Brown County Announces Major Step for South Bridge Connector Project

Corridor/Bridge location selected. Tier 1 Environmental Study Completed

Brown County is pleased to announce the location of the South Bridge Connector and the signing of significant documents that advance the Brown County South Bridge Connector project. On Friday, October 16th, 2020, officials from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed the Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the South Bridge Connector project.

This signing is a key advancement in Brown County’s effort to design and build this much-needed infrastructure improvement.

The ROD identifies the location of the South Bridge Connector, which will begin at Packerland Drive (County Highway EB) in the Town of Lawrence, continue along a new road to a new Interstate 41 interchange, and follow Southbridge and Red Maple Roads to the Fox River.

The connector will then cross the Fox River and follow Rockland Road and a new road to reach the intersection of County Highways X and GV in the Town of Ledgeview.

The project’s next phase will include the design and construction of the section between Packerland Drive in Lawrence and Lawrence Drive in the City of De Pere. This section will also include a new Interstate 41 interchange at Southbridge Road that will be designed and constructed as part of WisDOT’s Interstate 41 project in Brown and Outagamie Counties.

“This is the most significant breakthrough in the past 30 years,” says Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “Now that the location of the Southern Bridge Arterial corridor is set, it gets us one step closer to providing for economic development opportunities, improving infrastructure, and increasing safety for southern Brown County.”

“I would like to congratulate the engineers, environmental staff, and project planners with Brown County, FHWA, and WisDOT on their hard work to finish these key project documents,” said WisDOT Secretary Designee Craig Thompson. “WisDOT remains committed to assisting you with this important transportation infrastructure project in Brown County.”

The South Bridge Connector Final EIS/ROD will be available beginning Monday, October 26 on the South Bridge Connector website at https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/planning- and-land services/planning/south-bridge-connector/.

Printed copies of the Final EIS/ROD will also be available beginning Monday, October 26 at the
De Pere branch of the Brown County Public Library, Brown County Planning and Land Services Department, Brown County Public Works Department, and WisDOT Northeast Region Office on Vanderperren Way in Ashwaubenon.

Brown County is the lead agency for the South Bridge Connector Project. FHWA and WisDOT are currently assisting Brown County with a Tiered Environmental Study. For more information, please contact Brown County Planning Director Cole Runge at (920) 448-6483 or [email protected].