DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Southern Brown County residents filed into Altmayer Elementary School Thursday evening to hear about a project they all agree is badly needed, but will majorly change the area they live in.
The project known as the southern bridge will provide people in the area a quicker connection to I-41.
Construction on the actual bridge over the Fox River won’t start for another three years, but the ramps and roads from the highway will start going in early next year.
“I don’t know if it’s going to affect us that much. I hope not, in terms of noise and everything,” said Paula Smits of De Pere.
The county is approaching the work as seven separate projects. Some of them are still in the design phase, providing the public an opportunity to still weigh in on what could be coming.
“One of the main reasons we’re doing this project is to relieve congestion, not just that exists in downtown De Pere today, but what we expect to exist in downtown De Pere in the future as growth occurs towards the south,” said Cole Runge, Brown County planning director.
County leaders revealed renderings of what the four-lane bridge and boulevard style roads on either side of it could look like. They say the entire corridor will be 40 miles per hour.
“I think it’s really going to help improve the traffic flow and also kind of unleash a lot of economic growth in this area,” said Jonathon Hansen, a De Pere alderperson.
Some concerns linger, including how the design will accommodate railroad tracks on the west side of the river and the popular Fox River Trail.
“What’s going to happen to all those bikers and walkers and everything,” said Smits. “How are they going to be able to cross this?”
Overpasses and underpasses are being considered.
“One of the reasons we want people to weigh in tonight is to let us know what they think,” said Runge. “Do they prefer an underpass at that location or an overpass?”
The plan is to have the entire corridor done by fall 2029.
The entire project is expected to cost about $180 million. Federal, state and local money is being used.
