Southern Bridge Project Troy Streckenbach Brown County Executive

Project Background The 1996 Brown County Land Use and Transportation Plan recommended a two-phase strategy to handle existing and projected travel demand in the southern part of the metropolitan area. Phase 1: Replace the two-lane Claude Allouez Bridge with a four-lane bridge to improve bridge’s condition and reduce existing traffic congestion in downtown (pic of CA bridge De Pere. This bridge was completed in here? ) 2008. Phase 2: Construct a new Fox River bridge south of downtown De Pere to handle traffic generated by development in southern De Pere, Ledgeview, Lawrence, Bellevue, Rockland, and other area communities.

Project Background Brown County is now working with the Wisconsin DOT, Federal Highway Administration, and southern metro area communities to complete the environmental and other studies required for the new Southern Bridge, connecting streets, and a new I-41 interchange.

Project Overview The Southern Bridge project will include: • A new Fox River bridge and divided four-lane street between County Highways GV and X in Ledgeview and County Highways EB and F in Lawrence. • A new full-access interchange at Interstate 41 (if justified by results of traffic and engineering studies). County Highway GV in Ledgeview • Bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Project Benefits Economic Development. The Southern Bridge project will: Significantly reduce shipping costs by providing another eastwest link between business centers and major highways. Help attract and retain businesses and the talented people they employ by offering them many safe and convenient transportation options. Assist with efforts to develop De Pere’s Main Street Downtown by providing a convenient alternative route for large trucks and other vehicles.

Project Benefits Congestion Relief and Cost Avoidance. The plan for the Southern Bridge helped the state to rebuild the Claude Allouez Bridge (State Highway 32) as a four-lane structure instead of a more expensive sixlane structure in 2008. The Southern Bridge will also enable the state to avoid the high cost of expanding the Claude Allouez Bridge and Broadway south of this bridge by providing another Fox River crossing option as the area grows.

Project Benefits Safety. Traffic congestion forecasted for the Claude Allouez Bridge & nearby highways/streets will likely result in more congestion-related crashes on and near the bridge. The Southern Bridge will minimize congestion-related safety problems by allowing traffic to be distributed between two Fox River crossings instead of one.

Why is the Southern Bridge Project Needed Now? The communities in the southern metro area have grown significantly since 2000, and they are projected to grow much more by 2030. 2000 Population 2014 Population Estimate Increase (2000 to 2014) Percent Increase (2000 to 2014) Projected 2030 Population De Pere 20, 559 24, 180 3, 621 17. 61% Bellevue 11, 828 14, 760 2, 932 24. 79% Rockland 1, 522 1, 753 231 15. 18% Lawrence 1, 548 4, 634 3, 086 199. 35% Ledgeview 3, 363 7, 337 3, 974 118. 17% 29, 550 19, 140 2, 210 6, 900 10, 810 Totals 38, 820 52, 664 13, 844 35. 66% Sources: 2000 United States Census, Wisconsin Department of Administration Population Estimates. 68, 610

Why is the Southern Bridge Project Needed Now? Development has progressed beyond the southernmost Southern Bridge corridor location alternative.

Why is the Southern Bridge Project Needed Now? Traffic volumes on the Claude Allouez Bridge and Broadway south of the bridge increased after the new bridge was completed in 2008. 35, 000 29, 800 30, 000 25, 000 Claude Allouez Bridge Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes 27, 700 24, 700 20, 000 2006 Volumes = Before New Bridge 2009 & 2012 Volumes = After New Bridge 15, 000 10, 000 *2015 Preliminary Volumes Not Available 5, 000 0 2006 2009 2012 30, 000 25, 900** 25, 000 2015* 21, 000 22, 300 17, 900 Broadway South of the Claude Allouez Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes Bridge 2006 Volumes = Before New Bridge 2009 & 2012 Volumes = After New Bridge 15, 000 10, 000 **2015 Preliminary Volumes 5, 000 0 2006 2009 2012 2015 Source: Wisconsin DOT.

Current Project Schedule • Environmental & interchange studies currently scheduled to be completed by 2018. • Development activities for first project segment currently scheduled to begin in 2019. How do we guarantee that this project will remain on schedule? Southern Bridge Coalition

Southern Bridge Coalition Goals • Ensure the Southern Bridge project becomes and remains a priority to the Wisconsin DOT and Federal Highway Administration during the environmental and interchange studies. • Identify and obtain state and federal funding to contribute to the development of the Southern Bridge, connecting streets, and I-41 interchange (if acceptable). We Need Your Help to Achieve These Goals!