The areas served by this connecting route are a commercial area near the Interstate which is adjacent to a growing industrial park between the Interstate and WIS 31 (Green Bay Road) to the east; and a predominantly residential area between WIS 31 and WIS 32 (Sheridan Road) near the shore of Lake Michigan.

West of WIS 31, it becomes a multi-lane divided highway until its western terminus at an interchange with I-41/I-94/US 41.

In 1953, the designation was removed from this stretch of highway when the US 41/US 45 concurrency was routed to its present alignment.

[citation needed] Before it was numbered as a Wisconsin Highway, much of the current WIS 165 was designated as CTH-Q.

[8] The study recommended the section be widened to four lanes and roundabouts be constructed at three intersections.