While construction along Interstate 41 between Grand Chute and De Pere isn’t expected to impact traffic headed to and from the NFL draft April 24 to 26, that doesn’t mean work isn’t progressing — or aiming to kick off some additional closures next week, after the draft is in the history books.
The I-41 Project will expand the interstate to six lanes between Grand Chute and De Pere, giving drivers a consistent experience from Oshkosh all the way to Green Bay. It will also replace several interchanges with roundabouts, diamond and diverging diamond intersections, and add collector-distributor roads and auxiliary lanes, like those seen along the interstate in the greater Green Bay area. The project began construction last year, and is scheduled to continue through 2030.
Here’s what’s currently under construction — and what closures are coming up — along the interstate, its interchanges and overpasses. Projects are listed in order from south to north, west to east.
What’s going on at Interstate 41 and State 96/Wisconsin Avenue?
Southbound traffic on I-41 cannot exit at Wisconsin Avenue in Grand Chute. The exit closed on March 3, and will remain closed through summer.
This closure will result in an auxiliary lane between the Wisconsin Avenue and Northland Avenue interchanges, and will add dual turn lanes on the southbound off-ramp, with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s project website.
For the time being, drivers can still enter I-41 at this interchange. The closure of the northbound on-ramp to the interstate isn’t expected until 2026.
What’s going on at Interstate 41 and State 15/Northland Avenue?
A majority of the on- and off-ramps in the Northland Avenue interchange in Grand Chute are closed now, or will close soon.
The Northland overpass over I-41 closed in February, was demolished, and is the process of being rebuilt. The cloverleaf on-ramp to I-41 southbound also closed in February, and will remain closed until fall. The off-ramp from I-41 southbound is partially closed, allowing for right turns only, though it is expected to fully close this summer.
The northbound on-ramp to I-41 closed April 16, and the northbound off-ramp from I-41 is expected to close May 19. Both are slated to reopen in the fall.
This interchange will be redesigned, resulting in a diverging diamond with bike and pedestrian accommodations and crash investigation sites, according to the department.
What’s going on at Interstate 41 and Outagamie County E/Ballard Road?
The Ballard Road overpass over I-41 in Appleton is expected to close as early as April 28. The same is expected for the southbound off-ramp and the portion of Ballard between the interstate and the Ballard Road Park & Ride, as well as the Park & Ride itself.
The remaining three on- and off-ramps at this interchange will close in mid-May, according to the department.
All four ramps expect to reopen by late summer, with the overpass expecting to reopen in late fall.
When it reopens, the Ballard Road interchange will be a diverging diamond, with bike and pedestrian accommodations. Improvements will also be made to the Park & Ride facility.
More: Appleton utility work prepares for reconstruction of Interstate 41-Ballard Road interchange
This project will also impact a portion of the neighboring Capitol Drive, between Commerce Court and Ballard, which will close from late summer to fall.
What’s going on at the Holland Road overpass over Interstate 41?
The overpass in Little Chute will close June 2, and is expected to reopen in late fall. The new overpass will be wider, and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, according to the department. The bridge’s new piers will also allow for the expansion of I-41.
What’s going on at the Vandenbroek Road overpass over Interstate 41?
The overpass in Little Chute closed on March 24, and is expected to reopen in late summer. The new overpass will be wider, and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, according to the department. The bridge’s new piers will also allow for the expansion of I-41.
What’s going on at Interstate 41 and Outagamie County J?
The County J overpass over I-41 in Kaukauna is expected to close May 12, with the closure of the interchange’s on- and off-ramps to follow in late June.
The entire interchange is expected to reopen in late summer. The improvements will include replacing pavement, building bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and improving the roundabouts to accommodate oversized and overweight vehicles. The layout of the interchange will not change, according to the department.
What’s going on at the Wrightstown weight station off Interstate 41?
The Wisconsin State Patrol’s new Northeast Region Headquarters is under construction at the site of the department’s Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility off I-41, just south of exit 154 in Wrightstown. According to the department, the new building will be two stories, with a 400-foot communications tower and a 70-foot auxiliary tower.
Construction on this facility began last fall, and is expected to complete next summer, according to the department’s overall construction timeline.
For more information on the I-41 Project, visit i41project.wisconsindot.gov.
Taima Kern is editor of The Post-Crescent. Contact her at 920-993-7104 or tkern@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Interstate 41 expansion to close overpasses at Ballard, Holland roads