PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Construction to expand Interstate 41 from Appleton to De Pere resumes this week with a big closure in the Fox Valley.
The interchange of I-41 at WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue will partially close Monday. It will remain closed until fall. Work includes reconstructing the WIS 15 interchange as a diverging diamond interchange to accommodate higher traffic volumes and increase safety. Additional bike and pedestrian accommodations, as well as crash investigation sites, will also be constructed. This work is part of the overall I-41 major project that will reconstruct and expand 23 miles of I-41 from four lanes to six lanes between WIS 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) in Appleton and County F (Scheuring Road) in De Pere.
Long-Term Closures
- WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue bridge over I-41 will be CLOSED on Monday, February 3 to fall 2025 (Detours: EB WIS 15: County CB to WIS 96/Wisconsin Avenue to Lynndale Drive. WB: WIS 15: Lynndale Drive to WIS 96/Wisconsin Avenue to County CB)
- SB I-41 on-ramp from WIS 15 will be CLOSED on Monday, February 3 to fall 2025.
- SB I-41 off-ramp at WIS 15 will be PARTIALLY CLOSED (allowing right turns only) beginning on Monday, February 3. It will fully close in summer
Short-Term Closures – week of Feb. 3
NB I-41 under WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue will be CLOSED overnight the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, February 4 through Thursday, February 6 from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Friday, February 7 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for bridge demolition.
- Detour: Traffic will bypass the closure using the on and off-ramps at WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue
SB I-41 between Richmond Street (exit 142) and Wisconsin Avenue (exit 138) will be CLOSED overnight the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, February 4 through Thursday, February 6 from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Friday, February 7 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for bridge demolition.
- SB I-41 detour: Take WIS 47/Richmond Street south to WIS 96/Wisconsin Avenue. Turn right and travel west to SB I-41
The closure will create a roadblock for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans. The team’s stadium is directly off of the Northland exit.
Rob Zerjav, president and CEO of the Timber Rattlers, says they’ve been collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
“Working with the DOT to just make sure we can keep that open,” he said. “That north to southbound exit open until the end of our season.”
The construction of a diverging diamond at I-41 and WIS 15 will be the second in the Fox Valley area. The first was installed at the Oneida Street/Highway 10-441 interchange in 2018.
A diverging diamond is a specific interchange design where traffic temporarily crosses to the opposite side of the road to facilitate easier left turns.
Back in 2018, the one on Oneida Street was the state’s second interchange of this type. Now, there are four: two are in Janesville and one is in Beloit. But soon, Appleton will be home to three more, including I-41 at WIS 15, WIS 47 and Ballard Road.
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