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About the I-41 Project

Construction Information

We are in the final stretch of the I-41 Project design phase, and road construction will begin in early 2024. The project will reconstruct and expand 23 miles of I-41 from four lanes to six lanes between WIS 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) in Appleton and County F (Scheuring Road) in De Pere.

The project will reconstruct one system interchange between the Interstate and WIS 441, and 10 service interchanges including ramp work at the I-41 interchanges with WIS 96 and WIS 441/OO. WisDOT will also build a new service interchange at I-41 and Southbridge Road.

The project will also replace the Wrightstown Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility with a new building that will also serve as headquarters for the Northeast Region of the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Click here to download a pdf file.

Overall Construction Timeline

I-41 Project Overall Construction-Timeline Map

Explore the Selected Project Improvements

Before the I-41 Project was approved for construction, WisDOT developed and studied multiple alternatives to reduce congestion, and update the roadway and bridges to meet current design standards.

WisDOT factored feedback from the public, tribes, businesses, agencies and local governments during the evaluation, which assessed each alternative’s ability to address the project’s purpose and need, and its potential environmental impacts, required right of way, and estimated cost.

Hover over the icons to see detailed information!

Tap the icons to see detailed information!

WIS 15/County OO (Northland Avenue) Interchange

Diverging Diamond Interchange

SEE INTERCHANGE DESIGN

This interchange will be reconstructed as a diverging diamond interchange to better accommodate higher volumes of traffic more safely. The merge distance for the I-41 northbound entrance ramp will also be increased.

WIS 441 System Interchange 

55 mph Flyover Ramp

SEE INTERCHANGE DESIGN

The 55 mph flyover ramp alternative requires less land, has fewer impacts and costs less than a 60 mph flyover alternative while offering similar operational and safety benefits.

County S (Freedom Road) Interchange

Diamond Interchange with Roundabouts

SEE INTERCHANGE DESIGN

This interchange will be reconstructed to diamond interchange with roundabouts at the County S/Mid Valley Drive and County S/French Road intersections.

Southbridge Interchange *NEW 

Diamond Interchange with Roundabouts

SEE INTERCHANGE 
DESIGN

WisDOT will construct a new diamond interchange with multi-lane roundabouts.
A shared use path will also be added on the north side of Southbridge Road.

Please visit the link
below to learn more: Brown County South Bridge Project

Auxiliary Lanes

An auxiliary lane is an extra lane added between interchange on- and off-ramps. It is used to ease speed changes, balance the traffic load, and provide an efficient way to weave into and out of traffic while lessening congestion in the through lanes.

View Animation

Locations (5):

From WIS 96 to WIS 15
From WIS 47 to County E
WIS 441 from I-41 to County OO

From WIS 55 to County J
From Southbridge Road Interchange to County F

Auxiliary lanes will be built between these closely spaced interchanges in addition to a third travel lane that will be built as part of the I-41 Mainline improvements.

Collector-Distributor Road

Location (1):

From County E to WIS 441

A collector-distributor or C-D road will improve safety, requires less land and is less expensive than the alternatively considered braided ramp option, while providing a safe connection with acceptable traffic operations.

Visualizing the Improvements

Do you know the difference between an auxiliary lane and a collector-distributor road? How about the different types of diamond interchanges?

The I-41 Project will add innovative roadway and interchange designs to enhance safety and traffic operations.

The animations below show six designs the reconstructed project area will include.

An auxiliary lane is an extra lane added between interchange on- and off-ramps. It is used for speed changes and the maneuvering of entering and exiting traffic. It provides an efficient way to weave into and out of traffic while lessening congestion in the through lanes. Auxiliary lanes balance the traffic load and maintain a more uniform level of service on the highway.
A collector-distributor (C-D) road runs parallel to the main travel lanes of a highway and connects it to frontage roads or ramps. C-D roads are found at closely spaced interchanges to separate the congestion caused by merging and diverging ramp traffic from the through highway traffic.
A modern roundabout is a circular intersection in which drivers travel counterclockwise around a center island. Drivers yield to traffic already in the roundabout, then enter the circular roadway and exit at the desired street. To go straight or turn right, drivers use the outer lane(s); to go straight or turn left, drivers use the inner lane(s).
A diamond interchange with signals features two, closely spaced signalized intersections at the crossing of a ramp terminal and side street. The interchange includes four ramps – two exiting and two entering the free-flow highway. Diamond interchange designs are very economical compared with other options because they require less land and materials to construct.
A diverging diamond interchange is an innovative design used to connect a freeway (like I-41) and a major roadway. Within the interchange, traffic on the major roadway briefly drives on the left side of the road to allow left-turn movements without crossing oncoming traffic or stopping. A diverging diamond interchange has fewer conflict points, reducing the risk of crashes, and has greater capacity for vehicles.
A diamond interchange with roundabouts (also called a double roundabout interchange) is similar to a diverging diamond interchange in that traffic briefly drives on the left side of the road to allow for more efficient left-turn movements; however, by having roundabouts instead of signalized intersections, the design helps avoid backups onto the freeway in areas with high traffic flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this section of I-41 need to be reconstructed?
What is an environmental assessment?
What is a Finding of No Significant Impact?
What is a system interchange?
What is a service interchange?
What is an auxiliary lane?
What is a collector-distributor road?
Is the current posted 70 mph speed limit on the Interstate too fast, given the congestion and safety issues?
Do WisDOT and local law enforcement have response strategies for clearing the roadway after crashes to prevent secondary crashes and major congestion?
Why will it take so long before construction starts?
How will WisDOT handle traffic during lengthy construction?
Why didn’t you make it six lanes during the last project in Brown County and finish it then?
Will the project require real estate to be purchased?
Will the department be evaluating noise impacts with the project?
Is the project consistent with long-range community transportation plans?
Where can I find more information on Brown County’s South Bridge Connector Project?
Why does the project include the Wrightstown Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility and new State Patrol Headquarters?
Which overpasses will the project replace?
What is a diverging diamond interchange and why was it selected for some of the project interchanges?
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