Wisconsin Highway 56

State Trunk Highway 56
State Trunk Highway 56
	WIS 56 highlighted in red
Route information
	Maintained by WisDOT
Length	50.56 mi (81.37 km)
Major junctions
West end	WIS 35 in Genoa
	US 14 / US 61 / WIS 27 / WIS 82 in Viroqua
East end	WIS 80 in Richland Center
Location
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Counties	Vernon, Richland
Highway system
	Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System; Interstate; US; State; Scenic; Rustic;

State Trunk Highway 56 (often called Highway 56, STH-56 or WIS 56) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs east–west in southwest Wisconsin from just north of Richland Center to Genoa. On some maps, it is listed as ending inside Richland Center, instead of just north of it.

Route description

In Genoa, Wisconsin, WIS 56 begins at a non-signaled intersection with WIS 25, going northerly through town, before climbing the hill on the west side of town, not far from La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor. It winds its way and down several ridges, passing through the hamlet of Romance. WIS 56 then climbs onto a ridge, that takes it into Viroqua. WIS 56 enters Viroqua on Broadway Street, makes a right onto Hillyer Street, and rounds a corner onto Decker Street. At US Highway 14 (US 14), US 61, WIS 27, and WIS 82, WIS 56 encounters its only signalized intersection.

After crossing the highways, WIS 82 merges with WIS 56. This concurrency lasts for four miles (6.4 km). When this concurrency ends, WIS 56 continues straight along the road to Viola, Wisconsin. WIS 82 makes a 90° turn to the north.

After leaving WIS 82, WIS 56 climbs up, and then down Pea Vine Hill. It then traverses the hamlet of Liberty. About six miles (9.7 km) later, it enters the village of Viola, Wisconsin. WIS 56 then meets up with WIS 131, another concurrency. In downtown Viola, WIS 131/WIS 56 crosses the Vernon County line for WIS 56's first time. WIS 56 then continues straight, while WIS 131 turns northerly. WIS 56 continues south-south-easterly until its end at WIS 80.

Western terminus on WIS 35
WIS 56 and WIS 82 heading west into the east side of Viroqua
Eastern terminus on WIS 80

Major intersections

County	Location	Destinations	Notes
Vernon	Genoa	WIS 35 / Great River Road – Stoddard, De Soto
	Viroqua	US 14 / US 61 / WIS 27 / WIS 82 west – La Crosse, Madison	Western end of WIS 82 overlap
	Town of Viroqua	WIS 82 east – La Farge	Eastern end of WIS 82 overlap
	Viola	WIS 131 south – Readstown	Western end of WIS 131 overlap
Richland	Viola	WIS 131 north – La Farge	Eastern end of WIS 131 overlap
Richland	Town of Rockbridge	WIS 80 – Richland Center, Hillsboro
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus