DOT Secretary’s Comments Cast Doubt on Expanding I-41 Print
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Written by Wisconsin Senate, Jay Wadd   
Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:41

wi-172-e-app-i-041Even Governor Walker says adding new lanes between Appleton and De Pere doubtful.


MADISON - Recent comments by Secretary of Transportation David Ross cast doubts on an a call by Governor Walker to expand I-41 from 4-6 lanes between Appleton and De Pere said State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).

dave-hansen“Barely three weeks after Governor Walker ordered the DOT to evaluate the expansion of I-41 his own DOT secretary appears to have shut the door on any expansion when he said that a way to increase funding to repair local roads would be to take on fewer mega-projects,” said Hansen.

Speaking to members of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, Secretary Ross said new funds weren’t needed to fix local roads because funding could be shifted away from bigger “mega-projects” to local road projects.

The DOT secretary’s comments come just a little more than a week after Walker himself questioned the need for adding more lanes when rebuilding state highways.

“Obviously the Governor is in a tight spot right now. He’s in an extremely difficult campaign and he’s boxed himself in on the transportation issue by his refusal to consider any new revenue. So I would take anything he says about transportation in general and I-41 specifically with a very large grain of salt.”

According to reporting by the La Crosse Tribune state General Transportation Aid payments to local governments covered about 30 percent of local road work, but has fallen to about 18 percent now.

“I don’t see how the Governor squares this circle. Especially after he’s promised to give Foxconn over $3 billion in cash. There is no way that can be done and he can fully fund our schools, expand state highways and do all that needs to be done to maintain local roads.”

Last Updated on Thursday, 13 September 2018 11:10