Coming in 2015: Federal legislation to enable converting US 41 to an interstate

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Sec. Mark Gottlieb thanked the Wisconsin congressional delegation on Monday, December 15th for their efforts to pass federal legislation to enable the state to continue with plans to convert US 41 to an Interstate from the Illinois border north to Green Bay.

The WisDOT plan calls for replacing or modifying 3,500 signs beginning in September 2015 after necessary coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, along with completion of the required bid process.

Benefits of converting to an Interstate highway include:

In 2005, US 41 from Milwaukee to Green Bay was identified by the federal government for inclusion in the US Interstate Highway System and planning for the Interstate conversion began in 2007. In May 2011, Gov. Walker committed state resources to complete a study and move ahead with the project. The federal legislation was needed to allow certain commercial trucks to continue operating on the corridor after Interstate conversion.