South Marquette Road project delayed to 2018
Due to recent state budget cuts, dozens of road construction and repair project delays were released in a memo to state legislators by Gov. Walker’s administration last week. The memo outlined 114 project delays in western and southwestern Wisconsin costing taxpayers millions more, increasing safety concerns and preventing the creation of thousands of jobs.
“These potholes and crumbling bridges aren’t going to fix themselves,” said Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “At a time when we should be working to grow businesses and create jobs, recent budget cuts are jeopardizing important economic development efforts.”
In Crawford, Vernon, La Crosse and Monroe counties, two dozen projects representing over $53.7 million in needed road upgrades and repairs are being delayed.
Prairie du Chien’s second phase of the Marquette Road project, from LaPointe Street to Mooney Street, slated for 2017, is among those pushed back. It has been delayed one year, to 2018, in the latest schedule released by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The 1.25 mile reconstruction was the second of a three-part reconstruction of the Marquette Road corridor through the center of the city. Phase One was completed in 2014. Phase Three is projected to be done sometime after 2020.
“It is unfortunate that the lack of a funding solution being agreed upon in Madison has delayed this project, as well as many others across the state. I will remain hopeful a solution is found soon that both sides of the political spectrum can support, enabling the Marquette Road project to be put back on its original scheduling track,” Prairie du Chien City Administrator Aaron Kramer said.
A growing coalition of business groups, community leaders and working families have launched a public outreach campaign urging legislators to address transportation funding shortfalls and prevent costly project delays. While Democratic leaders have urged Gov. Walker to call the legislature into special session to pass a long-term funding solution, Shilling said the inability of Republicans in the Legislature to take on Gov. Walker’s veto threats has resulted in political gridlock and costly project delays.
Unless a stable, long-term funding solution is identified, these road and bridge maintenance projects could be delayed indefinitely.
“The condition of the road itself will continue to deteriorate, and the other related issues we hoped to address with this project—stormwater management, water and sewer utilities, a pedestrian walking and biking trail—will all be pushed back because of the delay,” Kramer added. “If conditions warrant additional delays or a return to the original schedule, we will, of course, relay that to the residents and business owners as quickly as we are made aware of them.”
