A view of Interstate 41 at College Avenue in Grand Chute April 23, 2026. (Source: Wisconsin DOT)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Do you get nervous turning off Interstate 41 to go to downtown Appleton or the Fox River Mall?
The Grand Chute exit to College Avenue — officially Exit #137 — was recently named one of the most stressful off-ramps in the nation.
Personal injury law firm Regan Zambri Long says it polled 3,011 drivers to find the most stressful off-ramps in each state.
About the College Avenue exit, the firm said:
Serving a heavily traveled commercial corridor, this exit carries consistent daytime demand. Vehicles leaving I-41 slow as they approach nearby intersections and turning movements. When volume increases, brake lights appear earlier than anticipated and the ramp fills. Drivers often encounter congestion before reaching the end of the exit lane. The spacing between the interstate and local streets keeps the flow compressed. Movement tends to occur in short bursts as signals cycle, making progress uneven.
It was only deemed the third-most stressful exit in Wisconsin, however.
Taking the top spot was the exit from I-39 to E. Washington Avenue in Madison.
Traffic heading toward one of Madison’s primary routes converges at this exit. Vehicles slow as they approach signalized intersections located not far from the ramp. During busy periods, cars stack quickly and speeds fluctuate. Drivers frequently begin braking sooner than expected. The ramp can fill as vehicles line up for turning movements ahead. The shift from highway speed to local traffic happens within a short distance, and movement tightens steadily as vehicles approach the intersection.
Coming in second was another urban interchange: the exit from I-94 to Highway 18 (Bluemound Road) in Waukesha.
Traffic approaching this exit often tightens as drivers prepare to enter one of Waukesha County’s busiest east-west corridors. Vehicles leaving I-94 encounter signalized intersections positioned close to the ramp, along with steady turning traffic. During daytime travel, cars begin stacking and speeds drop. The ramp can fill sooner than expected as drivers line up for multiple lanes ahead. The transition from interstate movement to local streets happens within a short stretch, and vehicles frequently adjust pace more than once before clearing the junction.
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