Hearings scheduled for US 41 freeway/expressway designations

April 2, 2013

Hearing times offered for both Oconto and Peshtigo

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Northeast Region in Green Bay is announcing two public hearings have been scheduled for the freeway/expressway designations of US 41 from the US 41/141 split in Oconto County to County T in Marinette County. The first meeting will be held Thursday, April 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Oconto City Hall, 1210 Main St., Oconto. The second meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Henry Drees Community Center, Room A, 600 Pine Street, Peshtigo. A brief presentation will be made for each meeting at 5:15 pm.

The hearings will be held as open houses and the public can attend at their convenience. They will provide attendees the opportunity to present relevant oral testimony to a court reporter and/or written testimony regarding the US 41 freeway/expressway designations in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes.

There are two segments of the US 41 corridor that are currently constructed to freeway standards. The first segment is located along the Oconto bypass from Business 41 to Maple Grove School Road and the second is located along the Peshtigo bypass from County Y to Business 41/Haynes Road. Since they were already built to freeway standards, these segments will be designated freeways. The remaining segments of US 41 will be designated as expressways. Expressways do allow for at grade intersections and driveway access, but a permit is required.

An expressway designation will assist WisDOT in controlling future access along this section of US 41. Without controlling direct access, the safety and operating capacity of the highway will deteriorate. The designation helps regulate traffic patterns, thereby decreasing crash potential, preserving traffic-carrying capabilities, and protecting the existing public investment in the roadway. The difference between freeway and expressway designation is access. When a segment of road is designated a freeway there are no permitted access points other than at interchanges. All at grade crossings are either removed or converted to overpasses or interchanges.

This is NOT a public information meeting regarding any future construction.

Persons unable to attend the meeting can mail, email written statements or other exhibits in place of or in addition to the testimony presented at the public meeting. Testimony should be addressed to Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Derek Weyer, 944 Vanderperren Way, Green Bay, WI 54304; Email – derek.weyer@dot.wi.gov. All relevant material, received no later than May 16, 2013, will be included in the official transcript.

Citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing or require an interpreter may request one by contacting Derek Weyer via email at derek.weyer@dot.wi.gov or phone at (920) 492-0139 at least three working days prior to the hearing. The hearing sites are wheelchair accessible.

For more information, contact:
Communications Manager Kim A. Rudat, WisDOT NE Region
(920) 492-5743, kim.rudat@dot.wi.gov