Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser joins other government representatives and members of the project team in cutting the ribbon Friday on the newly expanded stretch of Highway S, between Highway 31 and the Interstate 94 East Frontage Road.
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Kenosha County celebrates completion of Highway S expansion

Project turned 3.6 miles of the roadway into a four-lane, divided highway from Hwy 31 to the I-94 East Frontage Road

By KENOSHA COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS

Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population in 2019 was estimated to be 169,561, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county is named after the county seat, Kenosha, the fourth largest city in Wisconsin.

SOMERS — County Executive Jim Kreuser joined other local, county and state officials Friday in celebrating the completion of the largest county trunk highway project in Kenosha County’s history.

The Highway S expansion project, now substantially complete, involved transforming 3.6 miles of that road into a four-lane, divided highway from Highway 31 to the Interstate 94 East Frontage Road.

Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser looks on as County Highway Director Clement Abongwa speaks at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in celebration of the Highway S expansion.

Other improvements included the addition of turn lanes at major intersections, new traffic signals, drainage enhancements, and the construction of an off-street, multiuse path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

“This much-needed, expanded roadway will serve as a gateway into Somers the same way that Highway 165 does in Pleasant Prairie,” Kreuser said. “The economic development that’s going to spin off of this is going to be massive, and there is already much activity in this area because of the work that the Village and Town of Somers have done.”

Kreuser noted that Kenosha County was able to obtain support for this project from the federal and state governments, with a federal award covering 80 percent of the cost of the eastern stretch of the project between highways H and 31.

Kenosha County Highway Director Clement Abongwa said construction work began in spring 2021 and continued through last week, before the roadway reopened fully late Sunday night.

The new westbound lanes of the new, divided roadway, generally located just north of the original two-lane highway, were completed in 2020. The eastbound lanes, generally located on the original right-of-way, were rebuilt this year.

Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser speaks during Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees at the event included project team members, county, Village of Somers and State of Wisconsin representatives.

“I can’t tell you how much this project means to the Village of Somers,” Village President George Stoner said. “This is our southern gateway.”

Along with Stoner, other guests Friday afternoon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony included Wisconsin Department of Transportation Local Program Design Chief David Nguyen, a representative of Gov. Tony Evers, County Board supervisors, members of Kenosha County’s delegation to the state Legislature, and members of the Highway S project team.

More information about the Highway S expansion project is available at
https://www.kenoshacounty.org/2051/Highway-S-Expansion-Project.

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