State officials said that a new interstate highway will come to Wisconsin in 2015.Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb said that congressional actions could mean that I-41 becomes a reality in 2015.The DOT said over 3,500 signs will be replaced or modified across the state as U.S. 41 becomes Interstate 41.Wisconsin's congressional delegation is helping to pass federal legislation to allow the state to convert the highway to interstate designation.Work in Illinois will likely cause the change to become effective in the third quarter of 2015.The project began in 2005, with the U.S. Interstate Highway System beginning to plan for the conversion in 2007.Walker began directing state resources at the plan in 2011, but federal legislation was needed to allow certain commercial trucks to use the road following the interstate designation.Intestate regulations say trucks can weigh no more than 80,000 pounds. However the current US 41 bridges were built to carry 100,000 pounds. Several companies said their trucks routinely carry loads heavier than 80,000 pounds. Passage of the national transportation "Omnibus Bill" will allow trucks that currently use the highway to continue after Interstate designation.The DOT is coordinating the change along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

State officials said that a new interstate highway will come to Wisconsin in 2015.

Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb said that congressional actions could mean that I-41 becomes a reality in 2015.


The DOT said over 3,500 signs will be replaced or modified across the state as U.S. 41 becomes Interstate 41.

Wisconsin's congressional delegation is helping to pass federal legislation to allow the state to convert the highway to interstate designation.

Work in Illinois will likely cause the change to become effective in the third quarter of 2015.

The project began in 2005, with the U.S. Interstate Highway System beginning to plan for the conversion in 2007.

Walker began directing state resources at the plan in 2011, but federal legislation was needed to allow certain commercial trucks to use the road following the interstate designation.

Intestate regulations say trucks can weigh no more than 80,000 pounds. However the current US 41 bridges were built to carry 100,000 pounds. Several companies said their trucks routinely carry loads heavier than 80,000 pounds. Passage of the national transportation "Omnibus Bill" will allow trucks that currently use the highway to continue after Interstate designation.

The DOT is coordinating the change along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.