US-41 Interstate Conversion

[FightingIrish]

Saw something tonight on the way home that will likely cause roadgeekgasms.

Yes, the very first I-41 signage went up today! No joke!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stop and snap a pic, but hopefully the WISDOT crews working on the road don't decide to cover it overnight. If able, I'll snap a pic on my phone tomorrow and post for all to see. 

TA DA!








This is on the just-reopened Greenfield Av bridge in West Allis. The first one is the view going westbound, the other two eastbound. Seeing as I was taking a picture into the sun on the last two, I did a little readjusting, hence, the weird psychedelic effect.

Apparently, WISDOT decided to post the new regalia to entertain the State Fair-bound crowds. But there it is, your new I-41.

[FightingIrish]

And... from last week, same bridge. The temporary demotion of US 45




Just kidding. Must have misplaced the blank US shields. 

[SEWIGuy]

Cool pics Fighting!

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

[english si]

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

Is it just those two sign assemblies?

[SEWIGuy]

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

I was unaware of that.  No signage indicates that however.

[FightingIrish]

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

Is it just those two sign assemblies?

Those are the only two assemblies I've seen, and probably the only ones that exist so far. The new bridge and interchange just opened last week, and they finally activated the traffic lights and removed most of the cones in the past few days. AFAIK, the sign assemblies went up yesterday. Coincidentally, the Wisconsin State Fair opens today, and that is a primary interchange for out-of-towners coming from the southwest.

Damn near drove off the road last night when I saw the new sign assemblies.

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

I was unaware of that.  No signage indicates that however.

Yes, the US 41 designation will follow the proposed route of I-41 in a hidden concurrency from Russel, IL to Green Bay. The current US 41 in Milwaukee (Appleton Av, Lisbon Av and the Stadium Freeway) will become WIS 175.

[agentsteel53]

find me one with the state name.

[SEWIGuy]

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

Is it just those two sign assemblies?

Those are the only two assemblies I've seen, and probably the only ones that exist so far. The new bridge and interchange just opened last week, and they finally activated the traffic lights and removed most of the cones in the past few days. AFAIK, the sign assemblies went up yesterday. Coincidentally, the Wisconsin State Fair opens today, and that is a primary interchange for out-of-towners coming from the southwest.

Damn near drove off the road last night when I saw the new sign assemblies.

And those can't be US-41 "mistakes" because US-41 doesn't use that route.

Yes it does - they rerouted it onto I-41 at the same time they applied for the number...

I was unaware of that.  No signage indicates that however.

Yes, the US 41 designation will follow the proposed route of I-41 in a hidden concurrency from Russel, IL to Green Bay. The current US 41 in Milwaukee (Appleton Av, Lisbon Av and the Stadium Freeway) will become WIS 175.

I understand that.  English si said that US-41 was officially rerouted....but the more I think about it, the more I believe we just were talking past one another.  US-41 doesn't officially use the future I-41 route right now.

[DaBigE]

Saw something tonight on the way home that will likely cause roadgeekgasms.

Yes, the very first I-41 signage went up today! No joke!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stop and snap a pic, but hopefully the WISDOT crews working on the road don't decide to cover it overnight. If able, I'll snap a pic on my phone tomorrow and post for all to see. 

TA DA!








This is on the just-reopened Greenfield Av bridge in West Allis. The first one is the view going westbound, the other two eastbound. Seeing as I was taking a picture into the sun on the last two, I did a little readjusting, hence, the weird psychedelic effect.

Apparently, WISDOT decided to post the new regalia to entertain the State Fair-bound crowds. But there it is, your new I-41.

Why two redundant lane signs? Why not one sign with two arrows, with the routes centered?   Could have ended up with a smaller overall panel.

A side note, also some of the first LED streetlight installations on the WisDOT system. 

[Brandon]

find me one with the state name.

Wait.  Some contractor in Illinois or ISTHA will come out with one.

[agentsteel53]

there was either an 894 in a construction zone a few years ago that was the only state-named example of that number ever spotted.  so, high hopes!



so, speaking of Illinois contractors... when will they put up Illy state-named shields?  those are a challenge to find, too!

[FightingIrish]

Bad news, road fans. Looks like WisDOT covered up the 41s.   

But we all here know what lurks behind those green squares....

[Stratuscaster]

But...did they cover up the I-41's with US-41's?

[Big John]

But...did they cover up the I-41's with US-41's?

They better not have, since the current US 41 routing is in a different area and had not been converted yet.

[Duke87]

Although it is nice to see US 41 become I-41, I think it's a little too much to have it share pavement with I-94 towards Chicago.

The only reason they are doing this is because US-41 does so now.  This will "connect" I-41 to US-41.

Blech. I'd rather the number 41 simply disappear between the southern 94 junction and Milwaukee. Having a designation end as part of a concurrency is just more confusing.

Furthermore, if I-41 is going to share pavement with all of I-894, why keep that designation around?

[FightingIrish]

But...did they cover up the I-41's with US-41's?

Nope. Just big green squares. At least they're the same color, they blend right in to the sign.

Although it is nice to see US 41 become I-41, I think it's a little too much to have it share pavement with I-94 towards Chicago.

The only reason they are doing this is because US-41 does so now.  This will "connect" I-41 to US-41.

Blech. I'd rather the number 41 simply disappear between the southern 94 junction and Milwaukee. Having a designation end as part of a concurrency is just more confusing.

Furthermore, if I-41 is going to share pavement with all of I-894, why keep that designation around?

The most common reasons I've heard are: a) it allows them to keep most of the mileage signs where they are, though I imagine they'll be a little bit off; b) It minimizes confusion, as there will only be one version of Hwy 41 in the area; and c) it mollifies the business owners in Fox Valley, as they have an interstate highway that extends into the northern Chicago suburbs.

I assume WisDOT is keeping I-894 around to continue serving as a bypass of downtown. It's the only bypass the area has, so I guess they feel obligated to hold on to it. Plus, after a half century in existence, I-894 is pretty familiar to people.

[mgk920]

I'm just happy that that logical freeway routing around Milwaukeeland will now have a single route number.



Mike

[ET21]

Bad news, road fans. Looks like WisDOT covered up the 41s.   

But we all here know what lurks behind those green squares....

Watch, they'll put US 41 signs over them....

[SEWIGuy]

Although it is nice to see US 41 become I-41, I think it's a little too much to have it share pavement with I-94 towards Chicago.

The only reason they are doing this is because US-41 does so now.  This will "connect" I-41 to US-41.

Blech. I'd rather the number 41 simply disappear between the southern 94 junction and Milwaukee. Having a designation end as part of a concurrency is just more confusing.

No, it is actually going to be less confusing for the locals.  Believe me, from a navigational perspective, this makes the most sense.

It would be kind of fun to see US-45 returned to Lovers Lane/108th St/Mayfair Road...but that's probably not a good idea either.

[FightingIrish]

Although it is nice to see US 41 become I-41, I think it's a little too much to have it share pavement with I-94 towards Chicago.

The only reason they are doing this is because US-41 does so now.  This will "connect" I-41 to US-41.

Blech. I'd rather the number 41 simply disappear between the southern 94 junction and Milwaukee. Having a designation end as part of a concurrency is just more confusing.

No, it is actually going to be less confusing for the locals.  Believe me, from a navigational perspective, this makes the most sense.

It would be kind of fun to see US-45 returned to Lovers Lane/108th St/Mayfair Road...but that's probably not a good idea either.

That would be REALLY confusing!

[english si]

No, it is actually going to be less confusing for the locals.  Believe me, from a navigational perspective, this makes the most sense.

"Head south on the interstate" "But there's only East and West options!"

[Big John]

No, it is actually going to be less confusing for the locals.  Believe me, from a navigational perspective, this makes the most sense.

"Head south on the interstate" "But there's only East and West options!"

More than that, there will be a wrong-way concurrency of I-41 and I-43 on the east-west portion of I-894.

[Molandfreak]

Blech. I'd rather the number 41 simply disappear between the southern 94 junction and Milwaukee. Having a designation end as part of a concurrency is just more confusing.

Tell that to MN 169.

More than that, there will be a wrong-way concurrency of I-41 and I-43 on the east-west portion of I-894.

Maybe that's the only reason to keep I-894 around.

[SEWIGuy]

No, it is actually going to be less confusing for the locals.  Believe me, from a navigational perspective, this makes the most sense.

"Head south on the interstate" "But there's only East and West options!"

Considering that you head south from Milwaukee to Chicago, but now have to go "east" on I-94, adding a "south" I-41 will be helpful.

[SSOWorld]

Of course they're going to cover them up - I'd be confused myself. 

Oh wait...