breaking news

Expect Hwy 41 Detours this weekend!

By: Terry Kovarik

Updated: March 20, 2013

Green Bay, Wis.(WFRV)-- The expansion of U.S. 41 has seen more than it's share of complications. And this weekend, 41 between Shawano Avenue and Velp Avenue is being closed off. Wisconsin's Department of Transportation says that's due to unforeseen circumstances.

Kim Rudat:"I guess this is going to be a case of the irresistable force meeting the immovable object."

In this case an effort to reroute a sewer line beneath U.S. 41 to accommodate expansion. As a five-foot diameter sewer line was tunneling underground from the west. It came to a halt. Another piece of tunneling equipment started from the east to try and reach the other line. It became stuck beneath the north bound lane. So, that lane is being closed to remove the obstruction and keep the expansion project on schedule.

Brian Ropert:"It's important that we keep everything on schedule. Because one impact at the beginning of those activities will impact the entire schedule."

So northbound traffic will be detour along Highway 172 over to I-43, which will see it's own restrictions starting next week

Peter McCarthy:"The Leo Frigo Bridge will be upgraded starting next week and brought down to one lane."

More can be found on the Wisconsin DOT website.

Or in this news release:

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Northeast Region in Green Bay is announcing unscheduled construction on US 41 this weekend in Brown County that will cause significant traffic impacts.

All lanes of US 41 northbound from WIS 29 (Shawano Avenue) north to Velp Avenue will be entirely closed from 8 p.m. Friday, March 22 through 5 a.m. Monday, March 25. The southbound lanes will remain open. During this closure, northbound traffic will have to use the signed detours or seek alternate routes.

This unscheduled closure is necessary to continue the installation of a sanitary sewer pipe located approximately 30 feet beneath the highway at this location. An obstruction located under the northbound lanes must be removed to complete the project.

Here are the signed detours and ramp closures for northbound US 41:

US 41 to WIS 172 eastbound to I 43 northbound to US 41

US 41 to WIS 29 to Military Avenue north to Velp Avenue west to US 41

Both the WIS 29 (Shawano Avenue) on-ramp to northbound US 41 and the WIS 54 (Mason Street) on-ramp to US 41 are closed.

The detour for WIS 29 eastbound to US 41 northbound is WIS 29 to Military Avenue north to Velp Avenue west to US 41.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes and use caution when driving though this or any work zone.