United States Congress

 Highway 41 on Its Way to Becoming “Interstate 41”

House Passes Omnibus Appropriations Bill with Provision to Allow Trucks to Continue Using Wisconsin Road Once it Becomes an Interstate

Washington, D.C.—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 83, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, to fund most government operations through September 2015.  Included in the bill is a provision to allow currently-operating trucks on Highway 41 from Milwaukee to Green Bay to continue using the road once it becomes a part of the U.S. Interstate System.  The bill now goes to the Senate where it is expected to pass and then be signed into law by President Obama before the end of the year.

Petri, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, first proposed making Highway 41 an Interstate in the 1990s, and successfully included a provision designating it a “future Interstate” in the 2005 surface transportation law, SAFETEA-LU.  The state of Wisconsin has invested nearly $1.5 billion to upgrade Highway 41, including upgrades necessary to bring the road up to Interstate standards.  In order to allow a smooth transition, legislation was needed to allow currently-operating trucks to continue using the road once it becomes an Interstate due to federal restrictions on trucks over 80,000 pounds.

Last June, Petri and fellow Wisconsin Rep. Reid Ribble introduced the necessary legislation as H.R. 2353.  The bill passed the House on July 22, 2013, and it was also included as part of H.R. 4745, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, for Fiscal Year 2015, which passed the House.  U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) have introduced identical legislation in the Senate.

Once the bill passes Congress and becomes law, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has stated that nearly all other requirements have been met and Interstate signage could be up by September 2015.  It is prepared to formally seek the Interstate designation from the U.S. Department of Transportation after the legislation passes.

Petri, who is also the chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, praised the bill’s passage today as “well worth the wait.”

“What this does is maintain the status quo—if you can use the road now, you can use it in the future,” Rep. Tom Petri said.  “Highway 41 is the economic lifeline of the Fox Valley.  This is the last step needed, after more than a decade in the process, before the state transportation department will formally request that Highway 41 become a part of the Interstate System.  I initially approached the late Tom Walker when he was at the Wisconsin DOT because Highway 41 is a huge part of our regional economy and millions of dollars in economic activity depend on a fully-functioning road.  It’s important that commerce and transportation not be adversely impacted during this transition.  As I leave Congress, it is heartening to know that this road will finally get the status and recognition it deserves as an Interstate.”

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble, the lead cosponsor of the House bill and Vice Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee said, “A tremendous amount of work and effort went into getting Highway 41 to this point.  Strengthening and modernizing Wisconsin’s infrastructure is something I have championed during my entire time in Congress and something Congressman Petri and I have worked on together in the Transportation Committee.  It’s encouraging that Highway 41 is making this step today.”

“Our Wisconsin businesses and employers need a quality transportation system to get their goods to market. This is a great step in continuing to build a strong ‘Made in Wisconsin’ economy,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, who sponsored the Senate bill.  “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this important bill passed and I especially want to thank Representatives Petri and Ribble for their hard work in the House of Representatives. This effort will help drive Wisconsin’s economy forward.” 

“I am pleased that the fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill will permit trucks now using U.S. Highway 41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee to continue to use that highway when it is changed to an interstate route,” said U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who is the lead cosponsor of the Senate bill.  “I would like to thank Rep. Petri for sponsoring the legislation that brought this about and for working to include it in the appropriations bill. I also thank Governor Walker's administration, Rep. Ribble and Sen. Baldwin for their efforts in obtaining a successful resolution to this matter.  This stretch of highway is crucial to Wisconsin's economy, and I look forward to the completion of the conversion.”

Similar provisions have been enacted for Interstate highway designations, such as I-39 in Wisconsin and I-99 in Pennsylvania.  Governor Scott Walker, state legislators, local communities, and business groups have expressed support for the Interstate designation and weight limit grandfathering. 

Highway 41 is the main thorough way through central Wisconsin from Milwaukee to Green Bay.  Twenty-three percent of the state’s manufacturing, retail, and wholesale businesses are located along Highway 41, and the highway is responsible for generating 29% of Wisconsin’s tourism dollars.  Over 150,000 vehicles use Highway 41 each day.

###