Study shows urgent need for Wisc. road repairs

A study released on Thursday by the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation found local roads in southeast Wisconsin are in bad shape.

The study, conducted by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin,  analyzed data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT) and found almost 1 in 3 roads in the area needs important surface repairs. About 2,500 miles of local roads were found to be in failed, very poor or poor conditions. The report revealed that 34 percent of all local roads in Milwaukee need immediate repairs.

“Wisconsin’s local roads are failing because of our state’s backwards transportation spending priorities,” Steve Hiniker, 1000 Friends executive director, said. “WISDOT is proposing to spend $850 million to expand just 3.5 miles of I-94 in Milwaukee, when there are over 6,000 miles of local roads in southeast Wisconsin that need immediate repair.”

The study was released right before the Joint Finance Committee’s visit to Milwaukee today. The state legislature’s budget committee will ask the public’s opinion on Wisconsin’s spending priorities, transportation included.

“The Joint Finance Committee has an opportunity to do the right thing for Wisconsin,” Hiniker said. “We don’t need to increase people’s taxes or put more debt on the state’s credit card. We can pay for the repairs we need by simply reprioritizing dollars that we already have.”