6-23-17 hwy 23 project ruling-thiesfeldt react

A Fond du Lac lawmaker says a federal appellate panel ruling this week is not good news for the future of a Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du Lac and Plymouth.  The three judge panel dismissed state officials’ efforts to obtain federal funding for the project.  State representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says one  judge seemed to indicate that the state could proceed on its own, without federal funding, contrary to what state officials had said.  But Thiesfeldt says that seems unlikely given the state transportation budget funding shortfall.  “The cost is certainly going to be an issue there, but that makes me wonder if there is the ability to possibly break off a portion of the project.”   Thiesfeldt says he believes the biggest need on the project is the area right in front of St. Mary’s Springs Academy.  “We’re supposed to have a bridge built with some roundabouts on each side to help alleviate some of the traffic issues.”   Thiesfeldt says unfortunately the state’s hands may have been tied when federal money was used to do some of the preliminary work including purchasing property.  Thiesfeldt joined other area Republican lawmakers issuing a statement on the ruling.   The lawmakers say its a  “slap in the face to their constituents that the court took more than a year to reach a decision on standing.”   The lawmakers say they remain committed to the project and say the expansion is vital to the safety of our roads and the strength of the local economy.   “We urge the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to work quickly to determine its next steps to complete this expansion.  We will continue to collaborate with Secretary Dave Ross and agency officials to make this project  a reality,”  the lawmakers said.   An environmental group filed a lawsuit in 2011 to stop the project arguing the federal government couldn’t release money because a federal environmental impact statement was incomplete.
 

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