GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ ) – The end of the Brown County I-41 Project is near completion.
Wednesday the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and a number of elected officials, celebrated the fulfillment of the last of nine interchanges rebuilt as part of the project.
A ribbon cutting ceremony took place along the Velp Ave. exit.
Wisconsin DOT I-41 Program Manager, Tom Buchholtz, attended the event and says it’s a huge accomplishment and folks won’t have to wait much longer to use the Velp interchange.
“It will open late Sunday. Drivers will really see the speed limit signs change into the next week. It should be barrel-free by early November for both directions and 70 mph.”
All southbound I-41 lanes south of Mason Street will be done before the weekend, opening to traffic on Friday.
Plans for the construction project began in 1999 but the Brown County portion started in 2010.
WisDOT NE Region Deputy Director, Colleen Harris, says she couldn’t be more excited about the completion the project.
“Trust me, the benefits of this project will make up for the last few years of inconvenience. It’s a huge project. It takes a lot of time and involvement to complete a project this magnitude.”
Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch was the keynote speaker, with Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenback, Oneida Nation Tribal Charwoman Christina Danforth, and Greater Green Bay Area Chamber President Laurie Radke all taking to the podium.
The project will be finished by early November and under budget in excess of $50 million.
The original estimated cost for the I-41 Project is $1.5 billion.
Go to www.us41wisconsin.gov/ for more information on the I-41 Project.
