[1] WIS 194 was initially formed in 1949 as a temporary route along an incomplete bypass of Janesville.

[3][4] Once the bypass was finished, US 14 moved north onto the bypass; this effectively removed WIS 194 and established City US 14 along the old US 14 alignment.

By 1992, the state transferred the eastern 6.5-mile (10.5 km) segment from the Town of McKinley east to WIS 73.

One 1⁄4-mile-long (0.40 km) segment was given to the county and became CTH-H while the rest became local roads.

[1] The remainder of the highway was transferred to the two counties on October 3, 2005.