Press Release: Gov. Evers, WisDOT Celebrate Completion of New I-41 and Southbridge Road Interchange in Brown County

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 10/21/2026 02:11 PM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers, WisDOT Celebrate Completion of New I-41 and Southbridge Road Interchange in Brown County
After seven years of Evers Administration efforts to get projects across the finish line, new I-41 and Southbridge Road Interchange will reduce traffic congestion, bolster development, and improve safety 
DE PERE — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Kristina Boardman and Brown County community leaders, today celebrated the completion of the new Interstate 41 (I-41) and Southbridge Road interchange in Brown County, as well as adjacent roadway projects which are part of Brown County’s South Bridge Connector project. The interchange project was jump-started by the Evers Administration in 2019, and today’s event marks an important milestone in the region’s transportation network and is a testament to years of collaboration among state, county, local, and federal partners. The I-41 and Southbridge Road interchange is anticipated to open next week.

“Since Day One, my administration and I have been focused on getting the job done for the people of Wisconsin by investing in the infrastructure our communities and businesses need to succeed, and this particular project has been a long time coming,” said Gov. Evers. “Completing the Southbridge Road interchange is the result of bringing state, county, and local partners together around a shared goal and working to turn plans into progress. This connection will help keep goods moving, strengthen our supply chains, support local businesses, and grow our economy to keep Wisconsin moving forward for generations to come.”

After years of neglect under the previous administration, Gov. Evers has made fixing Wisconsin’s roads and bridges and making sure the state’s infrastructure can meet the needs of a 21st-century workforce and economy a top priority. Since 2019, the Evers Administration has improved or repaired over 9,600 miles of road and over 2,400 bridges statewide.

For decades, local leaders advocated for a new highway connection in Brown County and the construction of a bridge to be built across the Fox River in De Pere. In 2019, the Evers Administration committed to funding and building the Southbridge interchange as part of the I-41 expansion project. Through the 2023-2025 biennial budget, Brown County received $50 million in bonding to build the South Bridge Connector as a link between De Pere, Ledgeview, and Green Bay.

“Completing the Southbridge Road interchange represents far more than a transportation improvement. It demonstrates what’s possible when partners share a vision, work through challenges together, and remain committed to delivering results for travelers,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “This section of I-41 is so important to everyone who lives, works, or travels along this highway. The Southbridge Road interchange is an essential piece of the puzzle that together improves safety and traffic flow from the Fox Cities all the way to Green Bay.”

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 new interchange connects I-41 with Brown County’s South Bridge Connector project and will bolster regional connectivity and improve access for residents, commuters, and businesses. The new interchange includes multi-lane roundabouts and a shared-use path along the north side of Southbridge Road.

“Projects of this scale are only possible through strong partnerships, collaboration, and a shared vision for progress,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “Brown County is deeply grateful to our federal and state partners for their support in incorporating the South Bridge Connector Project into the interstate system and providing the funding for this critical interchange. Their commitment and investment have been instrumental in advancing a project over a half-century in the making.”

“This is an exciting step forward for De Pere and the future of our region, and we are grateful to everyone who made it possible,” said De Pere Mayor James Boyd. “For decades, our community has worked toward a transportation network that better connects our communities, opens new opportunities for growth, and makes it easier for people and businesses to travel and connect. As we celebrate this latest milestone, we’re proud to see this vision take shape and look forward to the lasting benefits it will bring for generations to come.”

Partners in the broader South Bridge Connector effort include Brown County, the city of De Pere, and the towns of Ledgeview and Lawrence.

The I-41 Project is scheduled for completion in 2030.

PREVIOUS EFFORTS BY THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN’S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

The bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget built upon the Evers Administration’s efforts to invest in the state’s transportation infrastructure with $1.1 billion in new funding for key transportation investments, including increasing the state’s GTA program by three percent in each year of the biennium. Additionally, the 2025-27 state budget provided historic funding for the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP), including an over $100 million supplemental investment and continued support for the highly successful Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) with another $150 million investment. Of this $150 million investment, $30 million will be targeted to improve and repair deteriorating culverts and small structures through the Local Small Structures Improvement Program.

In addition to securing $100 million in supplemental funding for LRIP, a $150 million investment in the successful ARIP program, and a three percent increase to the state’s GTA program each year of the biennium, the final 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers included: 
  • A historic increase of nearly $333 million over the biennium in the state highway rehabilitation program;
  • $244.5 million to keep key projects, such as I-41 and I-39/90, on schedule;
  • A 10 percent increase to paratransit aids, increasing funding by $687,600 over the biennium;
  • Improving safety on Milwaukee County expressways with $38 million in expressway policing aids; and
  • $50 million for the harbor assistance program, including $15 million for the Menominee Harbor Project and $20 million for the Port of Green Bay. 

The 2025-27 Biennial Budget also improves ongoing transportation fund revenues by generating nearly $200 million in additional revenue to improve the sustainability of the transportation fund.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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