Road between Kenosha, Racine counties to be renamed
By Jason Arndt
Editor
Racine and Kenosha County motorists will see some changes under a jurisdictional highway transfer agreement with the state.
According to Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, who delivered a budget address to the Board of Supervisors Oct. 1, the changes primarily focus on Highway KR east of Interstate 94 and Highway 75 spanning both counties.
Highway 75, commonly known as Beaumont Avenue, extends from Highway 20 in Racine County through Highway 50 in Kenosha County in the Village Paddock Lake, encompassing about 14 total miles.
The state highway will become the responsibility of the two counties and be renamed Highway BD in reference to the towns of Brighton (Kenosha County) and Dover (Racine County).
“The cost benefit for Kenosha County, reflected in this budget, comes in the area of maintenance, where we’re anticipating to generate additional revenue maintaining new Highway BD as opposed to old Highway KR,” Kerkman said.
In referencing Highway 75 in an earlier budget address, Kerkman said the jurisdictional changes came after years of discussion among the parties involved.
“This agreement was several years in the making, and it makes sense for all parties involved,” she said, adding that she expects the changes to become effective in November.
Southern Lakes Newspapers reached out to Racine County officials for additional insight but did not receive a response by deadline.
Highway KR, also known as County Line Road, will become state jurisdiction and be called Highway 195.
“Highway KR – soon to become Highway 195 – became a major thoroughfare with a state highway profile after it was expanded a few years back to accommodate Foxconn and other developments like the Microsoft data center,” Kerkmans said.
On the heels of the Foxconn development, state officials initially assumed temporary jurisdiction to expand the road from two to four lanes, before returning jurisdiction to both Racine and Kenosha counties.
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