Richmond Street Overpass to Reopen in Appleton
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will reopen the Richmond Street/State 47 overpass over Interstate 41 in the week of November 16, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Richmond Street/State 47 overpass over Interstate 41 in Appleton is scheduled to reopen to traffic during the week of November 16, 2026. The reopening is part of the ongoing I-41 reconstruction project, which has rebuilt the exit into a diverging diamond interchange.
Why it matters
The reopening restores a key Appleton-area crossing of I-41 that was closed and demolished in May 2026 as part of the interstate project. It also completes the third of three Appleton-area exits converted to a diverging diamond design.
The interchange design cuts possible vehicle collision points from 26 to 14 compared with a traditional diamond interchange. The wider I-41 project reconstructs 23 miles between Grand Chute and De Pere, expanding the interstate from four lanes to six, with work scheduled to continue through 2030.
The players
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of Wisconsin's highways, bridges and transportation infrastructure, including the I-41 reconstruction project.
The details
The overpass was closed and demolished in May 2026, and the Richmond Street exit's on- and off-ramps opened in late October 2026. The bridge reopening was announced to residents by email on November 13, 2026, and the interchange was rebuilt as a diverging diamond, which moves traffic to the opposite side of the road to eliminate left turns across oncoming traffic.
Timeline
May 2026: Bridge closed and demolished for the I-41 project.
June 29, 2026: Part of Association Drive closed and converted to a cul-de-sac.
Late October 2026: Richmond Street on- and off-ramps opened.
November 13, 2026: WisDOT emailed residents announcing the bridge reopening.
Week of November 16, 2026: Richmond Street overpass scheduled to reopen to traffic.
Market Landscape
The Richmond Street reopening is one step in the multi-phase I-41 reconstruction between Grand Chute and De Pere, which expands the corridor from four to six lanes. Appleton's three diverging diamond interchanges, with Northland Avenue and Ballard Road completed in 2025, follow a regional pattern of converting diamond interchanges to reduce collision points.
Drivers using the Richmond Street exit in Appleton can expect the overpass to reopen the week of November 16, 2026, restoring a direct crossing over I-41. Traffic passing through the diverging diamond will encounter a second light before returning to the correct side of the road.
The takeaway
Drivers in Appleton should plan for the Richmond Street overpass to reopen the week of November 16, 2026. Checking the WisDOT I-41 project page before traveling can help confirm current traffic conditions.
What happens next
The Richmond Street/State 47 overpass is scheduled to reopen to traffic during the week of November 16, 2026. The I-41 project will continue through 2030, and the I-41/State 441 interchange work is expected to take until 2029.
Further reading
For other openings and closures in the area, see Openings & Closings.
More information
Find project details and an interactive map on the WisDOT I-41 project information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Post-Crescent.
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