The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is in the design phase of a three bridge repair project on Wisconsin Highway 35 between the Village of Holmen and the Village of Trempealeau. The current plan includes shutting down a substantial portion of Highway 35 and detouring through Galesville. Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) wrote to the Department of Transportation asking that they consider their alternate proposal which includes the creation of temporary bypass structures. Representative Doyle had the following to say:
“The current plan for construction on Highway 35 creates several concerns both for emergency response services and the economic health of our communities. This alternative is the best option when considering impacts to local business, potential negative outcomes regarding emergency service access, and general community impact.
Many of Trempealeau’s first responders work on the other side of this proposed construction. Additionally, the ambulance service used in Trempealeau is staged on the other side of the bridge. The combination of these things means that this construction runs the risk of having creating a twenty-five minute delay in an ambulance being able to retrieve and individual and get them to a hospital. That level of delay is cause for concern.
In addition to concerns about emergency services, these detours risk serious damage to the small businesses in our communities. The local restaurants, retail shops, and recreational offerings depend on steady traffic from the La Crosse region, and a prolonged closure could substantially undermine these key economic drivers.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Transportation, local governments, and other stakeholders to come to a solution that works for everyone.”
You can read the complete letter here, and you can contact Project Manager Paul Valenti at his email: [email protected].
