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WIS 15 expansion study

Background | Proposed corridor

Corridor background

WIS 15 is a busy commuter route between New London and the Fox Cities area. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is studying WIS 15 to determine the best way to provide additional roadway capacity and improve operational efficiency and traffic safety.

Capacity must be added to serve existing and forecasted traffic volumes. Heavy congestion is expected by the year 2025 if WIS 15 is not expanded. Annual average daily traffic volumes in excess of 20,000 vehicles are predicted along portions of the highway by the year 2025.

Insufficiencies in the roadway structure, as well as geometric and intersection design, are creating an increased number of safety issues.

An improved WIS 15 will:

• Increase safety: Changes in roadway design can reduce safety and crash related issues.
• Enhance economic development: Easier travel means easier transfer of goods and services.
• Lower transportation costs: Shorter trips and travel times mean less fuel consumption.
• Enhance access: An improved facility will help manage access and provide better coordination for the local road network.

Proposed WIS 15 Corridor

WisDOT has evaluated several corridor alternatives, as discussed in the alternatives section 2.0 of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and as indicated on the map showing the WIS 15 corridor alternatives evaluated in the DEIS.

The corridor was selected in June 2007, as announced in the July 2007 newsletter. The corridor was selected based on the level of mobility it provides for the traveling public, and based on goals to minimize the overall impact on the surrounding environment. It was also the corridor that received the most favorable comments from the regulatory agencies, local agencies, and the general public.

• Map of the WIS 15 selected corridor.

For the east section, the North Bypass (Alternative 3) was selected, and for the west section, Option A was selected. Option A follows existing WIS 15 southeasterly from US 45 in New London to the intersection with County T/Givens Road. The North bypass will then leave existing WIS 15 and bypass the Village of Hortonville to the north, and converge with WIS 15 near County JJ. The remaining expansion southeasterly will be adjacent to existing WIS 15, merging with the four-lane section in Greenville.

WIS 15 will be expanded to 4-lane divided highway. At-grade intersections will be constructed at the two points where the proposed bypass meets existing WIS 15.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Northeast Transportation Region, greenbay.dtd@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: March 30, 2010