Wisconsin Highway 71 partially coincident with Wisconsin Highway 16
Sparta to Wilton
Upon entering the city of Sparta, WIS 27/WIS 71 runs along North Black River Street for a few blocks before arriving at their junction with western end of WIS 21 at a traffic light-controlled intersection. About ten blocks further south along South Black River Street, WIS 27/WIS 71 reaches their southern junction, as well as a junction with WIS 16, at another traffic light-controlled intersection. (From that junction, WIS 27 continues south along South Black River Street toward Interstate 94, Melvia, and Cashton. WIS 16 heads west along West Wisconsin Street toward West Salem and La Crosse.)
Heading east along West Wisconsin Street, WIS 71 runs concurrently with WIS 16 for roughly 1.8 miles (2.9 km) until they leave Sparta and enter the Town of Angelo, having crossed over the La Crosse River along the way. Shortly after leaving Sparta, the highways reach the eastern end of their concurrency at a roundabout. Approximately 0.6 miles (0.97 km) south-southeast of the roundabout, WIS 71 crosses over, but does not connect with, I-94. Roughly 2.8 miles (4.5 km) south-southeast of I-94, WIS 71 leaves the Town of Angelo and enters the Town of Wells.
Upon entering the Town of Wells, WIS 71 begins running roughly along the course of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, a 32.5-mile (52.3 km) Wisconsin State rail trail between Elroy and Sparta. About 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south-southeast into the Town of Wells, WIS 71 reaches its junction with the southern end of County Trunk Highway AA (CTH-AA) at a T intersection. About 2.7 miles (4.3 km) further east-southeast, WIS 71 crosses over the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. From this first crossing, the paths of the highway and rail trail diverge such that are separated by just over 1.6 miles (2.6 km) before converging again in the Village of Norwalk. Just under a mile (1.6 km) south-southeast of the rail trail, WIS 71 reaches its junction with the northern end of CTH-XU. A short way beyond the junction, the highway leaves the Town of Wells and enters the Town of Ridgeville. About 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southeast and then east of the junction with CTH-XU, WIS 71 enters the Village of Norwalk.
Shortly after entering the limits of the Village of Norwalk, WIS 71 reaches its western junction with CTH-T. Prior to entering the residential area of the village, WIS 71/CTH-T turns south and become McGary Street. Just over a block later, the highway turns east to run along Railroad Street for two blocks, and then turns south along Main Street. WIS 71/CTH-T then reaches its junction with CTH-U at the southern end of Main Street.
From its junction with CTH-U, WIS 71/CTH-T heads southeast out of the Village of Norwalk to renter the Town of Ridgeville. Nearly a mile (1.6 km) later, after crossing over Moore Creek, WIS 71/CTH-T crosses back over the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and immediately reaches the western junction with CTH-T, and CTH-T heads southerly to eventually end at WIS 131. Running just north of the rail trail, WIS 71 continues easterly for approximately 2.2 miles (3.5 km) before crossing back over the rail trail (at Elroy-Sparta State Trail Tunnel 2). After leaving the Town of Ridgeville and entering the Town of Wilton, the highway turns south-southeast to run just west of the rail trail for about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) on its way to the Village of Wilton.
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