U.S. Highway 41 has officially become part of the Interstate System, and is now known as Interstate 41.
Wisconsin has been working toward the designation for about 10 years. The Federal Highway Administration has now approved the change.
The advantages of the designation, that state says, include a nationally recognized corridor identity, a competitive distribution environment for attracting business and better mobility and safety.
“The Interstate designation is the culmination of years of hard work by federal, state, and local officials that will stimulate economic opportunities from Milwaukee to Green Bay and beyond,” said Gov. Scott Walker. “Our Interstate System is a critical part of our infrastructure, which fuels commerce, helps grow the economy, and create jobs.”
I-41, which runs concurrently with U.S. 41 for its whole route, starts at the I-94/U.S. 41 interchange about a mile south of the Wisconsin-Illinois border and follows I-94 north to the Mitchell Interchange, I-894 and U.S. 45 near Milwaukee. It then joins U.S. 41 north to Green Bay and ends at the I-43 interchange.
This summer, about 3,000 new signs will be installed on the 175 miles of I-41, a project that is expected to be complete by November.
The existing U.S. 41 in the Milwaukee area will be re-routed to follow I-41 along I-894 and U.S. 45. The U.S. 41 portion along Lisbon and Appleton avenues from I-94 at the stadium interchange, northwest to the U.S. 45 interchange, will become WIS 175.
“The official designation of I-41 is tremendous news that will support the safe, efficient movement of people and commerce for many years to come,” said Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb. “Along with Governor Walker’s leadership, I want to thank former Congressman Tom Petri, our current Congressional delegation, state legislators, local government officials, and community leaders who helped make I-41 a reality.”
