Interstate expansion project in federal hands
Photo 
Daniel Cunningham
Photo
David Bagley
JANESVILLE — Having successfully traveled through the Wisconsin Legislature, the Interstate 90/39 expansion project is now likely headed to Washington, D.C.
Earlier this week, Gov. Scott Walker signed a 2011-13 state budget that includes the 45-mile project that would widen the Interstate from two lanes to three between the Beltline in Madison and the Illinois state line.
That puts the project on the books for construction to start in 2014 or 2015. It should take five years to complete.
In 2010 dollars, the project is expected to cost $715 million, but several transportation officials have estimated it will cost more than $1 billion by the time it’s finished. Funding is expected to come from a combination of the state’s segregated transportation budget, state borrowing and federal aid.
“I’m not sure that anyone knows at this point exactly how it will be funded or what the percentages will be,” said Dan Cunningham, a Forward Janesville vice president. Cunningham also is coordinator of the I-90/39 NOW Coalition, a group of concerned citizens, businesspeople and municipal leaders from Beloit, Clinton, Edgerton, Evansville, Janesville and Milton that’s advanced the project.
Cunningham said he would put together a local contingent to travel to Washington late this year or early next to lobby on behalf of the project.
“The next hurdle is to get funding in the federal transportation budget so adequate funds are available for projects like this,” he said. “We also want to make sure that the money that Wisconsin sends to Washington comes back somewhat intact.
“The state has done just about all it can; now it’s the feds’ turn.”
Because it’s part of the state budget, the project has a high likelihood of becoming reality, he said.
“It’s not guaranteed, as there have been projects that have been enumerated in the past that just moldered away,” Cunningham said. “But this project’s inclusion in the final budget is exciting news.
“It’s a demonstration of commitment to the project that has had pretty near unanimous support since the beginning.”
Enumeration of the project is a statutory budget step that makes it eligible to receive state and federal funds. The current budget includes money for design work, Cunningham said, adding that he’s heard the state has already interviewed design teams.
Interstate expansion has long been Forward Janesville’s top legislative priority. The organization led the formation of the coalition.
Economic development and safety have been the driving force of the group’s push for the widening project.
“The economic challenges facing Janesville and other Rock County communities have been well chronicled,” said David Bagley, chairman of Forward Janesville and director of McGladrey in Janesville.
“It is time to write a new chapter for our area that includes jobs, economic stability and hope for the future.”
Jul 2, 2011 at 1:13 p.m.
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This would be completed already if politicians hadn't stolen the money.
Jul 2, 2011 at 12:40 p.m.
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Bassinthumb, you are correct. Highway funds are generated through the fuel taxes. Now if WI had tolls, the money that is generated from those would fund the improvements also.
Jul 2, 2011 at 12:36 p.m.
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I think it was the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal (sp?) that followed the stimulus money and if I remember correctly, they tracked and reported that 80 percent of that money went to the unions. Does anyone remember that when the school district got the money, they said it was going to the teachers? Which in turn went to the unions, which went to the Democrats, according to the paper. In my opinion, and it would be a legal term, money laundering.
Jul 1, 2011 at 4:29 p.m.
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On a different theme, our highways are funded by the taxes we pay on gas. If and when the electric cars become more popular, how do they pay for the roads?
Jul 1, 2011 at 3:25 p.m.
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Worrying about past deficit spending won't do you much good, Unc. It's water under the dam. Besides, shovel ready or not - it's still deficit spending. But we can do something NOW about current and future deficit spending. Write to Forward Janesville, Walker, Obama and Rep. Paul Ryan - tell them no more money - we're broke.
Jul 1, 2011 at 2:11 p.m.
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If I recall, a little over 2 million went to some Urban Transportation Grant and over 8 million went to education. A bunch of smaller grants rounded out the 12 million.
Jul 1, 2011 at 12:19 p.m.
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Does it say where the money was spent in Janesville? What "shovel ready" projects were completed?
Jul 1, 2011 at 12:04 p.m.
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You can find where the stimulus money went by going to this webpage. For instance, over $12 million went to Zip Code 53545.
http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.as...
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:59 a.m.
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That's a different topic from deficit spending. In my view, the stimulus money stopped the economy from crashing into the gutter. Unfortunately, the money is no longer circulating or doing much good because it was mostly gobbled up by price jacking of goods sold by Big Oil and the wealthy.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:56 a.m.
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My question is where did all the stimulus money go? I'd really like to see an itemized bill and find out who exactly stuffed their pockets with that money.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:53 a.m.
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Oh Ok. We agree that the stimulus dollars are gone. So you're against deficit spending for the interstate expansion. Why didn't you say so in the first place?
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
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I don't care who is doing the spending. If the money isn't there we have no business spending it. I wish I had a credit card with no limit.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:46 a.m.
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The stimulus was a mockery. No I do not support deficit spending. We're broke.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:39 a.m.
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So Unc, tell me. Do you support Obama and the stimulus? Or are you just making false partisan equivalencies up to support deficit spending?
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:28 a.m.
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Hello, echo, hello.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:26 a.m.
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Well, where did the stimulus money go? It was for exactly these types of projects. I didn't notice any getting done.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:22 a.m.
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No, it's not part of the stimulus.
Jul 1, 2011 at 11:12 a.m.
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youkillme... Why, this job has already been paid for with the stimulus money for shovel ready jobs, hasn't it?
Jul 1, 2011 at 10:14 a.m.
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Where oh where are all the "we're spending too much, country is broke, stop the madness" Tea Party hypocrites? Wait! Don't tell me. They're accusing lefties of spending other people's money and the cause of being taxed too much. Forward Janesville - Gimme, I want. Hello, echo. Hello.
Jul 1, 2011 at 9:56 a.m.
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I'll keep an eye out for it. Going to see it this weekend. Thanks NV!
Jun 30, 2011 at 9:06 p.m.
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This is not on topic, but my grandson and I just returned from the movie theater after watching "Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon." And low and behold in one scene where there was a battle going on along a four lane highway, there was the green Janesville I-90 sign. You will have to watch carefully, but it was kind of cool to see.
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