Wisconsin Highway 441

Infobox road
state=WI
type=WI
route=441
alternate_name=Tri-County Expressway
length_mi=10.88
length_ref=cite web | last = Bessert | first = Chris | title =Wisconsin Highways: Highways 200-399 (Highway 441) | work =Wisconsin Highways | url =http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys400-894.html#STH-441 | accessdate = 2007-03-20]
length_round=2
direction_a=West
direction_b=East
starting_terminus=
junction=
ending_terminus=
previous_type=WI
previous_route=351
next_type=Interstate
next_route=535
commons=category

State Trunk Highway 441 (often called the Tri-County Expressway, Highway 441, STH 441, or WIS 441) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Together with U.S. Route 41, the highway forms a beltway around the greater Appleton area, and is a freeway for the entire span of the route. It connects at both ends to its parent highway, US 41. It runs east-west and north-south in east central Wisconsin from near Neenah around Appleton to near Little Chute.

It routes through Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet Counties. The Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge spans Little Lake Butte des Morts near the highway's southwest terminus.

History

The Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge was the first portion of this road completed; traffic began flowing on the bridge at 11 AM, November 30, 1975. The bridge, designated County Highway Q for its first years, extended from US-41 to County Highway P/Racine Road (approximately 1.3 miles) The bridge was also the "last" portion of the Tri-county expressway completed for more than a decade, with the remainder of the expressway mired in the proposal stage. The bridge became known as the "Polish connection" by locals over time.

The bridge was given a state highway designation (441) in the 1980s, with signs to this effect going up in 1985 or 1986. Movement to complete the full 10.88 miles of freeway began in the late 1980s, and the first new stretch of freeway since 1975 was completed in November 1991, extending from County Highway P to US 10/Oneida Street. The entire freeway length was completed in September 1993.

Termini

US 10 follows the route from its southwest junction with US 41 in Neenah to Oneida Street just south of Appleton in Menasha where it turns off southeast. This junction is a partial cloverleaf interchange that does not include traffic movements. Due to safety concerns of being at-grade intersections four traffic movements were removed in 1997:
*Southbound US 41 to westbound US 10.
*Northbound US 41 to westbound US 10.
*Eastbound US 10 to southbound US 41.
*Eastbound US 10 to northbound US 41.The eastbound US 10 to southbound US 41 and southbound US 41 to westbound US 10 were restored in 2001, leaving two missing connections.Wisconsin Department of Transportation [http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d3/wis441/need.htm US 10/WIS 441 Expansion Need] , 2006 March 14. URL accessed on 2006 December 29] The northeastern junction with US 41 is a trumpet interchange - with the loop ramp from US 41 westbound to WIS 441 southbound.

Major Cities

The route serves as an eastern and southern beltway route to complete a loop around Appleton while US 41 serves as the northern and western route. The route provides direct access to:
*Kimberly
*Appleton
*Menasha

Interchanges

Future Plans

WisDOT is studying options for expanding the route from west of US 41 to east of Oneida St from four to six lanes along with the upgrading of interchanges along the section. The study also includes options for completing the road's interchange with US 41 by installing the missing ramps, adding auxiliary lanes to US 41 and upgrading the Kampo Memorial Bridge.Wisconsin Department of Transportation [http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d3/wis441/index.htm US 10/WIS 441 Expansion Study] , 2006 March 14. URL accessed on 2006 December 29]

External links

* [http://www.state-ends.com/wisconsin/wi/441/ WI 441 Terminus Photos]

References