It started as a deer path and then became an Indian trail through the forest.
In 1836 it became a “military road” to move military supplies and soldiers between forts and outposts.
In 1848 investors began constructing Watertown Plank Road – a 58 mile wood plank road between Milwaukee and Watertown. Eventually, a portion of Watertown Plank Road became Bluemound Road.
In 1919, Bluemound Road became a two lane roadway overlaid in concrete pavement (approx. 11' travel lanes). About 1,900 people lived in the 36 square mile Brookfield Township about that time.
In 1958, the road was expanded to four lane divided highway. It became known as “Bluemound Super Highway.” The population of the city and town of Brookfield was 21,802 according to the 1960 census.
Between 1960 - 1980 a third west-bound lane was added between Janacek and Barker Roads. The roadway was resurfaced in 1980.
In 1990 / 91 the current roadway configuration was constructed. The road was expanded to three lanes with middle and auxiliary lanes for turning. An estimated 39,675 people lived in the city and town of Brookfield. In thirty years population had doubled.
In 1996 Goerke’s Corners was reconstructed.
An average of 45,000 vehicles now travels Bluemound Road each day. That nearly equals the combined population of the city and town of Brookfield.
In 2006, the Department of Transportation decided the road was unsafe. Its plan is to close some medians and create frontage roads. The frontage roads would reduce the number of driveway entrances to / from businesses along the route. Town government provided comments to the DOT, the city chose not to. The department's plans remain unchanged.
Stay tuned to 2008.
