The Labor Day holiday has brought a temporary stop to the construction of the new Highway 12 bypass that will eventually re-route the busy thoroughfare to the west of it’s current location from the Point Of Rocks landmark  south of Baraboo until merging back to it’s current location at the Interstate highway 90/94 in Wisconsin Dells.

Standing on the recently completed overpass on Old highway 33 (Another old route that has been passed by), one gets a completely different feel for the area between Baraboo & Wisconsin Dells.  Instead of cluttered, tacky roadway filled with giant billboards advertising bbq and strip joints, we see lots of green with a much more aesthetically pleasing horizon. It’s hard to imagine it will stay that way. 

Looking north toward Wisconsin Dells from the old highway 33 overpass.

The first section of the bypass is expected to open in autumn of 2011 with the section bypassing the city of Baraboo to open in 2015 although there is still some controversy locally over some elements. All in all though, as things come together you begin to see not only the necessity of the bypass but also begin to appreciate the vision as well. With a bit of care and a bit of regulation the new highway will not only be faster and safer but it will look a heck of a lot nicer as well.

Looking south-east. The current highway is located near the billboard, and the Baraboo bluffs are in the background. Notice the talus field visible on the east bluff of Devil's Lake State Park. (center-left)

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