U.S. Highway 53 (Wisconsin)

U.S. Route 53
US 53 highlighted in red
Route information
Length	404 mi (650 km)
Existed	1926 – present
Major junctions
South end	US 14 / US 61 / WIS 16at La Crosse, Wis.
	I-90 at La Crosse, Wis. I-94 at Eau Claire, Wis. US 12 at Altoona, Wis. WIS 29 at Lake Hallie, Wis. US 63 at Spooner, Wis. US 2 at Superior, Wis. I-35 / I-535 at Duluth, Minn. MN 33 at Independence, Minn. US 169 / MN 169 at Virginia, Minn. US 71 / MN 11 at Int'l. Falls, Minn.
North end	Highway 71 to Highway 11 / TCHat Fort Frances, ON
Location
States	Wisconsin, Minnesota
Counties	WI: La Crosse, Trempealeau, Eau Claire, Chippewa, Barron, Washburn, Douglas MN: St. Louis, Koochiching
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Replaced Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic Rustic Minnesota Trunk Highways Interstate US State Legislative routes ← WIS 52 WI WIS 53 → ← US 52 MN MN 54 →

U.S. Route 53, or U.S. Highway 53 (U.S. 53), is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles (649 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 I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota. The entire route from Eau Claire to the city limits of Superior, Wisconsin is a four lane divided highway. The highway's northern terminus is at the Fort Frances-International Falls Bridge in International Falls, Minnesota, at the Canada–US border. Its southern terminus is in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at U.S. Highway 14.

U.S. Highway 53 begins at its southern terminus with a junction at U.S. 14, U.S. 61, and Wisconsin Highway 16 in downtown La Crosse. From there, U.S. 53 crosses Interstate 90 and becomes a freeway bypass of Onalaska and Holmen before proceeding north to Eau Claire as a two-lane roadway. The interchange with Interstate 94 at Eau Claire begins a freeway / expressway stretch for U.S. 53 north to the city limits of Superior. The recently built (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 one mile (1.6 km) of downtown Eau Claire. Other smaller towns between Eau Claire and Superior (Solon Springs and Minong) were bypassed in a similar manner.