through the [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]]-Chippewa Falls conurbation.  After years of legal and political wrangling, the decision was made in the late 1990s to bypass the current route, rather than to convert the present highway to freeway standards. The northern half of this bypass, as far south as [[Wisconsin Highway 312|WIS 312]] was opened to traffic in mid-2005. The southern half of the bypass, which includes a pair of multilane bridges over the [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River)|Eau Claire River]], goes mostly through [[Altoona, Wisconsin|Altoona]] and includes interchanges with [[Wisconsin Highway 312|WIS 312]], [[U.S. Route 12|U.S. Highway 12]] and [[Wisconsin Highway 93|WIS 93]]. This project won multiple awards in 2005 and 2006.<ref name=WisDOT2/> This section of the bypass was opened mid-morning on August 21, 2006.

===Minnesota===
Federal funding for the project in northern Minnesota was $940,000 in 2003 and nearly $600,000 in 2004.<ref name=FHWA1>{{cite web |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0504h.cfm |title=U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $3.8 for Minnesota Transportation Projects |date=May 4, 2004 |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> At present, with the exception of {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} stretch within the city of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] (Piedmont Avenue and Trinity Road), the route is completed as an expressway as far north as the city of [[Cook, Minnesota|Cook]], leaving approximately {{convert|73|mi|km}} of the route to [[International Falls, Minnesota|International Falls]] to be converted to expressway standards.

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|exit|state_col=State|county_col=County/Division|length_ref=<ref name="AASHTO database"/><ref name=logpoint1>{{MnDOT logpoint|access-date=October 22, 2010}}</ref>|exit_ref=<ref name="WisDOT1">{{cite web | author=Wisconsin Department of Transportation | title =Exit numbers on US 53 | url =http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/exits-us53.htm | access-date = 2007-12-12}}</ref>}}
{{WIint|exit
|espan=5
|sspan=55
|county=La Crosse
|cspan=11
|location=La Crosse
|lspan=4
|mile=0.00
|mspan=2
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|16|dir1=east|name1=Cameron Street|US|14|dir2=east|US|61|GRR||dir4=south|I-Alt|90|dir5=west}}
|notes=Cameron St. is a one-way street; southern terminus of southbound US&nbsp;53; I-90 Alt. follows US 14/WI 16 (Cameron St.); road continues as US&nbsp;14 east/US&nbsp;61/GRR south (3rd Street south)
}}
{{WIint
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|16|name1=Cass Street|US|14|dir2=west|US|61|dir3=north|GRR||I-Alt|90|dir5=east|location1=[[La Crescent, Minnesota|La Crescent]]}}
|notes=Cass St. is a one-way street; southern terminus of northbound US&nbsp;53; I-90 Alt. follows US 14/WI 16 west (Cass St.); road continues north from US&nbsp;14/US&nbsp;61/GRR (4th Street)
}}
{{WIint
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|35|dir1=south|name1=George Street}}
|notes=Southern end of WIS 35 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|type=concur
|mile=4
|road={{Jct|state=WI|I|90|dir1=west|WI|35|dir2=north|GRR|dir3=north||location1=[[Minnesota]]|city2=Onalaska}}
|notes=Northern end of WIS 35 overlap; southern end of I-90 overlap; I-90 exit 3
}}
{{WIint
|location=Onalaska
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|I|90|dir1=east|WI|157|dir2=east|city1=Madison|city2=LaCrosse}}
|notes=South end of expressway; northern end of I-90 overlap; southern end of WIS 157 overlap; I-90 exit 4
}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=
|exit=6
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|157|dir1=west|CTH|OS|name2=Main Street}}
|notes=Northern end of WIS 157 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=7
|road={{Jct|state=WI|CTH|S|name1=Sand Lake Road}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Holmen
|lspan=4
|mile=
|exit=9
|road={{Jct|state=WI|CTH|OT|city1=Midway}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=
|exit=11
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|35|dir1=south|CTH|HD|GRR||name3=Holmen Drive}}
|notes=Southern end of WIS 35 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=13
|road={{Jct|state=WI|CTH|MH|name1=McHugh Road}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=
|exit=15
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|35|dir1=north|CTH|HD|GRR||city1=Holmen|city2=Trempealeau}}<br />{{Jct|state=WI|WI|93|dir1=begins}}
|notes=North end of expressway; northern end of WIS 35 overlap; southern end of WIS 93 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Trempealeau
|cspan=8
|town=Gale
|type=concur
|mile=
|espan=8
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|54|dir1=east|city1=Melrose}}
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 54 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|location=Galesville
|type=concur
|mile=23
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|54|dir1=west|WI|93|dir2=north|location1=[[Centerville, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin|Centerville]]}}
|notes=Western end of WIS 54 overlap; northern end of WIS 93 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|location=Blair
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|95|dir1=east|city1=Blair|city2=Hixton}}
|notes=Eastern end of WIS 95 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|town=Preston
|ctdab=Trempealeau
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|95|dir1=west|city1=Arcadia}}
|notes=Western end of WIS 95 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|location=Whitehall
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|121|dir1=west|city1=Independence}}
|notes=Southern end of WIS 121 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|location=Pigeon Falls
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|121|dir1=east|city1=Northfield}}
|notes=Northern end of WIS 121 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|location=Osseo
|type=concur
|mile=69
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|10|dir1=east|I-Alt|94|dir2=east|city1=Fairchild|city2=Neillsville}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 10 and Alternate I-94 overlap
}}
{{WIint
|town=Sumner
|ctdab=Trempealeau
|type=concur
|mile=70
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|10|dir1=west|city1=Mondovi}}
|notes=Western end of US 10 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Eau Claire
|cspan=6
|location=Eau Claire
|lspan=3
|mile=86
|exit=84
|road={{Jct|state=WI|I|94|city1=Madison|location2=[[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]}}
|notes=[[Cloverleaf interchange]]; south end of freeway; southbound exits signed as 84A (east) and 84B (west); no exit numbers northbound
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=85
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|AA|road|Golf Road}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|mile2=
|exit=86
|road={{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dab1=Eau Claire|name1=Hastings Way|WI|93|dir2=south|city1=La Crosse}}
|notes=US 53 Business only signed northbound
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Altoona
|lspan=2
|mile=89
|exit=87
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|12|name1=Clairemont Avenue|city1=Fairchild|city2=Eau Claire}}
|notes=Wisconsin's first [[SPUI]]<ref name=WisDOT2/>
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=89
|road=River Prairie Drive
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Eau Claire
|mile=
|exit=90
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|312|CTH|Q|name2=North Crossing}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Chippewa
|cspan=9
|location=Lake Hallie
|lspan=3
|mile=
|exit=92
|road=Melby Street
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=94
|road={{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dab1=Eau Claire|WI|124|CTH|OO|US-Alt|53|city1=Chippewa Falls|city2=Lake Hallie}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=95
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|29|I-Alt|94|dir2=west|city1=Menomonie|city2=Green Bay}}
|notes=Signed as exits 95A (east) and 95B (west), western end of Alternate I-94 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Chippewa Falls
|mile=
|exit=96
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI-Bus|29|dab1=Chippewa Falls|CTH|X|US-Alt|53|city1=Menomonie|city2=Chippewa Falls}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Tilden
|lspan=2
|mile=
|exit=99
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|S|city1=Chippewa Falls|city2=Jim Falls}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=102
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|B|city1=Tilden}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Bloomer
|mile=
|exit=110
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|40|city1=Bloomer|city2=Colfax}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Bloomer
|mile=
|exit=112
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|64|city1=Cornell|city2=New Richmond}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=New Auburn
|mile=
|exit=118
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|M|city1=New Auburn}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Barron
|cspan=6
|town=Chetek
|mile=
|exit=126
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|I|city1=Chetek}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Cameron
|ctdab=Barron
|mile=137
|exit=135
|road={{jct|state=WI|US|8|city1=Barron|location2=[[Cameron, Barron County, Wisconsin|Cameron]]}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Rice Lake
|lspan=2
|mile=
|exit=140
|road={{jct|state=WI|CTH|O|city1=Rice Lake}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=143
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|48|city1=Rice Lake|city2=Cumberland}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Oak Grove
|ctdab=Barron
|lspan=2
|mile=
|road=26th Avenue
|notes=[[At-grade intersection]]; north end of freeway}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=150
|road={{Jct|state=WI|CTH|V|name1=28th Avenue|city1=Haugen}}
|notes=Interchange}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Washburn
|cspan=7
|town=Sarona
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|253|dir1=north|city1=Spooner}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Spooner
|lspan=2
|mile=
|exit=165
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|70|location1=[[Spooner, Wisconsin|Spooner]]|location2=[[Stone Lake (CDP), Wisconsin|Stone Lake]]}}
|notes=Interchange}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=167
|exit=168
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|63|dir1=south|city1=Spooner|city2=Shell Lake}}
|notes=Interchange; southern end of US 63 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Trego
|type=concur
|mile=
|exit=172
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|63|CTH|E|dir1=north|city1=Hayward}}
|notes=Northern end of US 63 overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Minong
|lspan=3
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dir1=north|dab1=Minong}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=WI|WI|77|city1=Minong|city2=Danbury}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dir1=south|dab1=Minong}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|county=Douglas
|cspan=8
|location=Solon Springs
|lspan=2
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dir1=north|dab1=Solon Springs}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US-Bus|53|dir1=south|dab1=Solon Springs}}
}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Amnicon
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=226
|exit=222
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|2|dir1=east|city1=Ashland}}
|notes=Interchange; southern end of US 2 overlap; no southbound entrance
}}
{{WIint|exit
|mile=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|CTH|C|to2=to|US|53|dir2=south|nolink2=yes|city1=Spooner|city2=Eau Claire}}
|notes=Provides U-turn to US 53 south for travelers coming from US 2 west}}
{{WIint|exit
|town=Parkland
|mile=
|exit=227
|road={{Jct|state=WI|WI|13|dir1=south|CTH|Z|Tour|LSCT|dir3=east|city1=Port Wing|city2=Bayfield}}
|notes=Interchange}}
{{WIint|exit
|location=Superior
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|mile=237
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US|2|Tour|LSCT|dir2=west|location1=[[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]}}
|notes=Northern end of US 2 overlap; southern end of US 2 Truck
}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|US-Truck|2|dir1=west}}
|notes=Northern end of US 2 Truck overlap
}}
{{WIint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=239
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=WI|I|535|dir1=begins|WI|35|dir2=south|location1=Duluth}}
|notes=South end of freeway; southern end of I-535 overlap
}}
{{Jctbridge|exit
|river=[[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|St. Louis Bay]]
|river_wide=yes
|mile=240
|mile2=0.000
|line=yes
|bridge=[[John A. Blatnik Bridge]]
}}
{{MNint|exit
|sspan=23
|county=St. Louis
|cspan=18
|location=Duluth
|lspan=5
|mile=0.536
|mile2=0.705
|exit=—
|road=Garfield Avenue}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=1.421
|mile2=1.675
|type=concur
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=MN|I|35|I|535|Tour|LSCT|dir2=ends|city1=St. Paul|city2=Minneapolis}}
|notes=Northern end of I-535 overlap
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=
|exit=—
|road=W. Superior Street / 21st Avenue N.
}}
{{MNint|exit
|espan=22
|mile=
|road=6th Street
|notes=At-grade intersection; north end of freeway
}}
{{MNint
|type=concur
|mile=
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|194|dir1=east|name1=Central Entrance}}
|notes=Southern end of MN 194 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|location=Hermantown
|type=concur
|mile=11.526
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|194|dir1=west|to2=y|US|2|noshield2=y|city1=Grand Rapids}}
|notes=Northern end of MN 194 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|location=New Independence Township
|mile=24.134
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|33|dir1=south|city1=Cloquet}}
}}
{{MNint
|location=Fayal Township
|type=concur
|mile=55.871
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|37|dir1=west|city1=Hibbing}}
|notes=Interchange; southern end of MN 37 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|location=Eveleth
|type=concur
|mile=60.028
|mile2=60.530
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|37|dir1=east|city1=Gilbert}}
|notes=Interchange; northern end of MN 37 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|location=Virginia
|lspan=4
|mile=63.054
|mile2=63.506
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|135|dir1=north|city1=Gilbert}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{MNint
|mile=64.144
|road=2nd Avenue West
|notes=Former [[Minnesota State Highway 135|MN&nbsp;135]] / [[U.S. Route 53 Business (Virginia, Minnesota)|US&nbsp;53 Bus.]]
}}
{{MNint
|mile=65.716
|mile2=66.029
|road={{jct|state=MN|US|169|dir1=south|city1=Mountain Iron|city2=Hibbing|city3=Grand Rapids}}
|notes=Interchange}}
{{MNint
|mile=66.753
|road={{jct|state=MN|CSAH|102|county1=St. Louis|name1=9th Street North}}
|notes=Former [[Minnesota State Highway 135|MN&nbsp;135]]
}}
{{MNint
|township=Wuori
|ctdab=St. Louis
|lspan=2
|mile=68.648
|road={{jct|state=MN|CSAH|103|county1=St. Louis|city1=Virginia}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 53 Business (Virginia, Minnesota)|US&nbsp;53 Bus.]]
}}
{{MNint
|mile=70.387
|mile2=71.031
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|169|dir1=north|city1=Tower|city2=Ely}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{MNint
|location=Sherman Corner
|type=concur
|mile=87.140
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|1|dir1=east|CSAH|22|county2=St. Louis|city1=Tower|city2=Ely}}
|notes=Southern end of MN 1 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|location=Field Township
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=94.168
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|1|dir1=west|CSAH|115|county2=St. Louis|city1=Effie|city2=Northome}}
|notes=Northern end of MN 1 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|mile=101.030
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|73|dir1=south|city1=Chisholm|city2=Hibbing}}
}}
{{MNint
|county=Koochiching
|cspan=5
|location=Ray
|mile=146.275
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|217|dir1=west|city1=Littlefork}}
}}
{{MNint
|location=Rainy Lake
|mile=160.218
|road={{jct|state=MN|CSAH|332|county1=Koochiching}}
|notes=Formerly [[Minnesota State Highway 332|MN 332]]
}}
{{MNint
|location=International Falls
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|mile=163.968
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|11|dir1=west|name1=3rd Avenue}}
|notes=Western end of MN 11 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|type=concur
|mile=164.040
|road={{jct|state=MN|MN|11|dir1=east|name1=4th Street|city1=Island View}}
|notes=Eastern end of MN 11 overlap
}}
{{MNint
|type=concur
|mile=164.105
|road={{jct|state=MN|US|71|dir1=south|name1=3rd Street|city1=Bemidji}}
|notes=Southern end of US 71 overlap
}}
{{jctbridge
|state_special=[[Canada–United States border]]
|sspan=2
|river=[[Rainy River (Minnesota–Ontario)|Rainy River]]
|lspan=2
|type=toll
|mile=164.361

|mspan=2
|bridge=[[Fort Frances–International Falls International Bridge]]<ref group=lower-alpha>Canada-bound drivers pay US$7 to cross bridge. No toll for US-bound drivers.</ref>

}}

{{jctint
|type=concur
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=ON|ON|71|dir1=north|city1=Fort Frances}}
|notes=Northern end of US 71 overlap; continuation into Canada
}}
{{Jctbtm|col=8|keys=concur,toll}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==See also==
*[[List of U.S. Routes]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{Commons category|U.S. Route 53}}
*[http://usends.com/53.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 53]
*[http://www.steve-riner.com/mnhighways/r51-75.htm Details of Routes 51 to 75.] Steve Riner's Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page

{{US Highways}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 53| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|53]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Minnesota|53]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Wisconsin|53]]
[[Category:Transportation in La Crosse County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Chippewa County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Barron County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Washburn County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Douglas County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in St. Louis County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Transportation in Koochiching County, Minnesota]]