Interstate 41 (I-41) is a 175.00-mile-long (281.64 km) north–south Interstate Highway connecting the interchange of I-94 and U.S. Route 41 (US 41), located 2.50 miles (4.02 km) south of the WisconsinIllinois border at the end of the Tri-State Tollway in metropolitan Chicago, to an interchange with I-43 in metropolitan Green Bay, Wisconsin. The designation travels concurrently with US 41 for its entire length, as well as portions of I-894, US 45, I-43, and sections of I-94 in Wisconsin and Illinois. The route was officially added to the Interstate Highway System on April 7, 2015,[2] and connects Milwaukee and Green Bay with the Fox Cities.

Interstate 41 marker

Interstate 41

Map
I-41 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WisDOT and IDOT
Length175.00 mi[1] (281.64 km)
ExistedApril 7, 2015 (2015-04-07)[2]–present
HistoryApproved for designation in 2012[3]
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end
I-94 Toll / US 41 in Russell, IL
Major intersections
North end I-43 / US 41 / US 141 in Howard, WI
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesIllinois, Wisconsin
CountiesIL: Lake
WI: Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, Brown
Highway system
IL 40IL US 41
WIS 40WI US 41

Route description edit

 
Newly installed I-41/US 41 sign south of WIS 145 near Richfield from June 2015

I-41 begins at the I-94/US 41 interchange in Russell, Illinois, located 2.50 miles (4.02 km) south of the Wisconsin–Illinois border at the end of the Tri-State Tollway. The highway continues north concurrently with I-94 as part of the North-South Freeway to the Mitchell Interchange in Milwaukee, turns west to run concurrently with I-894 and I-43 as the Airport Freeway to the Hale Interchange (forming a brief wrong-way concurrency with I-43), and turns north to run concurrently as the Zoo Freeway with I-894 and US 45 to the Zoo Interchange, with the US 45 concurrency continuing until the I-41/US 41/US 45 split near Richfield. The Interstate roughly parallels I-43, which runs north–south along Lake Michigan from Milwaukee to Green Bay. I-41 runs through the Fox Valley (including the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Appleton, along with the Fox Cities). At Appleton, I-41 intersects US 10 and State Trunk Highway 441 (WIS 441), the latter of which is a freeway that forms a beltway around Appleton by running around the south and east side of the city and back to I-41. Further north, I-41 intersects WIS 172 on the south side of Green Bay, before running along the city's west side to its end at the I-43 interchange. The Interstate is 175.00 miles (281.64 km) long and located almost entirely within the state of Wisconsin and is completely concurrent with a slightly adjusted alignment of US 41 to its termination in Green Bay.[4]

History edit

 
Markers for I-41, I-43, and I-894 on the Airport Freeway, the southern bypass of Milwaukee; this is one of three instances of a wrong-way concurrency in the United States involving two Interstate highways. It is also one of only two places in the United States where three Interstate Highways share the same roadway.

The freeway portion of US 41 and US 45 from Milwaukee through the Fox Valley to Green Bay was proposed and designated as an Interstate Highway as part of the 2005 highway funding bill (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users).[5]

In the initial language of the bill, the route was designated Interstate 41, which correlates with the U.S. Highway it parallels and also complies with the Interstate naming guidelines through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The final bill omitted the I-41 designation. In 2009, Green Bay officials began a campaign to have US 41 designated as a northern extension of I-55 from its current termination in Chicago, with the alternative being designated as a spur of I-43.[6][7] At the spring meeting of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbers of AASHTO on May 18, 2012, the I-55 designation was discussed by the committee. Coordination would have been required with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on the I-55 designation.

However, IDOT officials were not interested in signing an extension of I-55 from its Chicago terminus to the state line. Therefore, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) decided to seek a different designation not requiring the cooperation of their Illinois counterparts. Four designations were proposed by WisDOT and put up for public review: two new primary designations (I-41 and I-47) and two auxiliary designations (I-594 and I-643).[8] At the end of October 2012, WisDOT submitted I-41 to AASHTO for consideration at their fall Special Committee meeting, where it was conditionally approved on November 16, 2012, pending FHWA concurrence.[3] Official approval of I-41 then hinged on weight limit exceptions being approved for the route,[9] which initially passed the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 4745 and awaited a United States Senate vote as S. 2438,[10] but there were later passed in a different bill (H.R. 83) on December 16, 2014.[11][12][13] On April 9, 2015, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced that the FHWA had approved I-41 as part of the Interstate Highway System.[14] According to WisDOT, the approval came two days earlier.[2]

WisDOT replaced or modified 3,500 signs before and near September 2015 after coordination with IDOT and the FHWA (signs erected in 2014 and into 2015 before approval of the designation had the I-41 shield obscured until approval).[15][16] Over the next 5–10 years, shoulders are slated to be rebuilt as older parts of the highway are rebuilt.[17][needs update] The redesignation to Interstate status also makes the route subject to the Highway Beautification Act, meaning current advertising billboards along the Milwaukee-to-Green Bay portion of the road can no longer be upgraded or enlarged nor can new signs be added.[18]

Future edit

Beginning in early 2024, WisDOT plans to start several projects to improve I-41 in the Appleton area between Neenah and De Pere. The projects will include widening the Interstate from two to three lanes in each direction on a 23-mile-long (37 km) stretch between Appleton and De Pere, upgrading interchanges, reconstructing bridges, and repaving sections of the freeway, along with the new South Bridge Connector project adding a new Fox River span south of De Pere with an I-41 interchange. These projects are expected to be completed by 2026.[19][20][21][22]

Exit list edit

CountyLocationmikmExit[23][24]DestinationsNotes
LakeNewport Township0.000.001B 
 
 
I-94 Toll east (Tri-State Tollway) – Chicago, Indiana
 
 
US 41 south (Skokie Highway) – Waukegan
Southern end of I-94/US 41 concurrency; southbound entrance only from Frontage Road, acts as the entrance ramp from Russell Road to I-94 east
0.761.221A  CR A1 (Russell Road)Signed as exit 1 northbound; exit numbers based on I-94's mile markers
 0.90
0.00
1.45
0.00
Illinois–Wisconsin state line
KenoshaPleasant Prairie2.043.28347   WIS 165 / CTH-Q (Lakeview Parkway)
3.435.52345  CTH-C (Wilmot Road)
Kenosha5.078.16344  WIS 50 (75th Street) – Kenosha, Lake GenevaTo 71st Street
Somers6.5910.61342   WIS 158 (52nd Street) – KenoshaKenosha Regional Airport
8.3513.44340   WIS 142 (Burlington Road) / CTH-S – Burlington, Kenosha
Town of Paris10.0716.21339  CTH-E (Somers Road) – Somers
RacineKenosha
county line
Mount PleasantParis
village/town line
12.0819.44337  CTH-KR (County Line Road) – Mt. Pleasant
RacineMount Pleasant13.9522.45335  WIS 11 (Durand Avenue) – Burlington, Racine
Town of Yorkville15.96–
16.01
25.69–
25.77
333  WIS 20 (Washington Avenue) – Waterford, Racine
Caledonia19.6431.61329  CTH-K (Northwestern Avenue) – Racine, Caledonia
Town of Raymond21.6734.87327  CTH-G (5+12 Mile Road) – Caledonia
23.1737.29326Seven Mile RoadCurrent southern terminus of WIS 241
Caledonia24.1038.79325 
 
WIS 241 north (27th Street)
Exit permanently closed; northbound exit and southbound entrance
MilwaukeeOak Creek324 
 
Elm Road to WIS 241
26.3942.47322  WIS 100 (Ryan Road)
28.4745.82321Drexel Avenue
29.4147.33320  CTH-BB (Rawson Avenue)
Milwaukee30.3848.89319  CTH-ZZ (College Avenue)
31.0850.02318   WIS 119 – Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
32.3752.09317  CTH-Y (Layton Avenue) to 27th Street
32.53–
32.69
52.35–
52.61
10
316
 
 
I-94 east (North–South Freeway) – Chicago, Airport
 
 
 
 
I-43 north (North–South Freeway) / I-94 west – Milwaukee
 
 
I-894 west (Airport Freeway)
Northern end of I-94 concurrency; eastern end of I-43 wrong-way concurrency; eastern end of I-894 concurrency; Mitchell Interchange
33.6054.079  WIS 241 – South 27th StreetNo access is allowed from I-94 west or to I-94 east; exit numbers based on I-894's mile markers
Greenfield34.6455.758  WIS 36 – Loomis Road
35.6457.367South 60th Street
36.6659.005BSouth 76th StreetNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
36.66–
37.14
59.00–
59.77
5ASouth 76th Street, South 84th StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
36.8659.325A 
 
WIS 24 west – Forest Home Avenue
Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Milwaukee38.0661.254 
 
 
 
I-43 south (Rock Freeway) / US 45 south – Beloit, Chicago
Western end of I-43 concurrency; southern end of the US 45 concurrency; Hale Interchange
Greenfield39.3263.283  CTH-T (Beloit Road)
39.9364.262BOklahoma AvenueSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
West Allis40.6765.452ANational AvenueSouthbound exit to westbound National Avenue only
40.9365.871ELincoln AvenueSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
41.8967.421D  WIS 59 – Greenfield Avenue
Milwaukee42.6168.571
38
  I-94 (East–West Freeway) – Madison, Downtown Milwaukee, Chicago
 
 
I-894 east (Zoo Freeway)
Western end of I-894 concurrency; signed as exits 1A (east) and 1B (west) northbound and exits 38A (west) and 38B (east) southbound; Zoo Interchange
Wauwatosa43.36–
43.60
69.78–
70.17
39  US 18 (Bluemound Road) / Wisconsin AvenueNorthbound exit is not signed for Wisconsin Avenue; exit numbers based on US 45's mile markers
44.14–
44.56
71.04–
71.71
40Watertown Plank Road, Swan BoulevardSouthbound exit not signed for Swan Boulevard
44.9472.3242A 
 
WIS 100 north (Mayfair Road) / North Avenue east
Southbound exit not signed for WIS 100
45.5473.2942BNorth Avenue west
46.5974.9843Burleigh Street
47.5976.5944  WIS 190 (Capitol Drive)Three-level diamond interchange; access roads for the adjacent Harley-Davidson and Penzeys Spices plants are also part of the interchange
Milwaukee48.6978.3645  CTH-EE (Hampton Avenue)
49.5279.6946 
 
  CTH-E south (Silver Spring Drive) / WIS 100
Southern end of WIS 100 concurrency
51.0582.1647  WIS 175 (Appleton Avenue)
51.8583.4447B  CTH-PP (Good Hope Road)Exit numbers based on US 41's mile markers
52.15–
52.94
83.93–
85.20
48  WIS 145 (Fond du Lac Freeway/124th Street)
WaukeshaMenomonee Falls54.64–
54.77
87.93–
88.14
50 
 
 
 
WIS 74 west / WIS 100 east (Main Street)
Northern end of WIS 100 concurrency; signed as exits 50A (east) and 50B (west); WIS 74 designation removed on November 1, 2015
55.4589.2451Pilgrim RoadSigned as exits 51A (north) and 51B (south)
WashingtonGermantown56.6891.2252  
 
 
 
CTH-Q (County Line Road) / Alt. I-41 / Alt. US 45
I-41 Alternate/US 45 Alternate only signed northbound
58.6394.3654 
 
  WIS 167 east (Mequon Road) / CTH-Y (Lannon Road)
Southern end of WIS 167 concurrency
61.6499.2057 
 
 
 
 
 
WIS 167 west (Holy Hill Road) / Alt. I-41 / Alt. US 45
Northern end of WIS 167 concurrency; I-41 Alternate/US 45 Alternate only signed southbound
Richfield63.27101.8259 
 
US 45 north – West Bend
Northern end of US 45 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
64.37103.5960  
 
CTH-FD (Fond du Lac Avenue/Pioneer Road) to WIS 145
Signage reads WIS 145; ramp signage reads CTH-FD TO WIS 145
Slinger68.17109.7164  WIS 60 (Commerce Blvd.) – Jackson, Slinger, Hartford, GraftonSigned as exits 64A (east, Jackson) and 64B (west, Slinger, Hartford) northbound
Town of Polk70.45113.3866  WIS 144 (Kettle Moraine Drive) – West Bend, SlingerLittle Switzerland Ski Area, Slinger Speedway
Town of Hartford72.12116.0768  CTH-K
Town of Addison76.37122.9172   WIS 33 / CTH-W – West Bend, Allenton, Horicon
Town of Wayne79.59128.0976  CTH-D
DodgeTown of Theresa85.22137.1581  WIS 28 – Mayville, Kewaskum, TheresaHoricon Marsh State Wildlife Area Southern Section
Lomira89.24143.6285  WIS 67 – Lomira, CampbellsportKettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit
Town of Lomira91.29146.9287   WIS 49 / CTH-KK – Brownsville, WaupunHoricon Marsh State Wildlife Area Northern Section
Fond du LacTown of Byron96.10154.6692  CTH-B – Oakfield, Eden
Fond du Lac99.71–
99.72
160.47–
160.48
95 
 
  US 45 south / US 151 – Madison, Manitowoc, Waupun, Beaver Dam
Southern end of US 45 concurrency
101.01162.5697  CTH-VVV (Hickory Street)
101.84163.9098   CTH-D (Military Road)Former US 151; Fond du Lac County Airport
103.74166.9599 
 
  US 45 north / WIS 23 (Johnson Street) – Rosendale, Ripon
Northern end of US 45 concurrency
North Fond du Lac104.24167.76101  CTH-OO (Winnebago Street)
Town of Eldorado110.27177.46106  CTH-N – Van Dyne
WinnebagoTown of Nekimi117.47189.05113   WIS 26 / CTH-N – Rosendale, Waupun, Pickett
Oshkosh120.22193.48116    WIS 44 / WIS 91 (South Park Avenue/Ripon Road) – Ripon, Waukau, BerlinWittman Regional Airport
121.64195.761179th Avenue
123.14198.17119  WIS 21 (Omro Road, Oshkosh Avenue) – Omro, Redgranite, Wautoma
125.05201.25120  
 
 
US 45 (Algoma Boulevard) to US 10 west – New London
To US 10 west not signed southbound
128.10206.16124  WIS 76 (Jackson Street) – Shiocton
Neenah133.30214.53129Bell Street, Breezewood Lane
134.67216.73131   WIS 114 / CTH-JJ (Winneconne Avenue) – Hilbert, Sherwood
135.61218.24132Main Street, Oak Ridge RoadNo entrance ramps
Fox Crossing136.35219.43133  CTH-II (Winchester Road) – Winchester
137.81221.78134 
 
 
 
US 10 east / WIS 441 north (Tri-County Expressway) – Menasha, Manitowoc
Michael G. Ellis Memorial Interchange
137.86221.86 
 
US 10 west – Stevens Point, Waupaca
Michael G. Ellis Memorial Interchange
139.62224.70136  CTH-BB (Prospect Avenue) – Appleton
OutagamieTown of Grand Chute140.88226.72137    WIS 125 (College Avenue) / CTH-CA – Appleton International Airport, Downtown Appleton
141.65227.96138  WIS 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) – Fremont, Appleton
142.71229.67139   
 
WIS 15 / CTH-OO (Northland Avenue) to CTH-A – Greenville, Hortonville, Appleton
To CTH-A not signed southbound; Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium
145.67234.43142  WIS 47 (Richmond Street) – Black Creek, Appleton
Appleton147.67237.65144  CTH-E (Ballard Road)
148.59–
148.61
239.13–
239.16
145 
 
WIS 441 south (Tri-County Expressway) – Kimberly
Little Chute151.10243.17146  CTH-N (Freedom Road) – Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks
Kaukauna152.78245.88148  WIS 55 (Delanglade Avenue) – Seymour, Kaukauna, Sherwood, Freedom
153.99247.82150  CTH-J (Lawe Street/Hyland Avenue) – Kaukauna
Town of Kaukauna158.25254.68154  CTH-U (County Line Road) – Wrightstown, Hobart
BrownTown of Lawrence161.21259.44157  CTH-S (Lawrence Drive) – Freedom, De Pere
181.87292.69161  CTH-F (Scheuring Road) – De Pere
Ashwaubenon167.12268.95163A  CTH-G (Main Avenue) – De Pere
167.40269.40163B 
 
WIS 32 north (Ashland Avenue) – Green Bay
Northbound exit and southbound entrance
168.39271.00164A  CTH-AAA (Oneida Street, Waube Lane)
169.36–
169.46
272.56–
272.72
164B  
 
 
 
  WIS 172 to I-43 / WIS 57 – A. Straubel Airport
To WIS 57 not signed northbound
171.14275.42167  CTH-VK (Lombardi Avenue, Hazelwood Lane) – Green BayLambeau Field
Green Bay172.18277.10168A 
 
  WIS 32 south / WIS 54 (Mason Street) – Seymour, Ashwaubenon
Southern end of WIS 32 concurrency
Howard173.17278.69168B-C  
 
WIS 29 / WIS 32 north (Shawano Avenue) – Wausau, Shawano, Green Bay
Northern end of WIS 32 concurrency
174.75281.23170A 
 
US 141 south (Velp Avenue) – Green Bay
Southern end of US 141 concurrency
175.16–
175.43
281.89–
282.33
170B 
 
  I-43 south / LMCT – Milwaukee, Green Bay
 
 
 
 
  US 41 north / US 141 north / LMCT – Marinette, Iron Mountain
Northern end of US 41 concurrency; northern end of US 141 concurrency; northern terminus of I-43; I-41 terminates at northbound entrance ramp from I-43
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c US 41 Interstate Conversion Team (April 9, 2015). "US 41 Interstate Conversion: Wisconsin State Line–Green Bay, in Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (November 16, 2012). "SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  4. ^ Google (April 7, 2014). "Overview Map of Interstate 41" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Behnke, Duke (September 5, 2007). "'Interstate 41' on Near Horizon". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  6. ^ Jagannathan, Malavika (February 8, 2009). "Officials Push to Rename Revamped US 41". Green Bay Press Gazette. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  7. ^ Village of Howard, Wisconsin (February 9, 2009). "New Business, Minutes of the Village Board Meeting" (PDF). Village of Howard, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 10, 2009.[dead link]
  8. ^ Northeast Region (May 2012). US 41 Public Information Meeting Report (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  9. ^ Bollier, Jeff (December 13, 2014). "Interstate Upgrade for 41 Clears Hurdle". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. p. A4.
  10. ^ "Appropriations by Fiscal Year: FY2015". United States Congress. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  11. ^ Cassidy, Tabitha (July 5, 2013). "Petri, Ribble Propose Legislation Allowing Existing Trucks to Use the Future I-41". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  12. ^ 113th Congress (December 16, 2014). "H.R.83: Making Consolidated Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2015, and for Other Purposes". U.S. Government Printing Office. Public Law No: 113-235.
  13. ^ Bollier, Jeff & Shuda, Nathaniel (December 12, 2014). "Interstate 41 Clears Major Congressional Hurdle". The Oshkosh Northwestern.
  14. ^ Srubas, Paul (April 9, 2015). "US 41 Named Officially to Interstate Highway System". Green Bay Press Gazette.
  15. ^ Rudat, Kim (December 15, 2014). "Federal Legislation Will Enable Converting US 41 to an Interstate" (Press release). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  16. ^ Crisp, Lacey (July 8, 2014). "'Highway 41' Makes Transition to 'Interstate'". Milwaukee: WTMJ-TV. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Ryan, Sean (August 12, 2013). "Highway 41 to Become Interstate 41 Next Year under $8M DOT Proposal". Milwaukee Business Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  18. ^ US 41 Interstate Conversion Team (April 9, 2015). "US 41 Interstate Conversion: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  19. ^ Voight, Sophia (December 18, 2023). "Construction on I-41 Expansion and New Roundabouts Are Coming to Outagamie County in 2024". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Adjacent Project: I-41 Rehabilitation (Neenah and Appleton)". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "I-41 Project". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "South Bridge Connector Website". Brown County, Wisconsin. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  23. ^ Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). "T2 GIS Data". Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  24. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Exit Numbers on US 41". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2007.

External links edit

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