Gov. Evers, WisDOT Celebrate Progress on New I-41 and Southbridge Road Interchange in Brown County

“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,” said Gov. Evers. “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.” 

After decades of local leaders advocating for the construction of a bridge to be built across the Fox River in De Pere and a streamlined transportation system connecting I-41 and I-43 in Northeast Wisconsin, in 2019, the Evers Administration committed to funding and building the Southbridge interchange as part of the I-41 expansion project. In 2022, the Evers Administration announced Brown County would receive $50 million in bonding to build the South Bridge Connector as part of the 2023-25 biennial budget, which was signed by Gov. Evers in July 2023. Additionally, in 2022, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) secured $5 million in federal funding to support the South Bridge Connector project.

“I fought hard to secure this funding for the Fox Valley to make our infrastructure work for our families and Made in Wisconsin economy,” said Sen. Baldwin. “The South Bridge Regional Connector Project will do just that—making it safer for folks to get where they need to go and easier for businesses to get their goods to market. I’m thrilled to celebrate the progress and the hardworking Wisconsinites who are making this project a reality!”

The I-41 Project began in April 2024 to reconstruct and expand 23 miles of interstate from four to six lanes between WIS 96 (Wisconsin Ave.) in Appleton and County F (Scheuring Rd.) in De Pere. The project will also reconstruct the system interchange at I-41 and WIS 441 on the north side of Appleton, improve nine pre-existing interchanges, and construct a new interchange at I-41 and Southbridge Road. Interstate construction will begin in 2025, leaving two lanes open in each direction during daytime hours while construction is ongoing. 

“Thanks to Gov. Evers’ commitment to investing in a 21st-century transportation system, the I-41 project is moving forward and, along with it, the South Bridge Connector,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “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. 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.” 

“For decades, our goal has been to build a second bridge span across the Fox River in southern Brown County. 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,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “I’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to the Evers Administration for its support of this important project and to all our local, state, and federal partners whose furtherance of Brown County’s vision for a South Bridge Connector helped make this project a reality.” 

As part of the I-41 project, a new building will replace the Wrightstown Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility (SWEF) with a combined Wrightstown Post and SWEF for the Wisconsin State Patrol. 

The I-41 Project is scheduled for completion in 2030. More information on the project can be found here.