Fox Valley road projects progressing ahead of winter season

State and local officials celebrated project milestones for two large transportation projects in the Fox Valley.

Construction expanding Interstate 41 from four lanes to six lanes for 23 miles between Appleton and De Pere has wrapped up its first construction season, according to Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials. Meanwhile, Michels is placing filling material needed for the South Bridge Connector project, a new overpass in De Pere, Brown County officials said.

Gov. Tony Evers, WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman and local leaders on Friday celebrated progress of both projects.

“I-41 is a vital route connecting Northeast Wisconsin to other parts of the state and beyond, and this new interchange will provide better access for folks getting from point A to point B and build upon the ongoing growth and development currently taking place throughout Brown County,” Evers said in a statement. “As a state, we are dedicated to making smart, strategic investments in our transportation system and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike, and after years of the Brown County South Bridge Connector project being discussed, and I’m proud to say we’re fixing the darn roads and getting it done,” he added.

First five I-41 expansion contracts were let in 2024

Construction kicked off for the I-41 widening project in April 2024. Since then, five construction contracts were let in 2024 and some construction will continue over the winter, according to WisDOT officials.

The project will expand 23 miles of interstate from four to six lanes between Wisconsin Highway 96 (Appleton Avenue) in Appleton and County Road F (Scheuring Road) in De Pere, according to the governor’s office. The project will also reconstruct the system interchange at I-41 and WIS 441 on the north side of Appleton, improve nine existing interchanges and build a new interchange at I-41 and Southbridge Road, officials added.

Three different general contractors are managing different legs of the multi-phase project, which will continue through 2025. The overall project will cost $1.2 billion and funding comes from a combination of state and federal dollars, a spokesperson for WisDOT said.

Manitowoc-based Vinton Construction completed the Rose Hill Road overpass in Little Chute, reconstructing the overpass to create a wider, safer roadway for bicyclists and pedestrians, said Bryan Learst, WisDOT I-41 construction project manager. The new structure doesn’t have shoulder bridge piers, allowing the expansion of I-41 to accommodate rising traffic volumes, he added.

Vinton also reconstructed interstate ramps and replaced pavement at the I-41 and County Highway N interchange, Learst said. The remaining work includes overhead sign structures on exit ramps, monotube signals and overhead lighting. The existing interchange configuration at County Highway N remains the same with some modifications to turn lanes for more traffic, he added.

Brownsville-based Michels Road and Stone is working on realignment for the Southbridge Road interchange, Learst said. Construction started in summer 2024 and will continue through 2026, he added.

Earthwork is ongoing until the ground freezes or weather becomes unfavorable, Learst said. Crews will realign the roadway, place embankments and relocate utilities, and all will be complete in 2024 and 2025 in preparation of the new interchange. The remaining work will be completed as a multi-phase project occurring through 2026, he added.

Michels will also work on the interchange between I-41 and WIS 15 and the Capitol Drive overpass in a separate contract. Construction started in April 2024 and there will be a winter shutdown next month, Learst said. Crews reconstructed the Capitol Drive overpass to create a wider roadway safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, he added.

Like the Rose Hill Road overpass, crews will rebuild the structure without shoulder bridge piers to allow expansion of I-41, Learst said. The remaining work in 2025 will include reconstructing the existing interchange at I-41 and WIS 15 as a diverging diamond interchange, more bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and crash investigation sites.

Neenah-based Miron Construction started work this week on a safety and weight facility and a Wisconsin State Patrol post in Wrightstown. Construction will continue over the winter and through 2025. The existing weight facility and access to I-41 will be closed during the project, officials noted.

“The I-41 project will reduce congestion and enhance safety for drivers traveling between the Fox Cities and Green Bay, and the Southbridge Road interchange is an essential piece of that project,” said Boardman said in a statement. “This new interchange will provide an important access point to the community and decrease travel and transport time for commuters and delivery vehicles to get goods to and from local businesses,” she added.

Southbridge Connector moving along after decades of demand

Currently, Michels is placing filling material for a new overpass as part of the Southbridge Connector project. Construction will continue until weather conditions halt progress, then it will start again in spring of 2025, said Chris Hardy, the highway commissioner of Brown County.

Local leaders had advocated for construction of a bridge over the Fox River in De Pere for decades, according to governor’s officials. In 2019, the Evers administration committed to funding and building the Southbridge interchange as part of the I-41 expansion project, officials added.

In 2022, the state gave $50 million in bonding to Brown County to build the connector in the 2023-25 budget. The project also received $5 million in federal funding.

“For decades, our goal has been to build a second bridge span across the Fox River in southern Brown County,” said Troy Streckenbach, Brown County executive. “This project will improve infrastructure and economic development in the county and will promote safe and effective access for residents and businesses alike that use Interstate 41, an important regional highway,” he added.