Doyle announces Interstate 39-90 expansion

Thursday, August 19, 2010

From an article by Barry Adams in the Wisconsin State Journal:

A plan to spend an estimated $1 billion to expand Interstate 39-90 between the Illinois border and Madison is moving forward.

Gov. Jim Doyle has announced that he will convene the Transportation Projects Commission this fall to review the proposed project that would replace existing pavement along the 45-mile corridor, add a third lane in each direction, replace two bridges over the Rock River and reconstruct 11 interchanges.

Economic development leaders in Rock County have pushed for the project because they say it would make the highway safer, the area more attractive for business development, and aid the state's tourism industry, which draws many of its visitors from south of the border.

"The single most important thing government can do is set the table for economic growth, and that includes infrastructure improvements," said John Beckord, president of Forward Janesville. "We look forward to the project being enumerated and scheduled for construction."

The Department of Transportation is required to submit its proposal to the TPC by Sept. 15 with the TPC meeting in December to make a recommendation to the governor or governor-elect, the Legislature and Joint Committee on Finance.