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Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt
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Joint Committee on Finance Budget Includes $50 Million for Project
(Brown County, Wis.) – Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach is pleased that $50 million in funding is part of the 2023-25 biennial budget approved by the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance to build the Southern Bridge Connector Project.
“The committee’s action to approve this funding for the Southern Bridge has proven that this project’s investment is truly bipartisan, garnering the support of both the Legislature and the Governor’s office,” says Streckenbach. “Over the past 5 years, we’ve been able to craft a coalition of supporters to get this generational economic development project funded, helping complete the final chapter in this shared vision of improving life and business in southern Brown County.”
Governor Tony Evers’ biennial budget also included $50 million in bonding from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Brown County is the lead agency for the project, following an environmental study and a Record of Decision that WisDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved in late 2020.
“I would like to thank Senator Eric Wimberger for his support which helped champion this project from his seat on the Joint Committee on Finance,” says Streckenbach.
The route begins at Packerland Drive in the town of Lawrence, continues along a new road to a future Interstate 41 interchange and follows Southbridge and Red Maple Roads to the Fox River. The connector will then cross the Fox River and follow Rockland Road and a new road to reach the intersection of County Highways X and GV in the town of Ledgeview.
The need for road and bridge improvements was first identified in the 1968 Brown County comprehensive plan. Since then, proposals for building a new Fox River bridge and connecting roads were included in many local community plans as an important component of future development. Hundreds of stakeholders have worked to make the bridge a reality.
