Interstate 41
Interstate 41 (I-41) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States that spans 175 miles (282 km), primarily through southeastern and northeastern Wisconsin with a short segment in northeastern Illinois.[1] It begins approximately one mile south of the Wisconsin–Illinois state line at an interchange with Interstate 94 (I-94) and U.S. Route 41 (US 41) in Russell, Illinois, and proceeds northward concurrent with US 41.[2] The route continues through the Milwaukee metropolitan area, the Fox Valley region—including cities such as Oshkosh and Appleton—and terminates at a junction with Interstate 43 (I-43), US 41, and Wisconsin Highway 57 near Green Bay in Howard, Wisconsin.[2] As a major transportation corridor, I-41 facilitates commerce, tourism, and daily travel, supporting over 150,000 vehicles per day and connecting key economic hubs in the region.[3] The highway's path integrates segments of existing freeways, proceeding north from the I-94 interchange through Pleasant Prairie. In the Milwaukee area, I-41 follows a combination of I-894, Interstate 794 (I-794), and US 41 through the Zoo Interchange and downtown Milwaukee, then heads northwest along Highways 45 and 41 toward the Fox Cities. North of Appleton, it traverses rural and suburban landscapes en route to Green Bay, where it meets I-43. Ongoing projects, such as the expansion of a 23-mile section between Appleton and De Pere from four to six lanes, aim to address increasing traffic demands, improve safety, and enhance operational efficiency.[4] Designated as an Interstate in 2015, I-41 originated as a proposal in the 1990s to upgrade US 41 to Interstate standards, with federal authorization provided in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU).[3] The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the route on April 9, 2015, marking the first new Interstate designation in Wisconsin since 1996 and requiring the replacement of approximately 3,000 signs at a cost of $5 million to $7 million.[1] This conversion underscores the corridor's economic significance, as it supports 23% of Wisconsin's manufacturing, retail, and wholesale businesses while generating 29% of the state's tourism revenue.[3]Route description
Illinois
Interstate 41's Illinois segment is a short north–south freeway in northeastern Lake County, spanning 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from its southern terminus at an interchange with Interstate 94 (I-94, the Tri-State Tollway) and U.S. Route 41 (US 41) near Russell to the Wisconsin state line.[5] Throughout this brief portion, I-41 runs concurrently with US 41, following the alignment of US 41 northward from the interchange, diverging from I-94 (the Tri-State Tollway), before merging with I-94 shortly after entering Wisconsin.[5] The route traverses flat terrain typical of the Lake Michigan shoreline region, blending suburban developments with rural pockets and proximity to industrial zones adjacent to the I-94 corridor.[6] It passes near the Wisconsin community of Pleasant Prairie just across the border, serving as a vital link for cross-state travel between the Chicago metropolitan area and southeastern Wisconsin.[7] At its southern end, the interchange with I-94 and US 41 functions as Exit 1 for I-41 northbound, providing access to I-94 east toward Chicago via Exit 1B and local connections including County Road A1 (near the state line) via Exit 1A; no intermediate exits exist within the Illinois segment itself.[7]Wisconsin
Interstate 41 covers 174.1 miles (280.2 km) in Wisconsin, accounting for the vast majority of its overall 175-mile length and serving as the state's primary north-south corridor from the Illinois border to the Green Bay area.[8] The route enters the state near Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County, immediately concurrent with U.S. Route 41 (US 41) for its entire Wisconsin length, and progresses northwest through a mix of urban, suburban, and rural environments.[8] It facilitates heavy commuter and freight traffic in southeastern Wisconsin while providing access to agricultural heartlands and manufacturing hubs farther north. From the state line, I-41 joins Interstate 94 (I-94) as part of the North-South Freeway, a multi-lane urban artery crossing Kenosha and Racine counties before entering Milwaukee County.[9] This segment features dense development, industrial zones, and bridges spanning the Milwaukee River, with annual average daily traffic (AADT) exceeding 100,000 vehicles per direction in peak urban stretches near downtown Milwaukee.[10] Near General Mitchell International Airport, the route briefly overlaps with Interstate 894 (I-894) along the Airport Freeway, a short bypass handling airport-related traffic before rejoining the North-South Freeway at the Mitchell Interchange.[7] North of the airport, I-41 continues through Milwaukee's southern suburbs, intersecting the Zoo Interchange where it overlaps with US 45 and becomes the Zoo Freeway, traversing West Allis and Wauwatosa amid commercial districts and parkland.[11] The US 45 concurrency persists northwestward, passing Waukesha's exurban growth and rolling terrain in Waukesha County, with AADT around 70,000 vehicles in these transitional areas.[12] Beyond Waukesha, the highway shifts to more rural farmland, crossing Washington County near West Bend and entering the lake-dotted landscapes of Dodge and Fond du Lac counties, where traffic volumes drop to 30,000–40,000 vehicles daily.[10] Near Oshkosh, I-41 ends its overlap with US 45 and enters the Fox Valley corridor, a key manufacturing and agricultural region characterized by flat plains and the Fox River's meandering path.[8] The route bridges the Fox River multiple times while serving Oshkosh and Appleton in Winnebago and Outagamie counties, where suburban development intensifies around paper mills, tech campuses, and retail centers; AADT here averages 50,000–60,000 vehicles, reflecting regional commerce.[10] Continuing north through Outagamie County, I-41 passes De Pere's residential outskirts and enters Brown County, transitioning to forested and wetland terrain near Green Bay. The final stretch approaches Green Bay's urban core, with bridges over tributaries and industrial waterways supporting paper production and shipping; traffic stabilizes at 20,000–30,000 vehicles daily in these northern suburban-rural zones.[10] I-41 briefly concurs with Interstate 43 (I-43) before reaching its northern terminus at a major interchange with I-43 and US 41 in Howard, just east of Green Bay, marking the end of its Wisconsin traversal.[8]History
Planning and designation
The planning for the designation of Interstate 41 (I-41) began in 2005 when the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) identified U.S. Highway 41 (US 41) as a future Interstate corridor under Section 1105(e)(5) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), recognizing its critical role in freight and passenger vehicle movement across southeastern Wisconsin.[5] The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) initiated a comprehensive study in 2007 to evaluate the corridor's needs, focusing on geometric deficiencies, safety issues, and operational improvements from the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee northward to the US 41/I-43 junction near Green Bay; this effort was renewed in 2011 with the formation of a Conversion Delivery Team comprising 10 task groups to address specific aspects such as design standards and environmental impacts.[5] A key component of the planning process was an economic impact survey conducted online by the US 41 Interstate Conversion study team in fall 2011, which gathered input from regional economic development experts to assess potential benefits of the upgrade.[13] The survey highlighted anticipated advantages including enhanced business recruitment, job growth, and increased tourism within a 10-mile radius of interchanges along the route, underscoring the corridor's importance for facilitating commerce between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay while addressing aging infrastructure such as substandard median widths, interchange spacings, and clear zones.[5] Following public review of four proposed route numbers (I-41, I-47, I-594, and I-643), WisDOT selected I-41 for its logical positioning between I-39 and I-43, public support, and potential for future extensions.[5] The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provided conditional approval for the I-41 designation on November 16, 2012, pending concurrence from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on design exceptions and weight limit accommodations.[5] The FHWA issued official designation approval on April 7, 2015, after reviewing the Final Environmental Report and Design Exception Report, confirming the 175-mile route from the I-94/US 41 interchange south of the Wisconsin–Illinois state line to the I-43/US 41 junction near Green Bay met Interstate standards with programmed improvements.[5] Signage installation, involving the replacement of approximately 3,000 US 41 shields with I-41 markers, commenced in May 2015 and was completed by November 2015, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation.[14]Construction and early improvements
The physical development of what would become Interstate 41 began with the establishment and phased construction of U.S. Route 41 in the 1920s. Designated in 1926 as a major north-south corridor connecting Chicago to Milwaukee and extending inland to Green Bay and Marinette, US 41 was initially built as a two-lane highway with gravel surfaces in many segments. By 1930, the final gravel portion north of Oconto had been hard-surfaced, and bypasses were added in the Fox Cities starting in 1937, with extensions reaching Oshkosh by 1948.[15] Freeway conversions accelerated in the 1950s and 1960s as traffic volumes grew. In Milwaukee, four-lane divided sections from the Illinois state line northward were upgraded by 1958, followed by the opening of the Stadium Freeway (part of US 41) in 1962. Further north, a four-lane expressway from Fond du Lac to Oshkosh was completed in 1962, while the Green Bay bypass attained freeway status starting in 1968, with twinning of the Oshkosh bypass occurring in 1969. These upgrades transformed much of US 41 into a limited-access highway, though full Interstate standards were not uniformly met until later.[15][16][17] The route's approval as Interstate 41 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in November 2012 paved the way for its official designation in April 2015, after which initial enhancements focused on signage and operational improvements. Approximately 3,000 new Interstate shields were installed along the 170-mile corridor at a total cost of $6.2 million, funded through state and federal sources, to reflect the updated numbering while US 41 signage was retained as a concurrent route.[18][19] Post-designation work through 2023 emphasized rehabilitation and capacity enhancements on the existing alignment. In the Oshkosh area, a major project from 2009 to 2014 widened 17 miles of US 41/I-41 from four to six lanes, including reconstruction of four interchanges and a new eight-lane Lake Butte des Morts Causeway, improving traffic flow through Winnebago County. Further north, the US 41 reconstruction in Brown County, completed in October 2016 at a cost of $970.3 million in federal and state funds, upgraded 14 miles from Orange Lane to Lineville Road with full-depth pavement replacement, interchange modernizations, and auxiliary lanes to meet Interstate standards. Pavement rehabilitation efforts in Milwaukee County, such as resurfacing segments between Burleigh Street and Good Hope Road, addressed deterioration from urban traffic loads during the late 2010s.[7][20][21] These early improvements faced challenges, particularly in densely populated areas like Milwaukee, where construction activities caused significant urban disruption, including lane closures and detours that impacted local access and commuter patterns. Environmental considerations were also prominent; the 2021 Environmental Assessment for the broader I-41 corridor identified wetland impacts and required mitigation measures, such as compensatory restoration sites to offset disturbances during bridge and roadway work, in compliance with state and federal regulations. By 2023, cumulative investments in signage, minor expansions, and rehabilitations totaled hundreds of millions in federal and state funding, laying the groundwork for sustained maintenance without major new builds.[15][22]Future developments
Ongoing projects
In April 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) initiated a major expansion project to widen 23 miles of Interstate 41 (I-41) from four to six lanes between Appleton in Outagamie County and De Pere in Brown County, including the addition of auxiliary lanes and collector-distributor roads to improve traffic flow and safety.[23][24] Key ongoing activities in 2024 and 2025 include the reconstruction of the County N (Freedom Road) interchange near Little Chute, which involved bridge pier relocation and ramp improvements to support the widened highway; this work was substantially completed by December 2024 following a three-month closure that ended in September.[25][26] A resurfacing project in Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties, spanning from County D (Military Road) to WIS 26, began in October 2024 with initial culvert extensions and pipe work in the northbound lanes. Broader pavement resurfacing and shoulder widening occurred in 2025, causing off-peak lane closures; the project concluded in October 2025.[27][28][29] Several closures impacted traffic during this period, including the southbound on-ramp from WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue, which has been closed since February 2025 and remained so through fall 2025 to allow for bridge reconstruction and interchange upgrades; the southbound off-ramp reopened on November 14, 2025.[30][31] Additionally, Lynndale Drive over I-41 has been reduced to one lane in each direction since early 2025, continuing through late spring 2026 as part of mainline expansion work between WIS 96 and County A. The Ballard Road overpass remains closed through late fall 2025.[30][32] As of November 2025, progress includes the reopening of the southbound off-ramp at Northland Avenue, though full completion of the Northland Avenue interchange with its new diverging diamond configuration and the Ballard Road interchange reconstruction is ongoing into 2026.[33] WisDOT hosted public meetings in fall 2025, including an in-person session on October 28 at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, to provide updates on construction progress, traffic impacts, and the 2026 schedule.[34] The overall project, encompassing these ongoing efforts, has a total estimated cost of $1.167 billion as reported in February 2025.[35]Planned expansions
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) anticipates completing the full 23-mile widening of Interstate 41 from four to six lanes, along with the addition of auxiliary lanes between closely spaced interchanges, by the end of the 2030 construction season.[23] This expansion, spanning from WIS 96 in Outagamie County to County F in Brown County near De Pere, aims to enhance overall capacity and reliability along a critical corridor serving the Fox Valley region.[4] Phases scheduled for 2026 and beyond will shift focus toward mainline reconstruction and additional interchange improvements, building on 2025 overpass completions such as those at Northland Avenue and Ballard Road.[33] Adjacent to the core project, long-term plans include a major capacity upgrade from Orange Lane in De Pere northward to County Road M in Suamico, near Howard, potentially adding lanes to address congestion in the Green Bay metropolitan area.[36] New bridge construction is under way as part of the South Bridge Connector project, which will add a second crossing over the Fox River to link I-43 directly to I-41 south of De Pere, improving regional connectivity. Construction began in 2025, with a public information meeting held on November 12, 2025, and partial opening from Scheuring Road to Lawrence Drive, including the new I-41 interchange, anticipated by fall 2026.[37][38] The project's total estimated cost exceeds $1.2 billion, funded through a combination of federal grants—such as those from the Federal Highway Administration—and state resources, with ongoing allocations supporting phased implementation through 2030.[24] These expansions seek to accommodate rising traffic volumes in the Green Bay area, where current daily volumes already strain existing infrastructure, while enhancing safety features like updated interchanges and supporting efficient freight transport for regional industries including manufacturing.[39] An environmental assessment for the core widening project was approved prior to construction, ensuring compliance with federal requirements for impacts on local waterways and habitats.[22]Impact and significance
Economic effects
The designation of U.S. Route 41 as Interstate 41 in 2015 catalyzed economic growth along the corridor, with prior upgrades totaling approximately $1.5 billion between Oshkosh and Green Bay enhancing infrastructure and attracting further private investments in retail and commercial development at key interchanges.[40] In cities like Green Bay and Appleton, I-41 has transformed local economies by shifting focus from downtown retail and small shops to large-scale corporations, logistics hubs, and manufacturing facilities along the route, exemplified by industrial expansion in the Fox Valley region supporting sectors like paper production and advanced manufacturing.[41] I-41 plays a vital role in regional commerce by linking the Chicago metropolitan area to Green Bay's tourism industry, including Green Bay Packers-related activities, and the Fox Valley's technology and agriculture sectors, while facilitating significant freight transport as a key corridor for goods movement in northeast Wisconsin.[42] A 2011 economic impact survey conducted for the U.S. 41 Interstate Conversion Plan indicated that over 60 percent of respondents anticipated increased business attraction within five miles of the corridor, a prediction realized through developments such as new warehouses and hotels near Fond du Lac and expanded operations in retail and manufacturing.[13] The ongoing $1.2 billion expansion of 23 miles of I-41 to six lanes between Appleton and De Pere, projected for completion by 2030, is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and deliver long-term economic benefits, including enhanced GDP contributions through improved freight efficiency and business accessibility in the region. As of September 2025, construction is progressing with phases including diverging diamond interchanges and auxiliary lanes now under way.[24][43]Safety record
Crashes are notably higher during winter months due to snow and icy conditions; for instance, a February 2023 snowstorm led to multiple incidents, including a pileup involving 30 vehicles and six semis on the southbound lanes near WIS 28, resulting in three injuries.[44] Certain segments of I-41 have emerged as high-accident areas based on WisDOT data. The section near Scheuring Road in De Pere recorded 48 crashes within a half-mile radius over two years from 2016 to 2017.[45] Similarly, the Milwaukee Zoo Freeway portion sees frequent incidents tied to urban congestion, with multi-vehicle crashes often reported during peak hours.[46] Contributing factors include elevated annual average daily traffic in the southeast region and truck traffic, as well as icy roads in northern rural stretches.[10] Safety enhancements have been implemented as part of ongoing projects. Ongoing widening projects aim to alleviate congestion and reduce crash risks.[4] These include diverging diamond interchanges and auxiliary lanes designed to improve safety.[4]Route references
Illinois
I-41 begins in Illinois concurrent with I-94 and US 41, spanning approximately 2.5 miles in Lake County before entering Wisconsin at the state line. The segment features two exits, numbered starting from the southern terminus. All exits serve local roads and are designed as partial cloverleaf interchanges. US 41 concurrency continues throughout.[7]| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | 0.0 | Wadsworth | CR A1 (Russell Road) | Partial cloverleaf; local access in Russell |
| 1B | 0.5 | Wadsworth | IL 173 (Rosecrans Road) | Left exit southbound; to Gurnee and Wadsworth; end of I-41 southbound, merges with I-94 |
Wisconsin
I-41 in Wisconsin spans 172.5 miles, concurrent with US 41 throughout its length. Exit numbers are based on reference locations per segment, with high numbers (320s–340s) for the southern concurrency with I-94 in Kenosha, Racine, and southern Milwaukee counties, transitioning to lower consecutive numbers (1–199) north of the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee County. The route passes through 10 counties, with interchanges primarily partial cloverleaf or diamond designs. Recent renumbering occurred post-2015 designation to align with Interstate standards, though some segments retain legacy numbering from I-94 and US 41.[48][30]Kenosha County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 347 | 347.0 | Pleasant Prairie | WIS 165 / CTH Q (Lakeview Parkway) | Partial cloverleaf; to De Pere (signed northbound) |
| 344 | 344.0 | Pleasant Prairie | US 50 | To Kenosha and Lake Geneva; diamond interchange |
| 342 | 342.0 | Pleasant Prairie | WIS 158 | To Kenosha; partial cloverleaf |
| 340 | 340.0 | Pleasant Prairie | WIS 142 / CTH S | To Kenosha and Burlington; cloverleaf |
Racine County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 339 | 339.0 | Sturtevant | CTH E | Local access; diamond |
| 337 | 337.0 | Sturtevant | CTH KR | To Mt. Pleasant and Great Lakes Dragaway; partial cloverleaf |
| 335 | 335.0 | Sturtevant | WIS 11 | To Sturtevant and Racine; cloverleaf |
| 333 | 333.0 | Sturtevant | WIS 20 | To Racine and Waterford; partial cloverleaf |
| 329 | 329.0 | Franksville | CTH K | Local access |
| 327 | 327.0 | Caledonia | CTH J | Local access |
| 326 | 326.0 | Caledonia | 7 Mile Road | Local access |
| 322 | 322.0 | Oak Creek | WIS 100 (Ryan Road) | Cloverleaf |
| 321 | 321.0 | Oak Creek | West Drexel Avenue | Partial cloverleaf |
| 320 | 320.0 | Oak Creek | Rawson Avenue | Diamond |
Milwaukee County
The southern portion (concurrency with I-94) continues high numbering, transitioning to low numbers north of the Zoo Interchange (Exit 10A-B).| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 315 | 315.0 | Milwaukee | WI 119 (Airport Spur) | To General Mitchell International Airport; partial cloverleaf (southern segment) |
| 10A-B | 10.0 | Milwaukee | I-43 / I-94 / US 41 / WI 119 | Zoo Interchange; complex stack interchange; end of I-94 concurrency southbound |
| 1D | 1.0 | Milwaukee | WI 59 (Greenfield Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 1E | 1.0 | Milwaukee | Lincoln Avenue | Local access |
| 2A | 2.0 | Milwaukee | National Avenue | Diamond |
| 2B | 2.0 | Milwaukee | Oklahoma Avenue | Partial cloverleaf |
| 3 | 3.0 | Milwaukee | Beloit Road | Local access |
| 5A | 5.0 | Milwaukee | South 84th Street | Partial cloverleaf |
| 7 | 7.0 | Milwaukee | 60th Street | Diamond |
| 8A-B | 8.0 | Milwaukee | WI 36 (Loomis Road) | Cloverleaf |
| 9 | 9.0 | Milwaukee | WI 241 (27th Street) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 40A | 40.0 | Milwaukee | West Watertown Plank Road | Northern segment; to Wauwatosa |
| 40B | 40.0 | Milwaukee | Lloyd Street | Local access |
| 42A | 42.0 | Milwaukee | North Avenue (east) / Mayfair Road | Partial cloverleaf |
| 42B | 42.0 | Milwaukee | North Avenue (west) | Local access |
| 43 | 43.0 | Milwaukee | Burleigh Street | To Mt. Mary College; diamond |
| 44 | 44.0 | Milwaukee | WI 190 (Capitol Drive) | Cloverleaf |
| 45 | 45.0 | Milwaukee | Hampton Avenue | Partial cloverleaf |
| 46 | 46.0 | Milwaukee | WI 100 (Silver Spring Drive) | Diamond |
| 47A | 47.0 | Milwaukee | WI 175 (Appleton Avenue) | Cloverleaf |
| 47B | 47.0 | Milwaukee | CTH PP (Good Hope Road) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 48 | 48.0 | Milwaukee | WI 145 (Fond du Lac Avenue) | To Menomonee Falls |
Waukesha County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50A | 50.0 | Menomonee Falls | WI 74 / WI 100 (Main Street) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 50B | 50.0 | Menomonee Falls | WI 100 (Main Street) | Local access |
| 51A | 51.0 | Menomonee Falls | CTH YY (Pilgrim Road north) | Diamond |
| 51B | 51.0 | Menomonee Falls | CTH YY (Pilgrim Road south) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 52 | 52.0 | Menomonee Falls | CTH Q (County Line Road) | Cloverleaf |
Washington County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 54.0 | Germantown | WI 167 (Mequon Road) / CTH Y (Lannon Road) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 57 | 57.0 | Richfield | WI 167 (Holy Hill Road) | Diamond |
| 60 | 60.0 | Richfield | WI 145 | Local access |
| 64A | 64.0 | Slinger | WI 60 (east) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 64B | 64.0 | Slinger | WI 60 (west) | Cloverleaf |
| 66 | 66.0 | West Bend | WI 144 | To West Bend |
| 68 | 68.0 | Hartford | CTH K | Local access |
| 72 | 72.0 | Allenton | WI 33 / CTH W | Partial cloverleaf |
| 76 | 76.0 | Allenton | CTH D | Diamond |
Dodge County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 81.0 | Theresa | WI 28 | To Theresa; partial cloverleaf |
| 85 | 85.0 | Lomira | WI 67 | To Lomira and Campbellsport; diamond |
| 87 | 87.0 | Lomira | WI 49 / CTH KK | To Waupun and Brownsville; cloverleaf |
Fond du Lac County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 92.0 | Fond du Lac | CTH B | To Eden and Oakfield; partial cloverleaf |
| 95 | 95.0 | Fond du Lac | US 151 / WI 175 (Main Street) | Cloverleaf |
| 97 | 97.0 | Fond du Lac | CTH VV (Hickory Street) | Diamond |
| 98 | 98.0 | Fond du Lac | CTH D / Military Road | Local access |
| 99 | 99.0 | Fond du Lac | WI 23 (Johnson Street) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 101 | 101.0 | Fond du Lac | CTH OO (Winnebago Street) | To Fond du Lac |
| 106 | 106.0 | Fond du Lac | CTH N | Local access |
Winnebago County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 113.0 | Oshkosh | WI 26 / CTH N | To Waupun; cloverleaf |
| 116 | 116.0 | Oshkosh | WI 44 / WI 91 (Ripon Road / South Park Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 117 | 117.0 | Oshkosh | 9th Avenue | Local access |
| 119 | 119.0 | Oshkosh | WI 21 (Omro Road / Oshkosh Avenue) | Diamond |
| 120 | 120.0 | Oshkosh | US 45 / TO US 10 (Algoma Boulevard) | Cloverleaf; concurrency with US 45 begins |
| 124 | 124.0 | Oshkosh | WI 76 (Jackson Street) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 129 | 129.0 | Neenah | Breezewood Lane / Bell Street | Local access |
| 131 | 131.0 | Neenah | WI 114 / CTH JJ (Winneconne Avenue) | Diamond |
| 132 | 132.0 | Neenah | Main Street / Oakridge Road | Partial cloverleaf |
| 133 | 133.0 | Neenah | CTH II (Winchester Road) | Cloverleaf |
| 134 | 134.0 | Neenah | US 10 (east) / WI 441 (north) | Systems interchange; end of US 45 concurrency |
Outagamie County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 136.0 | Neenah | CTH BB (Prospect Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 137 | 137.0 | Appleton | WI 125 (College Avenue) | Diamond |
| 138 | 138.0 | Appleton | WI 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) | Cloverleaf |
| 139 | 139.0 | Appleton | WI 15 / CTH OO (Northland Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf; northbound ramps and bridge opened September 2025, southbound off-ramp reopened November 14, 2025, as part of expansion project |
| 142 | 142.0 | Appleton | WI 47 (Richmond Street) | To Appleton |
| 144 | 144.0 | Appleton | CTH E (Ballard Road) | Local access |
| 145 | 145.0 | Appleton | WI 441 (south) | Systems interchange; part of ongoing I-41 expansion 2024–2030 |
| 146 | 146.0 | Little Chute | CTH N | Diamond; ongoing reconstruction as part of I-41 expansion project, continuing through 2025 with full completion by 2030 |
| 148 | 148.0 | Kaukauna | WI 55 | To Kaukauna and Seymour; partial cloverleaf |
| 150 | 150.0 | Kaukauna | CTH J | Local access |
| 154 | 154.0 | Kaukauna | CTH U | To Wrightstown |
Brown County
| Exit | Milepost | Locations | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 157.0 | De Pere | CTH S | Local access; partial cloverleaf |
| 161 | 161.0 | De Pere | CTH F (Scheuring Road) | Diamond |
| 163A | 163.0 | De Pere | CTH G (Main Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf |
| 163B | 163.0 | De Pere | Ashland Avenue | Local access northbound only |
| 164 | 164.0 | Green Bay | CTH AAA (Oneida Street / Waube Lane) | Cloverleaf |
| 165 | 165.0 | Green Bay | WI 172 | To Green Bay |
| 167 | 167.0 | Green Bay | CTH VK (Lombardi Avenue) | Partial cloverleaf; to Lambeau Field |
| 168A | 168.0 | Green Bay | WI 54 / WI 32 (south) (Mason Street) | Diamond |
| 168B | 168.0 | Green Bay | WI 32 (north) | Local access |
| 168C | 168.0 | Green Bay | WI 29 / WI 32 (Shawano Avenue / Dousman Street) | Cloverleaf |
| 170A | 170.0 | Green Bay | US 141 (south) / Velp Avenue | Systems interchange |
| 170B | 170.0 | Howard | I-43 (north) / US 41 | Northern terminus of I-41; cloverleaf |
Major intersections
Interstate 41 intersects with several major highways that support its role as a vital corridor for freight, commuters, and regional connectivity between the Chicago metropolitan area and northeastern Wisconsin. Key junctions often involve multi-level designs or overlaps to manage high traffic volumes, with notable examples including the expansive Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee and system interchanges in the Fox Cities. The route's southern terminus at I-94 provides direct access to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, while northern connections link to Green Bay's industrial and port facilities. The table below details 12 significant interchanges from south to north, focusing on their configurations and strategic importance based on highway engineering reports and state transportation data.[7][30]| Junction | Location | Approximate Milepost | Connected Route(s) | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Terminus | Russell, IL | 0 | I-94 / US 41 | Wye interchange | Marks the start of I-41; facilitates high-volume access to Chicago O'Hare via I-94, handling over 150,000 vehicles daily as a primary freight gateway.[7] |
| Zoo Interchange | Milwaukee, WI | 35 | I-94 / I-894 / US 41 | Four-level stack interchange | Complex hub with flyover ramps connecting to Milwaukee's west side and airport; serves as a bypass via I-894 and underwent major reconstruction completed in 2018 to reduce congestion.[51][7] |
| US 45 Overlap Start | West Allis, WI (near Zoo Interchange) | 40 | US 45 | Partial cloverleaf | Begins a 91-mile concurrency with US 45 northward; enhances north-south linkage through Milwaukee suburbs and into rural areas.[7][15] |
| I-43 Northern Terminus | Howard, WI | 170 | I-43 | Systems interchange | Northern end of I-43, providing routes to Milwaukee; modernized to improve flow for eastern Wisconsin travel.[7] |
| WIS 26 | Oshkosh, WI | 115 | WIS 26 | Diamond interchange | Connects to Waupun and southern lakefront communities; reconstructed in 2009–2014 to support growing commuter traffic.[7] |
| US 151 | Fond du Lac, WI | 97 | US 151 | Partial cloverleaf | Links to Madison and Sun Prairie; key for agricultural and manufacturing transport in the Fox Valley region.[7] |
| WIS 441 (Star Interchange) | Appleton, WI | 145 | WIS 441 | Systems interchange | Beltway around Appleton serving the Fox Cities; reconstructed as part of the 2025 I-41 expansion project to add auxiliary lanes and improve safety.[4][7] |
| WIS 15 | Grand Chute, WI (Appleton area) | 142 | WIS 15 | Diverging diamond interchange | Features flyover ramps for mainline I-41 traffic; northbound ramps and bridge opened in September 2025, southbound off-ramp reopened November 14, 2025, as a commuter hub reducing left-turn conflicts in a high-growth area.[23][50][7] |
| WIS 54 | Green Bay, WI | 166 | WIS 54 | Trumpet interchange | Provides access to Waupaca and recreational areas via New London; supports local industry and tourism flows.[7] |
| WIS 29 | Ashwaubenon, WI (near Green Bay) | 168 | WIS 29 | Directional T interchange with flyovers | High-speed connection to Wausau and central Wisconsin; upgraded in 2015 with roundabouts to handle port-related freight.[7] |
| WIS 172 | Ashwaubenon, WI | 165 | WIS 172 | Diamond interchange with collector-distributor lanes | Serves Austin Straubel International Airport; expanded in 2016 to boost regional air travel access.[7] |
| Northern Terminus | Howard, WI | 170 | I-43 / US 41 | Systems interchange with flyovers | Ends I-41 with a brief overlap to I-43; critical for Green Bay's east side and Upper Peninsula links, completed in 2016.[7] |